Creamy, comforting, and packed with tender chicken, mushrooms, peas, and pimentos, Chicken a la King is a timeless dinner recipe that feels both cozy and elegant. This homemade version skips canned soup and creates a rich, velvety sauce from scratch that pairs beautifully with biscuits, rice, noodles, or toast. Inspired by classic American comfort food, this dish is perfect for weeknight dinners or family gatherings.

What Is Chicken a la King?

Chicken à la King is a creamy chicken dish traditionally made with diced chicken, mushrooms, peppers or pimentos, and a silky cream sauce. It is often served over toast, rice, biscuits, puff pastry, or noodles. The recipe became especially popular in the United States during the 20th century and remains a beloved comfort food today.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Rich and creamy homemade sauce
• Loaded with tender chicken and vegetables
• Easy one-pan comfort meal
• Great for leftovers
• Delicious over biscuits, rice, pasta, or puff pastry

Ingredients

For the Chicken

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the Sauce

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup half-and-half or whole milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Add-Ins

• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/4 cup diced pimentos

For Serving

• Biscuits
• Rice
• Egg noodles
• Toast points
• Puff pastry shells

Also Read: Baked Egg Noodle Recipe

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Cook the Chicken

Season the diced chicken with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for about 3–4 minutes per side until lightly golden. Remove and set aside.

Step 2: Sauté the Vegetables

In the same pan, melt the butter. Add mushrooms and onions, cooking for about 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

Step 3: Make the Roux

Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir continuously for 1–2 minutes. This helps remove the raw flour taste and thickens the sauce.

Step 4: Add the Liquids

Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring constantly. Add the milk, heavy cream, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.

Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer until slightly thickened.

Step 5: Finish the Dish

Return the chicken to the skillet. Add peas and pimentos. Simmer for another 8–10 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce becomes creamy.

Step 6: Serve

Serve hot over fluffy rice, buttery biscuits, toast, noodles, or puff pastry shells.

Also Read: Biscuit Gravy Recipe

Tips for the Best Chicken a la King

• Use rotisserie chicken for a faster version.
• White mushrooms or cremini mushrooms both work well.
• Add a splash of dry sherry or white wine for classic flavor.
• Do not boil the sauce aggressively or the cream may separate.
• Leftovers taste even better the next day.

What to Serve with Chicken a la King

• Buttermilk biscuits
• Buttered egg noodles
• Mashed potatoes
• White rice
• Puff pastry shells
• Garlic toast

Also Read: Filo Pastry Recipe

Storage Instructions

Refrigerator

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freezer

Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheating

Warm gently on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of milk or broth if needed.

Also Read: Peach Cobbler Recipe

Nutritional Information (Approximate Per Serving)