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 rooster and veggies, and each chew tastes like rooster soup for the soul.

In case you are up for it, you possibly can at all times make an entire chicken pot pie. It’s nonetheless fairly simple.

Loads of recipes use potatoes for the “pie crust” ingredient or canned biscuit dough, however that’s simply not my type in any respect. I thought of including some do-it-yourself biscuit dough to behave as dumplings, however an excellent higher concept got here to thoughts: Gnocchi! These little potato dumplings are bought dry within the pasta aisle in most grocery shops. You get that very same mushy, doughy “pie crust” goodness, and actually, it could be even higher.

Ingredient Notes

• Boneless Skinless Hen Breast: You’ll want about 1 1/2 kilos. Hen thighs work too should you favor darkish meat. Simply trim off any extra fats.
• Olive Oil: Only a bit to brown the rooster. You may sub in avocado oil or any impartial oil you’ve acquired readily available.
• Salted Butter: When you solely have unsalted, that’ll work simply positive.
• White Onion: A medium onion is ideal right here. Yellow onion works too if that’s what you’ve acquired.
• Carrots: Use 4 medium carrots. You may 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 attainable, 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 do-it-yourself each work nice. I additionally love Higher Than Boullioun.
• Dried Thyme: Only a contact goes a great distance so as to add that signature pot pie taste.
• Heavy Cream: This makes the soup wealthy and silky. You can swap in half-and-half, however it received’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, usually vacuum-packed.

Rotisserie Hen Shortcut

Rotisserie rooster 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 best bargains you will discover.

You’ll skip the browning step firstly. 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 rooster when the recipe requires including the cooked rooster again in.

Because the rooster’s already finished, you’ll simply need to simmer the soup lengthy sufficient to warmth the whole lot via 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 normally 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.

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

You may also discover gluten-free gnocchi at many grocery shops. With gluten-free, you simply need to prepare dinner it in line with the package deal instructions earlier than including it in on the very finish.

Vegetable Add-Ins

This soup is tremendous versatile in relation to veggies. When you’ve acquired extras readily available or simply need to increase the vitamin, listed below are some simple add-in choices:

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

Corn: Stir in 1 cup of frozen or canned corn whenever you add the peas and gnocchi. No additional 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 via and keep tender-crisp.

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

Adjusting Thickness

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

To Make It Thicker: If you would like 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 firstly 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 rooster broth or water. Add somewhat at a time till it’s the consistency you need, then heat it via earlier than serving.