Chicken a la King

Chicken a la king is a wonderful comfort food dish, ideal for a cool evening or whenever you are craving something that tastes like mom made it! You can use a rotisserie chicken that you have shredded for this recipe, or fry up some pieces of fresh chicken, which I think makes it much tastier. The recipe below is for 2 servings.

Ingredients

2 large chicken breasts or 4-5 chicken tenders, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 green pepper, chopped

1 yellow onion, diced

1 packet of mushrooms (baby bella or button ideally, but any mushrooms will work), sliced

1 small bowl of frozen green peas

1 small carton of heavy cream

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

1/4 teaspoon butter

2 tablespoons flour

1 cup half and half (or whole milk)

1/4 cup chicken stock

Grated cheese (whatever mix you like, monterey jack, cheddar, gruyere, swiss)

Salt and pepper

Smoked Paprika

Method

Shred the rotisserie chicken (if using) into bite size pieces and set aside

In an oven proof casserole dish or deep pan, sauté the onions, green pepper, mushrooms and garlic until lightly golden brown

Add the butter and allow to melt in the center of the pan. Add chopped chicken pieces (if using) and sauté until lightly golden, turning frequently to avoid burning

Add the flour and mix with half and half or milk to create a thick white sauce, blend with the sauteed vegetables

Add the rotisserie chicken (if using)

Mix in chicken stock and add a little cream to the mixture to create a slightly creamy base

Add salt and pepper to taste

Sprinkle top with grated cheese and smoked paprika, cover and bake for 30 minutes until bubbling and golden

Remove from oven, stir in green peas, and allow to rest for 5 minutes to heat the peas through

Serve on a bed of rice.

In the Glass

With a creamy dish such as this, a California Chardonnay or a Pinot Noir would pair delightfully.