Classic Chicken a la King

This classic dish is all about hearty, creamy comfort food deliciousness. It comes together quickly using pre-cooked chicken, making it perfect for those busy nights when you need dinner on the table fast. Traditionally you serve it up over something, but what you serve it over is a matter of personal preference. It goes great over rice, pasta, toast, or biscuits. The options are all delicious so the choice is up to you!

If you can’t get enough of creamy chicken recipes, try our creamy chicken soup, our southern style chicken and dumplings or our white chicken chili.

Chicken a la King was popular in the ’50s and ’60s. It’s one of those recipes you may have enjoyed at grandma’s house, with a smell that brings back fond childhood memories. It might be a vintage dish, but it’s just as relevant as ever to have an easy-to-make dinner that the whole family will love.

Ingredient Notes

• Mushrooms: Either white or cremini work here. Slice them yourself or buy the pre-sliced option to save time.
• Chicken Broth: Use low-sodium broth if you can to best control the salt content and flavor. You can always salt to taste which tends to work better.
  Milk: Whole milk or 2% is preferred.
• Egg Yolks: Make sure to temper them slowly with the hot sauce to prevent scrambling.
• Heavy Cream: You can substitute with half-and-half, but the sauce won’t be as thick.
• Frozen Peas: No need to thaw; they’ll heat through quickly in the sauce.
• Diced Pimientos: You can find them jarred, usually near the pickles and olives in the grocery store. Be sure to drain them well.
• Chicken: You have a variety of options—freshly baked, leftover, shredded, canned, or even rotisserie chicken all work great.

Tempering Egg Yolks

Tempering egg yolks ensures that the yolks won’t curdle and cook (making scrambled egg chunks) when being added to the hot pan of simmering sauce. To temper your egg yolks, simply add a scoop (about 1/2 cup) of the sauce mixture into the bowl of your egg yolk and heavy cream mixture. Give it a light stir and then quickly add that entire egg yolk mixture into your hot pan while stirring quickly but gently.

Tuna Twist

Over the years, many have swapped the chicken in Chicken a la King for tuna, creating a delicious twist that seafood lovers will enjoy. To make Tuna a la King, simply replace the chicken in this recipe with about 4 cups of tuna. Just be sure to use high-quality tuna for the best flavor!