Jack-o'-Lantern Pot Pie (Printable Version)
Tender chicken and vegetables topped with a festive golden pastry featuring jack-o'-lantern design.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Filling
01 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
02 - 1 small yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
07 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
08 - 1 cup whole milk
09 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed
10 - 1 cup frozen peas
11 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Crust
14 - 1 sheet refrigerated or homemade pie dough (about 9 ounces)
15 - 1 large egg, beaten
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion, carrots, and celery; sauté 5–7 minutes until vegetables soften. Add garlic and cook an additional minute.
03 - Sprinkle all-purpose flour evenly over vegetables and stir for 1 minute, coating the mixture.
04 - Gradually whisk in chicken broth and whole milk. Continue cooking, stirring often, until mixture thickens, approximately 4–5 minutes.
05 - Stir in cooked chicken, frozen peas, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Remove pan from heat and let the filling cool briefly.
06 - Spoon the filling into a 9-inch pie dish or divide among four individual oven-safe ramekins.
07 - On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the pie dough to cover your dish. Using a sharp paring knife, carve facial features into dough for a jack-o'-lantern effect.
08 - Place the carved dough over the filling, pressing edges to seal. Brush dough with beaten egg for enhanced color.
09 - Bake 25–30 minutes (or 18–22 minutes for single portions), until crust is golden and filling is bubbling.
10 - Allow to cool 10 minutes before serving for best texture.
# Additional Tips::
01 -
- Uses real, wholesome ingredients found in most kitchens
- Fun family cooking project and perfect for holidays
- Satisfying blend of creamy sauce and crisp, golden crust
- Customizable with seasonal veggies or vegetarian swaps
02 -
- High in protein and veggies delivers sustaining energy for busy evenings
- Perfect for autumn parties and family gatherings
- Crust carving is excellent for kids to help and celebrates fall traditions
03 -
- Roll pastry a bit thicker than usual to help with easy carving and avoid leaks around the jack-o'-lantern face
- For best flavor cook chicken fresh or use leftovers from a roast for added savory depth
- Be adventurous with cutout shapes schooling kids or helpers in pumpkin face styles is half the fun and memory making