Chicken a la King is a super-easy, heartwarming, satisfying meal. This delectable recipe comes together quickly using baked rotisserie chicken. If you like rotisserie chicken recipes, try chicken and rice soup, chicken Waldorf salad, and chicken cordon bleu casserole.
What is Chicken a la King?
It is a creamy one-pot comfort food dish made with Chicken, mushrooms, peas, onions, green bell peppers, and pimientos. It is traditionally served over rice, noodles, toast, biscuits, or puff pastry shells. For an equally delicious change of pace, substitute cooked tuna or salmon for the Chicken.
A pot full of chicken a la king with a large ladle in the pot.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
Butter: unsalted or salted. If using salted butter, reduce the amount of added salt.
Mushrooms: cremini mushrooms provide the most decadent flavor, but white mushrooms work well, too.
Dry mustard: you can substitute regular mustard
Chicken broth: low sodium is best
Half and half: or whole milk for a lower fat option. It will not be as rich, but it will still be delicious.
Peas: frozen peas are best in this dish. They retain their color, shape, and flavor during the simmering process much better than canned or fresh.
Pimentos: are sweet cherry peppers usually found in the pickle aisle with the other peppers
How to make Chicken a la King
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
Melt the butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet or Dutch oven. Add the mushrooms and cook for several minutes. Then add the onion and green pepper, cooking until the veggies soften and the mushrooms brown.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the garlic and dry mustard. Sprinkle in the flour while continuing to stir. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring to combine. Simmer until thickened, stirring several times.
The steps to make Chicken a la King
Reduce heat to low and stir in the half and half, peas, pimentos, and cooked Chicken. Continue cooking and stirring until everything is hot. If the mixture becomes too thick, add one-quarter cup of chicken broth at a time to reach the desired thickness. Serve over rice, noodles, toast, biscuits, or puff pastry shells.
A ladle full of chicken a la king in a pot of chicken a la king.
Preparation Tips and Storage
Take the time to brown the mushrooms. They taste better that way, and the dish is more visually appealing.
Drain the pimentos well. You don’t want the juice they are packed in to flavor or color your dish.
For a lower-fat version, use only half of the butter, half of the flour, and milk instead of half and half. It will still be delicious, just not as rich.
If the mixture becomes too thick, add one-quarter cup of chicken broth at a time until it reaches the desired thickness.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can be reheated in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop on low.
A single serving bowl full of chicken a la king with a biscuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Chicken to use?
I like to use rotisserie chicken, which is available almost anywhere. You can pick them up at club warehouses, grocery stores, and nearly every Walmart.
However, you can use any baked, poached, or roasted Chicken. You can also use cooked skinless thigh and wing meat.
Can you freeze it?
Once the dish is thoroughly cooled, pack it in freezer bags, removing as much air as possible. Lay flat on a baking sheet and freeze. Once fully frozen, stack as desired and freeze for up to 1 month.
To reheat, defrost in the refrigerator, remove from the bag, and place the contents in a saucepan on low. Stir frequently until the mixture reaches the desired temperature. Likewise, pour the contents into a microwaveable bowl and reheat in the microwave for 1-minute intervals at 50% power until the desired temperature.
