Hen Pot Pie Soup

Hen pot pie at all times hits the spot for me, however let’s be actual, making the crust from scratch isn’t at all times within the playing cards. This soup model provides you all that traditional, comfort-food taste with rather less work. It’s wealthy, creamy, filled with tender hen and veggies, and each chew tastes like hen soup for the soul.

If you’re up for it, you possibly can at all times make an entire chicken pot pie. It’s nonetheless fairly straightforward.

Lots of recipes use potatoes for the “pie crust” aspect or canned biscuit dough, however that’s simply not my fashion in any respect. I considered including some home made biscuit dough to behave as dumplings, however a fair higher thought got here to thoughts: Gnocchi! These little potato dumplings are offered dry within the pasta aisle in most grocery shops. You get that very same delicate, doughy “pie crust” goodness, and truthfully, it is likely to be even higher.

Ingredient Notes

• Boneless Skinless Hen Breast: You’ll want about 1 1/2 kilos. Hen thighs work too in case you favor darkish meat. Simply trim off any extra fats.
• Olive Oil: Only a bit to brown the hen. You’ll be able to sub in avocado oil or any impartial oil you’ve received available.
• Salted Butter: Should you solely have unsalted, that’ll work simply high-quality.
• White Onion: A medium onion is ideal right here. Yellow onion works too if that’s what you’ve received.
• Carrots: Use 4 medium carrots. You’ll be able to cube or slice them, no matter texture you favor in your soup.
• Celery Ribs: Go for 4 ribs, sliced.
• All-Objective Flour: This thickens the soup and offers it that creamy pot pie texture. Don’t skip the cooking time, it removes the uncooked flour style.
• Minced Garlic: About 2 tablespoons, which is roughly 6 cloves. Use contemporary if potential, however jarred garlic works too. It simply has a barely extra bitter taste.
• Hen Broth: Go along with low sodium if you would like extra management over the salt. Retailer-bought or home made each work nice. I additionally love Higher Than Boullioun.
• Dried Thyme: Only a contact goes a good distance so as to add that signature pot pie taste.
• Heavy Cream: This makes the soup wealthy and silky. You possibly can swap in half-and-half, but it surely gained’t be fairly as thick.
• Frozen Peas: Toss them in straight from the freezer. No must thaw. Canned peas will work too, however they’re a lot softer.
• Gnocchi: That is your pie crust stand-in! Search for it within the pasta aisle, sometimes vacuum-packed.

Rotisserie Hen Shortcut

Rotisserie hen makes this soup even faster to get on the desk, plus it’s what’s generally known as a “loss chief” that means grocery shops promote it at a loss so it’s among the finest bargains you’ll find.

You’ll skip the browning step at the start. As a substitute, go forward and begin by sautéing the veggies in butter, then proceed on with the recipe. Stir in about 3 cups of shredded rotisserie hen when the recipe requires including the cooked hen again in.

Because the hen’s already executed, you’ll simply wish to simmer the soup lengthy sufficient to warmth all the things by way of and let the flavors come collectively.

Gnocchi Choices

Gnocchi is the key ingredient that provides this soup that “pie crust” vibe with none baking. You’ll often discover gnocchi in vacuum-sealed packages within the pasta aisle, however refrigerated or frozen gnocchi works too. Shelf-stable gnocchi is tremendous handy and cooks proper within the soup in about 5 minutes.

Should you’re utilizing frozen gnocchi, there’s no must thaw it. Simply toss it into the simmering soup and provides it a few further minutes. You’ll understand it’s prepared when the gnocchi float to the highest and are delicate and pillowy.

You may also discover gluten-free gnocchi at many grocery shops. With gluten-free, you simply wish to prepare dinner it in response to the bundle instructions earlier than including it in on the very finish.

Vegetable Add-Ins

This soup is tremendous versatile relating to veggies. Should you’ve received extras available or simply wish to increase the diet, listed below are some straightforward add-in choices:

Mushrooms: Add 1 cup of sliced mushrooms with the carrots and celery. Sauté till softened and flippantly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Corn: Stir in 1 cup of frozen or canned corn once you add the peas and gnocchi. No further prepare dinner time wanted.

Child Spinach: Add 2 cups of contemporary child spinach on the very finish, proper earlier than serving. It’ll wilt in only a minute or two.

Diced Potatoes: Peel and cube 1 medium russet or Yukon gold potato into small cubes. Add it in with the broth so it has time to melt, about quarter-hour of simmering ought to do it.

Inexperienced Beans: Use 1 cup of chopped contemporary or frozen inexperienced beans. Add them with the carrots and celery so that they prepare dinner by way of and keep tender-crisp.

Simply watch out to not overload the pot. About 2 cups of additional veggies complete is an effective rule of thumb to maintain the steadiness proper.

Adjusting Thickness

This soup is designed to be creamy and hearty, however you possibly can completely tweak the feel based mostly on the way you prefer it:

To Make It Thicker: In order for you a thicker soup, whisk collectively 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of chilly water. Stir it into the soup after including the cream and gnocchi, and simmer for an additional 2 to three minutes till thickened. You may also cut back the broth by 1 cup at the beginning for a naturally thicker end result.

To Make It Thinner: In case your soup seems thicker than you’d like (particularly if it sat for a bit), simply stir in an additional 1 to 2 cups of hen broth or water. Add somewhat at a time till it’s the consistency you need, then heat it by way of earlier than serving.