Delicious Chicken Potpie Skillet Pizza: The Ultimate Comfort Food Recipe
Imagine the rich, creamy, savory goodness of a classic chicken potpie, but served with the crispy, satisfying crust of your favorite pizza. This isn’t just a dream; it’s a reality with our incredible Chicken Potpie Skillet Pizza recipe! It’s the ultimate comfort food mashup that promises to delight everyone at your table, from the pickiest eaters to the most discerning adults. Prepare for them to come back for seconds, and maybe even thirds!
Who doesn’t cherish a warm, hearty chicken potpie, especially when the weather turns chilly? And seriously, is there anyone who can resist a perfectly baked pizza? Combining these two beloved culinary concepts creates an absolute winner. This innovative skillet pizza brings together the best of both worlds: a golden, crispy pizza crust cooked in a cast iron skillet, topped with a luscious, flavorful chicken potpie filling that’s bursting with tender chicken and wholesome vegetables. It’s a quick, easy, and semi-homemade solution that leverages pre-made pizza dough and a rotisserie chicken to simplify your cooking process without sacrificing any of the comforting taste.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Potpie Skillet Pizza
- Unbeatable Comfort: It delivers all the nostalgic, heartwarming flavors of chicken potpie in a fun, shareable pizza format.
- Crispy Perfection: Cooking the crust in a preheated cast iron skillet ensures a wonderfully crispy base that holds up to the creamy topping.
- Family Favorite: A guaranteed crowd-pleaser, appealing to both kids and adults with its familiar yet exciting twist.
- Weeknight Friendly: Utilizing shortcuts like store-bought pizza dough and rotisserie chicken makes this a surprisingly quick and easy dinner option.
- Versatile & Customizable: Easily adapt the vegetables or protein to suit your preferences or what you have on hand.
- One-Pan Wonder (Mostly!): While there’s some stovetop work, the main assembly and baking happen in a single skillet.
Get ready to transform your dinner routine with this irresistible fusion dish. It’s more than just a meal; it’s an experience that brings smiles and satisfaction with every cheesy, flavorful bite.
Ingredients for Your Skillet Pizza Masterpiece
Crafting this Chicken Potpie Skillet Pizza requires a thoughtful selection of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need, along with some helpful tips for each:
- Olive Oil: You’ll need about 4 teaspoons, divided, for sautéing vegetables and building the roux. Extra-virgin olive oil is always my preference for its pronounced peppery, fruity flavor. If you’re looking for an alternative, a neutral oil like avocado oil or refined coconut oil works well. It’s generally advisable to avoid seed oils when cooking at high temperatures due to potential toxicity.
- Fresh Onion: A quarter cup of diced onion (approximately 1.5 ounces) forms the aromatic base. White, yellow, or sweet onions are all suitable choices, each lending a slightly different depth of flavor.
- Fresh Carrot: You’ll need about a quarter cup of matchstick-cut carrots (around 1 ounce). For convenience and uniform cooking, I highly recommend using packaged shredded carrots. If dicing fresh carrots, ensure they are cut into very thin matchsticks to cook quickly and evenly.
- Fresh Celery: A quarter cup of diced celery (about 1.25 ounces) adds a subtle, earthy crunch to the filling. Like the onion, pre-chopped celery can be a time-saver.
- Frozen Peas: A quarter cup (roughly 1.5 ounces) of frozen green peas is perfect for this recipe. This is one instance where I prefer a frozen vegetable over a fresh one, as frozen peas retain their vibrant color and sweet flavor remarkably well.
- All-Purpose Flour: You’ll need 1 1/2 tablespoons of unbleached all-purpose flour to create the roux, which thickens our creamy potpie sauce. For the best quality, I always opt for organic, non-GMO flour that is free of glyphosate. My personal favorite comes from a domestic company, Sunrise Flour Mill, located in Minnesota.
- Chicken Broth or Stock: One cup of unsalted chicken stock or broth will form the liquid base of our potpie filling. Use your favorite high-quality prepared broth or stock. If you happen to have some delicious homemade chicken stock on standby, by all means, use that for an even richer flavor.
- Prepared Pizza Dough: A 10-ounce package of refrigerated fresh pizza dough (regular or whole-wheat) is your secret weapon for a quick and easy crust. This shortcut significantly reduces prep time, making this comfort food achievable even on a busy weeknight.
