She Strengthens

Elegant Appetizers for the Holiday Season

Transforming Comfort Food into Sophisticated Bites

When the weather turns cold, there’s nothing like a warm, comforting dish to bring people together. But what if you could take those same comforting flavors and turn them into elegant, bite-sized appetizers perfect for your holiday gathering? We’ve done just that with our Chicken Pot Pie Bites, a sophisticated twist on a classic comfort food.

Creating the Perfect Pastry Shells

To start, you’ll need to make your own puff pastry containers, also known as vol-au-vent. This may seem daunting, but trust us, it’s worth the effort. Simply thaw two packages of all-butter puff pastry, cut out circles using a fluted cutter, and then cut out smaller concentric circles to create the rings. Brush the edges with an egg wash and press the rings onto the larger circles to form the pastry shells. Bake until golden brown and puffed, then punch down the centers to create a space for your filling.

A Classic Filling with a Twist

For the filling, you’ll need a pound of bone-in chicken breast, which you’ll cook until tender and then chop into small pieces. In a large frying pan, sauté chopped celery, shallot, and carrot in butter until tender, then add a splash of Cognac or sherry and cook until the liquid has almost evaporated. Next, add heavy cream, chicken stock, and sage, simmering until the mixture thickens. Stir in the chopped chicken, peas, and parsley, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Assembling the Perfect Bite

To assemble the pot pie bites, simply spoon the hot filling into the pastry shells and serve immediately. The combination of flaky pastry, rich filling, and tender chicken is sure to impress your guests. And the best part? You can make both the pastry shells and the filling ahead of time, making this recipe perfect for busy holiday hosts.

Tips and Variations

If you’re short on time, try using meat from a rotisserie chicken or other cooked chicken. You can also experiment with different fillings, such as our Turkey Pot Pie Filling, to create a unique twist on this classic recipe. Whatever you choose, we’re sure your guests will love these elegant, comforting bites.

Recipe Details

Yield: 35 pot pie bites
Difficulty: Medium
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Active Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the Pastry Shells:

• 2 packages all-butter puff pastry, thawed
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• All-purpose flour, as needed

For the Chicken Pot Pie Filling:

• 1 pound bone-in chicken breast
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup finely chopped celery
• 1/3 cup finely chopped shallot
• 1/4 cup finely chopped carrot
• 3 tablespoons Cognac or dry sherry
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 teaspoon ground sage
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 1/2 teaspoons water
• 1/3 cup frozen petite peas, thawed
• 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves