How to Freeze Chicken Pot Pie?

You can freeze chicken pot pie and that too easily. It can be stored in the freezer for up to two months and is very freezer-friendly. The pot pie is particularly simple to freeze due to the filling’s composition. Whether it is cooked or unbaked, Chicken Pot Pie can be frozen.

Since you can have dinner ready in less than an hour, this freezer-friendly recipe has made life simple for many mothers. Aside from that, you can store it safely for a few months and then consume it anytime you like. In addition to taking less time to prepare, chicken pot pie is also less expensive because it only requires a few basic ingredients.

How to Freeze Chicken Pot Pie?

Both baked and unbaked versions of chicken pot pie can be frozen. The crust may become mushy if a baked chicken pot pie is frozen, though. That might make eating chicken pot pie unpleasant.

A healthy dinner that can also be prepared vegetarian is chicken pot pie. It’s a dish that may be prepared and frozen to keep fresh. How should chicken pot pie be frozen? Let’s look at how to freeze chicken pot pie in a few simple steps properly.

Preparation

Chicken pot pie is a classic comfort food and makes for great leftovers. This easy, healthy recipe can be made up to 2 days ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer until it’s ready to bake.

  • The filling for this dish is based on homemade chicken stock. The homemade broth gives it extra flavor and a healthier kick.
  • To prepare the filling, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and celery. Cook for a few minutes until tender and translucent.
  • Next, whisk in flour, and cook until the flour turns a light golden color. Stirring frequently, add milk and chicken broth little by little until thickened and smooth.
  • Stir in salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme. Then, mix in peas and parsley. Place the filling in a cooled pie crust and top it with another smaller piece. Tuck the edges together and cut a few slits in the top to vent steam.

Freezing

Freezing chicken pot pie is a great option for busy weeknights or when you don’t feel like baking. The filling can be prepared and stored in the freezer until you’re ready to cook it.

To freeze, wrap the chicken pot pie tightly in aluminum foil to minimize air exposure. Once it’s frozen, store it in a freezer bag or a heavy-duty freezer container.

When ready to bake, unwrap the chicken pot pie and place it on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush the top with an egg wash and cover with foil.

The baking process will be slightly longer than if you baked it right away, but the crust and filling will still be flaky and tender. You can also reheat the chicken pot pie in the oven or microwave. Just note that the crust will soften a bit after reheating.

Freezing Chicken Pot Pie Before Baking

You can easily freeze chicken pot pie when you need to have dinner on the table fast. Just make sure to thaw it before baking. Otherwise, it will crack and become a mess.

The best way to freeze chicken pot pie is to place it in a gallon freezer bag and seal it tight. This helps to keep out as much air as possible and prevent it from getting freezer burned.

Use Pillsbury’s refrigerated pie crust to make it even easier. You can also swap out the chicken for turkey or change the vegetables to something that suits your family’s taste.

The sauce is quick to make and consists of a mixture of butter, flour, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, salt, and pepper. It’s then combined with milk and chicken broth for a creamy filling flavored with thyme and sherry.

How to Reheat Pot Pies in the Microwave?

  1. Put a pie slice on a plate that can go in the microwave.
  2. For one minute, heat.
  3. With a knife or toothpick, feel the filling to see if it is warm.
  4. Continue heating in 30-second intervals until thoroughly warmed.
  5. Before serving, give the pot pie a 60-second rest.

To ensure that they warm up evenly in the microwave, it is better to heat single portions simultaneously.

The likelihood of having cold or overdone spots increases with pie size.

Be careful not to bite into a hot pie right away. Internal steam buildup poses a risk of mouth burn.

My Judgment

The pie crust became soggy with this procedure, which is why it wasn’t my favorite.

If you’re in a rush and making pie for yourself, you can get away with using the microwave, but I wouldn’t suggest it for company.

How to Reheat Pot Pies on the Stove?

