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This creamy, easy Chicken a la King recipe is a comforting classic.

Cooked chicken is simmered in a creamy white sauce with mushrooms, peas, and pimentos in a single pan that goes right to the table from the stovetop.

Chicken a la King in a pot with a bowl of rice

Holly’s Chicken à la King Highlights

  • Flavor: This recipe has tender chicken in a pimento mushroom cream sauce.
  • Skill level: Simple steps and ready-made ingredients make this dish a cinch.
  • Time-Saving Tip: Buy sliced mushrooms or swap them for drained canned mushrooms. Rotisserie chicken or leftovers keep this recipe quick.
  • Serving suggestions: It’s delish over rice, garlic mashed potatoes, biscuits, or homemade egg noodles.

Ingredient Tips for Chicken a la King

  • Chicken: Any cooked chicken works in this recipe; I use rotisserie chicken. If you don’t have cooked chicken, check the recipe notes.
  • Vegetables: Mushrooms, peas, and pimentos add earthy flavor and a pop of color to chicken a la King, but any combination of veggies works. Try celery, carrots, green beans, or spinach.
  • Sauce: This easy sauce is made with stock, half-and-half, and a few basics from the spice cupboard. Feel free to swap out the sauce for a can of cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup. Add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes for a little heat.

Leftovers and Storage

  • Keep leftover chicken a la King covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat portions on the stovetop or in the microwave with a little milk mixed in to loosen the sauce.
  • Freeze portions in freezer-safe containers for up to one month. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
  • Leftovers can be added to a casserole dish, topped with crispy breadcrumbs, and baked until heated through for a whole new meal!

More Quick Chicken Recipes

Did you make this Chicken a la King? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! 

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pot of Chicken ala King
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Chicken a la King

Chicken a la King is rich and creamy with veggies and chicken in a flavorful sauce.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

buy hollys book

Ingredients  

  • ½ cup butter unsalted
  • 8 ounces white mushrooms sliced
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 cup frozen petite peas
  • ½ cup pimentos drained and chopped
  • 3 cups cooked shredded chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken

Instructions 

  • In a large 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and onions and cook until they start to soften, about 5 minutes.
  • Season with garlic powder, black pepper, and kosher salt.
  • Sprinkle in the flour and stir until a paste is formed. Cook for 2 minutes.
  • While stirring, slowly pour in the chicken stock and half and half. Stir to make sure no chunks of flour remain.
  • Turn the heat to low and stir until the sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the peas, chopped pimentos, and rotisserie chicken. Cook until heated through, about 3 minutes more.
  • Serve over pasta, rice, or biscuits.

Notes

To Cook Chicken Quickly:  You can quickly boil chicken while preparing the other ingredients for this recipe. Add 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts to a saucepan and cover with chicken broth. Cook on a low boil for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Shred it for use in recipes and the broth will be extra flavorful to use in this recipe (or reserve for another use).
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat in microwave or on stovetop and serve over rice or pasta. 
To freeze, ladle Chicken ala King into zippered bags or an airtight container with the date on it and freeze flat. Thaw out and reheat using steps above. 
4.95 from 182 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 438 | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 699mg | Potassium: 554mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1838IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Chicken, Dinner, Entree, Main Course
Cuisine American
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rich and savory Chicken ala King with writing
Chicken ala King in the pot and plated with a title
creamy Chicken ala King with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. This recipe right here. If o could take a pic and show it to you I would. So delicious. Thank you so much! 5 stars

    1. We would love to see your finished dish! Feel free to tag us on instagram @spendpennies.

    1. Corinne, yes this can be made without the pimentos but it might lack a little flavor.

  2. I love your recipes and this looks really good but I can’t find pimentos
    what would you recommend instead please.

  3. Thank you so much for this recipe. I will enjoy it. It is an oldie but goodies that I have not seen around for many many moons. Thank you so much. I love all of you that put these wonderful recipes on here for us old timers. I am definitely an old timer on June 6 of this year I will be 83 and very proud of it. I’ve made it this far and not in bad shape. I will say that good health. But I’m sending this mostly to thank you for all the wonderful recipes that you sent out to the rest of us. I don’t know if I can get this to go through or not. I always have trouble sending either the wrong thing or the wrong password or whatever and never been able to get through to those that I love to thank for their kindness so say a prayer that I will be able to get through with the password and everything otherwise I cannot get through to you

    1. Thank you for your kind words, it means so much to me. I love these older recipes too, so good and cozy. I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the recipes Maxine!

  4. Very good I remember my mom making this in the 60’s, perfect to remember her Mother’s Day weekend.5 stars