Herby Spring Chicken Pie
I first made this when I was 13, following Jamie Oliver’s 30 Minute Meals. It’s a creamy chicken and vegetable pie packed with fresh greens like spinach, courgette, asparagus, and leek, all simmered in a light mustard and crème fraîche sauce. Topped with golden puff pastry, it’s comforting, flavourful, and surprisingly simple.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 500g boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 leek
- 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon plain flour
- 200ml white wine optional (sub for more chicken stock)
- 300ml chicken stock
- one bunch asparagus, chopped
- 100g spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 courgettes, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 200ml crème fraîche
- large bunch of herbs, finely chopped - I used a mix of tarragon / parsley/ chives - but use a mix of whatever herbs you want, just make sure you have a lot
- 1 lemon
- 1 sheet of ready-made puff pastry
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan).
Step 2
Heat a little oil in a large oven-safe pan over high heat. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces and season with salt. Cook until the chicken is browned on the outside but not fully cooked through, then remove it and set aside.
Step 3
In the same pan, add the chopped leek and garlic and saute for a few mins. Then sprinkle in the flour. Stir and cook for a minute.
Step 4
Deglaze the pan with white wine (optional), then pour in the chicken stock. Let it cook for a few minutes to allow the alcohol and flour to cook out.
Step 5
Add the courgettes, spinach, and asparagus to the pan. Stir to combine and cook for a couple of minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
Step 6
Return the chicken to the pan, then stir in the Dijon mustard, crème fraîche, salt, and pepper to taste.
Step 7
Mix in the chopped herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Step 8
Lay over the puff pastry over the top of the filling in the pan.
Step 9
Beat the egg and brush it over the top of the pastry.
Step 10
Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 mins until the pastry is golden brown and puffed.