- Rotisserie Chicken Breast: About 3/4 cup (or 5 ounces) of skinless, shredded rotisserie chicken breast is ideal. Using pre-cooked chicken saves a huge amount of time and adds fantastic flavor.
- Fresh Mozzarella Cheese: Three-quarters of a cup (or 3 ounces) of shredded fresh mozzarella cheese will create that irresistible gooey, melted topping.
- Fresh Thyme Leaves: One teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves offers a brighter, more aromatic flavor compared to dried thyme. If fresh thyme isn’t available, you can substitute with about one-third the amount of dried thyme (approximately 1/3 teaspoon).
- Fresh Sage: One teaspoon of chopped fresh sage leaves contributes a vibrant, subtle flavor that dried sage often lacks, as dried sage can be more bitter. If using the dried variety, use about one-third of the recommended amount of fresh sage (approximately 1/3 teaspoon).
- Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper: To taste, enhancing all the delightful flavors in the potpie filling. Kosher salt is recommended for its pure flavor.
Essential Equipment
To make this recipe a breeze, you’ll want to have a few key kitchen tools ready:
- 12-inch Cast Iron Skillet: Crucial for achieving that perfectly crispy crust and for seamless oven-to-table serving. A good quality 12-inch cast iron skillet is a versatile kitchen workhorse.
- Large Nonstick Skillet: For sautéing your vegetables and preparing the creamy potpie sauce.
- Whisk: Essential for smoothly combining the flour and oil for the roux, and for whisking the sauce until thickened.
- Rolling Pin: To roll out your pizza dough into an even circle.
- Sharp Knife and Cutting Board: For dicing your fresh vegetables, if not using pre-cut options.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurate ingredient quantities.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Chicken Potpie Skillet Pizza
Follow these detailed steps to create your mouth-watering Chicken Potpie Skillet Pizza:
1. Prepare Your Oven and Skillet
Begin by placing your 12-inch cast-iron skillet directly into the oven. Then, preheat your oven to a blazing 500°F (260°C). It’s crucial that the skillet gets incredibly hot, so resist the urge to remove it while the oven is preheating. This high heat is the secret to achieving that wonderfully crispy pizza crust.
2. Sauté the Flavorful Vegetables
While your oven and cast-iron skillet are coming to temperature, turn your attention to preparing the delicious potpie topping. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for about 2 minutes until it begins to soften and become translucent.
Next, add the matchstick-cut carrots, diced celery, and frozen peas to the skillet. Continue to sauté for just 1 more minute. The key here is not to overcook the vegetables; they should retain a slight crunch, adding a lovely texture to the final pizza. Once sautéed, remove the vegetable mixture from the skillet and set it aside.
3. Create the Rich Potpie Sauce
Using the same nonstick skillet (no need to clean it!), add the flour and one tablespoon of olive oil. Cook this mixture for 30 seconds, whisking constantly to create a smooth roux. This will be the thickener for your potpie sauce.
Gradually, pour in the chicken stock or broth, continuing to whisk constantly to prevent lumps. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Continue to whisk frequently for about 3 minutes, or until the sauce has visibly thickened to a creamy consistency. Once thickened, remove the skillet from the heat.
4. Parbake the Pizza Crust
Lightly flour a clean surface and place your pizza dough on it. Roll the dough into a circle that is at least 12 inches in diameter. Don’t worry about achieving a perfect circle; a rustic look is perfectly charming!
Crucial step: With extreme caution, very carefully transfer the rolled-out dough into your preheated cast-iron skillet. Remember, the skillet will be extremely hot! Flatten the dough gently to ensure it covers the bottom of the pan and extends slightly up the sides.
Parbake the crust in the preheated oven until it’s lightly browned, which should take approximately 5 minutes. This step is vital for creating a robust, crispy base that can handle the creamy potpie topping.
5. Assemble and Broil
Once the crust is parbaked, carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Now, increase your oven’s setting to broil. Take 1/2 cup of the prepared stock mixture (your creamy potpie sauce) and spread it evenly over the parbaked pizza crust.
Next, sprinkle the sautéed onion mixture, shredded chicken, and shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Make sure to distribute them evenly for a balanced flavor in every slice.
