Theres a pretty good chance that anyone browsing recipes for some ideas for a warm, hearty, and comforting meal has come across chicken pot pie recipes. Theres probably a million and one different versions out there, but your search may have also returned some chicken pie recipes, too. Surely, theyre the same thing, right? Pie filled with some kind of chicken? Not quite, and heres the thing: The terms are often used interchangeably, even though theyre technically two different dishes. That makes figuring out which recipe is really referring to what meal kind of difficult, but weve done the legwork for you.
So, lets talk about the difference between a chicken pot pie and a chicken pie. Theres some good news that comes along with this. Once you know what distinguishes the two, its pretty easy to remember which is which — and that means youll be able to correct anyone who uses the terms wrong … much like its easy to correct anyone whos referring to shepherds pie and cottage pie as the same dish without taking into account the differences between the two. (You are doing that, right? Good!)
They became separate dishes in America
Chicken pie and chicken pot pie share a history that goes back a long, long way — and thats not an exaggeration. The earliest representations of pie are depictions left behind on the ancient Egyptian tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and if you really like pie? Youre in good company. While those were generally fruit pies, the ancient Greeks and Romans were among the first to make savory meat pies, which became even more popular in Europe as farming livestock became a livelihood for much of the continent. Thats also where wheat crops allowed for the creation of crusts that were much more delicious than previously inedible pie crusts, which were treated more like cooking vessels.
Now, heres an interesting tidbit: Since early meat pies not only contained, well, meat, but occasionally birds that were still alive, they werent called pies. They were called coffins. There. Thats something you know now.
So, where did chicken pie and chicken pot pie turn into different dishes? In America. When early American settlers needed to find creative ways to make the most out of all of their leftovers, they invented the pot pie. More ingredients — specifically, vegetables — were added to the traditionally more straightforward meat pie in order to make food scraps of all kinds go further. Today, it remains a major comfort food for the entire nation.
While theres no denying that homemade pie crust is the best, theres nothing wrong with opting for the store-bought stuff either. Life is busy, after all, and if youre already making a comfort food sort of dish for dinner, why make it more complicated? That said, the crust is one of the major differences between a chicken pie and a chicken pot pie.
There are plenty of recipes that use the terms interchangeably, but a true Southern-style chicken pie has a homemade crust. That crust is similar to what you might expect to see in a sweet fruit pie, meaning its on the top and bottom. And that kind of makes sense: If theres a lot of crust, youre going to want it to be just as amazing as the filling, right?
Chicken pot pie, on the other hand, often has just a top crust. And thats pretty logical, too — it means that theres enough to mop up all that creamy filling, but not too much that its going to get too heavy. (No matter which version youre making, heres some good news: You can absolutely make pie dough in bulk ahead of time and freeze it to use later.)
Creamy chicken breast vs. non-creamy chicken thighs
This difference isnt a hard and fast rule because, as we mentioned, chicken pie and chicken pot pie are used interchangeably in a lot of recipes — and that can lead to some major confusion. That said, we did notice that many chicken pie recipes call for chicken thighs and chicken broth. But what if youre looking at using chicken breasts? You might be better off opting for a chicken pot pie because of key ingredients. (And again, this isnt a hard-and-fast rule; its more of a general sort of observation. If this doesnt apply to your favorite recipe, consider this your disclaimer!)
Chicken pot pies tend to have a creamy ingredient and call for turning chicken broth into a gravy — like in this old fashioned chicken pot pie recipe or this easy chicken pot pie recipe. Both recipes call for rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken, including the breast. Thats a typically drier cut of chicken, so it makes sense that putting it in a creamy pot pie would help make sure youre not getting a dried-out pie.
Many chicken pie recipes, on the other hand, call for chicken thighs. Theres usually more moisture and fat in thighs, so including them in a less creamy, two-crust pie works as theyre not going to dry out as quickly.
The differences in the way that chicken pies and chicken pot pies are prepared means that theyre typically served in a different way. Since a chicken pot pie has a creamy filling and no bottom crust, that means its going to be easiest to eat when its scooped out of a baking dish and transferred onto another dish. The crust is perched on top, and its easy to break up and dunk into that creamy gravy goodness that oozes out.
Chicken pie, on the other hand, holds together like a fruit pie and keeps its shape. The center isnt as runny, and with the bottom crust, it can be cut into neater slices and served on a plate. Some of the filling might come out in the process — many recipes use broth to keep the meat from drying out — but for the most part, youre going to be getting a slice of chicken pie, whereas your chicken pot pie is being dished out by the spoonful.
How to Make Classic Chicken Pot Pie | Pillsbury Basics
FAQ
What is the difference between a chicken pot pie and a chicken pie?
What makes a pot pie a pot pie?
Why is chicken pot pie called that?
What’s the difference between chicken pie and chicken pot pie?
Some of the filling might come out in the process — many recipes use broth to keep the meat from drying out — but for the most part, you’re going to be getting a slice of chicken pie, whereas your chicken pot pie is being dished out by the spoonful.
Does chicken pot pie have a top crust?
Chicken pot pie, on the other hand, often has just a top crust. And that’s pretty logical, too — it means that there’s enough to mop up all that creamy filling, but not too much that it’s going to get too heavy. (No matter which version you’re making, here’s some good news: You can absolutely to use later.)
Is chicken pot pie easy to eat?
Since a chicken pot pie has a creamy filling and no bottom crust, that means it’s going to be easiest to eat when it’s scooped out of a baking dish and transferred onto another dish. The crust is perched on top, and it’s easy to break up and dunk into that creamy gravy goodness that oozes out.
What is chicken pot pie?
Chicken pot pie consists of a savory filling made with diced chicken, veggies, and a creamy sauce. Then, it’s all buttoned up in a flaky pie crust. And it’s deceptively easy to make. The recipe only calls for six ingredients and has four simple steps! Plus, the oven does most of the work.