Classic Chicken a la King (2024)

Chicken a la King is a is one for the family recipe box! This hearty dish features tender chicken and mushrooms in a creamy sauce and can be served over rice, pasta, or even biscuits!

Chicken a la King

Chicken a la King is an old fashioned dish that has stood the test of time – both because it is extremely flavorful and delicious, but also because it is a quick and easy meal. With just a few minutes of prep time and about 20 minutes of cook time, you can have a hearty dinner on the table that the whole family will love! It’s also made with thrifty ingredients and is a budget friendly recipe.

The base of this dish is the garlicky cream sauce that makes even basic chicken taste like a million bucks. The flavors of the sauce are soaked up by the chicken, vegetables, and any accompaniments like rice or pasta so every single bite is heavenly.

Why is it Called Chicken a la King?

Chicken a la King is a dish that was inventedat least 100 years ago. In fact, it’s been around so long that there are numerous stories about where the original recipe and the name came from.

Of all the claims, perhaps the most legitimate is that of William “Bill” King, a cook at the Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia in the late 1800s. A 1915 obituary for King credited him with creating and naming the legendary Chicken a la King recipe.

In any case, the dish was quite popular in the early part of the 20th century and is still a classic chicken dish that is still loved today.

Ingredients

• 1 TB olive oil
• 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
• 1 white onion; diced
• 2 TB garlic
• 1 cup mushrooms; sliced
• 1 green bell pepper; cut into strips
• 4 TB all purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup pimentos, drained and chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Helpful Kitchen Tools

• Large Skillet or Sauté Pan

Instructions

To Prep: Add olive oil to a large pan over medium high heat. Slice each chicken breast in half longwise, then dice the chicken halves into 1/2 inch cubes.

1. Add the chicken pieces, diced onion and garlic to the heated pan and saute until Sauce until chicken just starts to brown. If needed, you can drain some of the liquid from the pan. Add the mushrooms and bell peppers and cook until tender. Reduce to medium heat as needed to prevent scorching.
2. Sprinkle on the flour and stir well until everything is coated.
3. Pour in chicken broth and stir as the sauce thickens. If the mixture seems too thick to stir, you can add more broth.
4. Once the sauce has the consistency of a gravy, stir in the heavy cream. Simmer on low heat until the sauce is thick enough to stick to the back of a spoon. Finish by stirring in the pimentos, salt, and pepper.

Prep Tips

• We used baby Portabella mushrooms in this recipe, but you can use your favorite kind of mushroom.
• If you don’t care for bell peppers, you can omit them. Frozen peas are another common vegetable used in this dish, so feel free to substitute them for the peppers, or add for more green veggies! If using the peas, you’ll want to add them at the same time as the pimentos…NOT when you would add the bell peppers.
• For a fresh touch, garnish with fresh parsley or a sprig of thyme.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can microwave to reheat, but I like the stovetop because it reheats everything more evenly.
• If you don’t have heavy cream, you can substitute milk. I’d recommend using a milk with higher fat content, such as whole milk, to get a similar creamy consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Do You Serve With Chicken a la King?

Chicken a la King is a versatile dish that pairs well with almost anything!

It is often served over:

• White or brown rice
• Noodles
• Bread or toast
• Puff pastry shells
• Biscuits

These starchy sides soak up that delicious creamy gravy so every bite is packed with flavor!

For a lower carb option, you can serve Chicken a la King with steamed vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower.

Can You Use Cooked Chicken?

Absolutely! One of the great things about this dish is that it is perfect for using up leftover chicken, or any protein really!

If starting with cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken, you’ll want to chop into smaller pieces. Shredding may work best for rotisserie chicken. So you can skip the step in the recipe instructions about cooking the chicken and simply start by sautéing the onions and peppers.

Add the cooked chicken to the dish near the end, when you would add the pimentos, just enough to warm the chicken and coat in sauce.

More Chicken Recipes To Try

• Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• Tequila Lime Chicken Pasta
• Roasted Chicken, Sausage and Potatoes

Chicken a la King Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)

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