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, full of tender rooster and veggies, and each chunk tastes like rooster soup for the soul.

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

Plenty of recipes use potatoes for the “pie crust” aspect or canned biscuit dough, however that’s simply not my type in any respect. I thought of 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 mushy, doughy “pie crust” goodness, and actually, it is perhaps even higher.

Ingredient Notes

• Boneless Skinless Hen Breast: You’ll want about 1 1/2 kilos. Hen thighs work too in the event you choose 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 obtained readily available.
• Salted Butter: If you happen to solely have unsalted, that’ll work simply effective.
• 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 may cube or slice them, no matter texture you like 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 recent if attainable, 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 home made 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 possibly can swap in half-and-half, nevertheless 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, sometimes vacuum-packed.

Rotisserie Hen Shortcut

Rotisserie rooster 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 among the best 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 rooster when the recipe requires including the cooked rooster again in.

For the reason that rooster’s already accomplished, you’ll simply need to simmer the soup lengthy sufficient to warmth all the pieces via 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.

If you happen to’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 mushy and pillowy.

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

Vegetable Add-Ins

This soup is tremendous versatile with regards to veggies. If you happen to’ve obtained extras readily available or simply need to increase the vitamin, listed here are some simple 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 cook dinner time wanted.

Child Spinach: Add 2 cups of recent 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 recent or frozen inexperienced beans. Add them with the carrots and celery so that they cook 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 may completely tweak the feel primarily based 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 in the beginning for a naturally thicker outcome.

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