Description
This Easy Chicken Ala King is a creamy, comforting dish that blends tender chicken with vibrant bell peppers, mushrooms, and peas in a rich, velvety sauce. Perfect served over toast, rice, or puff pastry, it brings a touch of classic American elegance to a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Sauce & Vegetables
- 2 tablespoons butter (divided)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)
- Additional salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Prepare Chicken:
Season the diced chicken with salt and pepper evenly. This step ensures the chicken is well-flavored from the start.Cook Chicken:
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until lightly browned and almost cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside.Sauté Vegetables:
In the same skillet, add the remaining butter. Sauté the chopped onion, mushrooms, red bell pepper, and garlic until the onion becomes translucent and the mushrooms soften, releasing their flavor.Form the Roux:
Sprinkle the flour over the sautéed vegetables and stir continuously for about one minute. This helps cook off the raw flour taste and forms the base for your creamy sauce.Create the Sauce:
Gradually add the chicken broth and heavy cream while stirring. Allow the sauce to thicken, then return the chicken to the skillet along with the peas. Stir in the paprika and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Let it simmer for an additional 5 minutes until all ingredients are well combined and heated through.Finish & Serve:
Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately. Enjoy the dish over your preferred base like toast, rice, or puff pastry for a delightful meal.
Notes
- This classic dish is a beloved American comfort food.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- While frozen peas work perfectly, using fresh peas when in season can enhance the flavor.
- Avoid overcooking the chicken to maintain its tenderness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing, Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 250g
- Calories: 350 calories
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: chicken, ala king, creamy chicken, comfort food, quick dinner, American cuisine, easy recipe