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 basic, comfort-food taste with rather less work. It’s wealthy, creamy, full of tender hen and veggies, and each chunk tastes like hen soup for the soul.

In case you are up for it, you may at all times make a complete chicken pot pie. It’s nonetheless fairly simple.

A variety of recipes use potatoes for the “pie crust” factor or canned biscuit dough, however that’s simply not my type in any respect. I thought of including some selfmade biscuit dough to behave as dumplings, however an excellent higher thought 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 gentle, doughy “pie crust” goodness, and actually, it may be even higher.

Ingredient Notes

• Boneless Skinless Hen Breast: You’ll want about 1 1/2 kilos. Hen thighs work too when you desire 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 obtained readily available.
• Salted Butter: For those who 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 obtained.
• 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-Goal 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 together with low sodium if you would like extra management over the salt. Retailer-bought or selfmade 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 would swap in half-and-half, nevertheless it gained’t be fairly as thick.
• Frozen Peas: Toss them in straight from the freezer. No have to 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 hen makes this soup even faster to get on the desk, plus it’s what’s often called a “loss chief” that means grocery shops promote it at a loss so it’s top-of-the-line bargains you’ll find.

You’ll skip the browning step at the start. As an alternative, 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.

For the reason that hen’s already executed, you’ll simply wish to simmer the soup lengthy sufficient to warmth every thing by and let the flavors come collectively.

Gnocchi Choices

Gnocchi is the key ingredient that offers 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.

For those who’re utilizing frozen gnocchi, there’s no have to thaw it. Simply toss it into the simmering soup and provides it a few further minutes. You’ll comprehend it’s prepared when the gnocchi float to the highest and are gentle and pillowy.

It’s also possible to discover gluten-free gnocchi at many grocery shops. With gluten-free, you simply wish to prepare dinner it based on the package deal instructions earlier than including it in on the very finish.

Vegetable Add-Ins

This soup is tremendous versatile on the subject of veggies. For those who’ve obtained extras readily available or simply wish to increase the diet, 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 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 in order that they prepare dinner by 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 may completely tweak the feel primarily based on the way you prefer it:

To Make It Thicker: If you’d 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. It’s also possible to scale back the broth by 1 cup firstly for a naturally thicker consequence.

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 a little bit at a time till it’s the consistency you need, then heat it by earlier than serving.