Return the skillet to the oven, placing it about 4 inches from the broiler element. Broil for approximately 2 minutes, or until the cheese is beautifully melted, bubbly, and slightly golden. Keep a very close eye on it, as broilers can cook quickly; if the crust edges start to get too dark, you can protect them with small strips of foil.
6. Final Touches and Serving
Once out of the oven, drizzle the remaining stock mixture over the top of your piping hot pizza. This adds an extra layer of creamy flavor and moisture. Finish by sprinkling with the fresh thyme, sage, and a final touch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Your amazing Chicken Potpie Skillet Pizza is ready! Serve it immediately, sliced into wedges directly from the skillet for a truly rustic and comforting meal. Take a look at that hearty, creamy topping and crispy crust – it’s a feast for the eyes and the palate!
Tips for a Perfect Skillet Pizza
- Preheat the Skillet Properly: Don’t skip placing the cast iron skillet in the oven during preheating. This creates a super-hot surface that crisps the pizza dough beautifully from the bottom up.
- Don’t Overcook Veggies: Sautéing the vegetables for just a few minutes ensures they remain slightly crisp, adding a pleasant texture contrast to the creamy filling.
- Whisk Vigorously: When making the sauce, whisk constantly as you add flour and broth to prevent lumps and achieve a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Careful with Hot Skillet: The cast iron skillet will be extremely hot. Always use oven mitts or heat-resistant gloves when handling it, especially when placing the dough inside.
- Watch the Broiler: Broiling can quickly turn from perfectly golden to burnt. Stay by the oven and keep a close eye on the cheese until it reaches your desired level of meltiness and slight char.
- Adjust Crust Thickness: A 12-inch skillet creates a thinner crust. If you prefer a thicker, deep-dish style pizza, use a 10-inch skillet. Just remember to adjust baking times accordingly for a thicker crust.
Recipe Variations
Feel free to customize your Chicken Potpie Skillet Pizza with these delicious ideas:
- Vegetable Swap: Add mushrooms, corn, green beans, or even diced bell peppers to the vegetable mix.
- Protein Alternatives: Instead of chicken, try shredded turkey, cooked ham, or even plant-based chicken substitutes for a vegetarian option.
- Cheesy Choices: Experiment with different cheeses! A blend of mozzarella and cheddar, or a touch of Parmesan, could add another layer of flavor.
- Herb Variations: Rosemary, parsley, or a touch of marjoram could complement the chicken potpie flavors beautifully.
- Spicy Kick: A pinch of red pepper flakes in the sauce could add a subtle heat.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
If you happen to have leftovers (a rare occurrence with this dish!):
- Storage: Allow the pizza to cool completely before transferring slices to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: For best results, reheat slices in a preheated oven or toaster oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through and the crust is crispy again. You can also briefly reheat in a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat for a crispy bottom, then cover for a few minutes to heat the topping. Microwaving is an option, but the crust won’t be as crispy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can I use homemade pizza dough?
- Absolutely! If you have a favorite homemade pizza dough recipe, feel free to use it. Just ensure it’s rolled to approximately 12 inches in diameter.
- What if I don’t have a cast iron skillet?
- While a cast iron skillet is highly recommended for the best crispy crust, you could try using a regular oven-safe pizza pan. However, the crust might not achieve the same level of crispness. You might need to adjust baking times slightly.
- Can I prepare this ahead of time?
- You can prepare the potpie filling (sautéed vegetables and thickened sauce) a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Assemble and bake the pizza just before serving to ensure the crust remains crispy.
- Is this recipe freezer-friendly?
- While the fully assembled pizza is best enjoyed fresh, you could potentially freeze individual cooked slices and reheat them. The crust might lose some crispness upon thawing and reheating, but the flavor will still be there.
- What side dishes go well with this pizza?
- A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette would be a perfect complement to balance the richness of the pizza. Roasted asparagus or steamed broccoli would also make great additions.
This Chicken Potpie Skillet Pizza is more than just a recipe; it’s an invitation to experience a delightful fusion of two comfort food giants. Its crispy crust and creamy, flavorful filling make it an instant hit for any meal, especially on those evenings when you crave something truly special and satisfying. Give it a try, and watch it become a new family favorite!
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