  1. Set a pan over medium heat on your stove.
  2. Spray some non-stick spray lightly on your pan if it is not non-stick.
  3. In the pan, put a portion of your pie.
  4. Warm for 5 minutes or until cooked in the center, covered with a lid.
  5. Serve right away.

Heat is trapped and warmed from all sides when you cover your pie with a lid while baking.

This approach works well for smaller amounts and individually wrapped pot pies.

Larger servings and entire pies won’t likely warm evenly or maintain their flaky dough (it will start to steam).

Keep a close eye on the filling if it drips onto the pan to prevent burning.

My Judgment

I didn’t like this approach all that much.

It was nearly hard to prevent the contents from oozing out and covering the pan because I was using a slice of pie.

I believe the pastry would begin to sag even with a full pie.

This technique, in my opinion, works best with heavier, sweeter pies like pumpkin or apple pie.

How to Reheat Pot Pies in the Air Fryer?

  1. Your air fryer should be set at 300°F (150°C).
  2. Put some pot pie in a little baking dish. To avoid the pastry browning before the middle is heated, stick to smaller amounts.
  3. Place foil over the pie’s sliced edges to prevent filling leakage.
  4. The baking dish should be put in the fryer basket.
  5. Heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until the middle of the filling is warmed.
  6. Serve right away.

If you don’t have a baking dish that fits the bill, you can line your fryer basket with foil or parchment paper.

By doing this, you can avoid creating a big mess and make it simpler to pull the pie out of the basket.

Use a knife or toothpick to check the filling’s internal temperature before serving your pie.

It can be deceiving since the pastry will cook up quickly and feel hot to the touch practically right away.

My Judgment

This is a great method if you have a portable air fryer.

The crust was wonderful and crispy, but you need to use low to moderate heat, or else the filling will be cold.

Overall, this technique works well, is quick, and easy, although it is not recommended for larger amounts (like in the oven).

How to Reheat a Frozen Chicken Pot Pie?

Most of the time, chicken pot pie doesn’t need to be thawed. If it is not baked, you can bake it from frozen. How? Read on.

Before baking, you can let it thaw for 30 minutes. With the foil still on, bake it in a preheated oven for 30 minutes after taking it out of the freezer. Then, bake it for 45 to 50 minutes or until it turns golden brown. However, if you’re unsure about baking it while it’s frozen,b

Here’s how to reheat frozen chicken pot pie that has already been baked. Reheating options include the oven and microwave. Using a range, use a muffin tray greased with oil and preheat the oven to 375°F. However, if you’re using a microwave, give it time to thaw before reheating it for 2–3 minutes on high heat.

How to Know if a Chicken Pot Pie is Done?

Do you know what a food thermometer is? It can be used to gauge the pie’s internal temperature. The internal temperature of a fully cooked chicken pot pie should be 165°F. Be careful; it’s scorching there. However, you should have baked the pie for more than 45 minutes before attempting that.

The pie is likewise finished when you can see boiling filling juice at the sides of the pie through the slit produced at the top.

How to Thaw Frozen Chicken Pot Pie?

A frozen Chicken Pot Pie can be defrosted in several different ways. The pot pie can be prepared by storing it in the fridge overnight. It can also be heated briefly in the microwave or submerged in ice water for roughly an hour. To be sure, follow the instructions on the packaging.

You can bake it as directed on the packaging once it has defrosted. Another option is to prepare the crust in the oven or microwave as described above, then finish it on the stovetop with a little cooking oil spray or butter. Enjoy!

How Long does Chicken Pot Pie Last Outside at Room Temperature?

It’s best to say 3–4 hours. However, I had been eating a cold chicken pot pie that had been kept in the fridge for two days, and it was still tasty.

It should be consumed within three to four hours for best freshness, but if it has been kept in the refrigerator or freezer, it should still be okay to eat after six hours.

Conclusion

Freezing chicken pot pie is a convenient way to enjoy a delicious meal at a later time. By properly wrapping and labeling the dish, it can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.