Running from the Law: Chicken Pot Pie Puffs

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Chicken Pot Pie Puffs


Ryan and I have recently set a goal to try to have dinner with Mac (AT 6:00 P.M.!) at least three times a week.  Over the past year we have gotten into a bad habit of waiting until Mac is asleep before we even start cooking dinner, which means we are eating around 9:30 p.m., right before bed.  In the meantime, we're snacking like crazy, eating all of Mac's leftovers and are ravenous by the time dinner is ready.  Then we proceed to stuff ourselves into a food coma and go to bed feeling like crap.  No wonder this baby weight isn't just falling off of me.  In addition, we so badly want to be that family that sits down to dinner together every night.  I didn't really have that growing up, but wanted it.  I want Mac to have that time with us, telling stories, sharing good food and talking about our day.  It's important to us to have that time together as a family.  We want Mac to feel included in meal time, instead of us standing in the kitchen staring at him while he throws his food on the floor eats.  We also read this article that emphasizes the importance of eating together as a family.

Since we set our goal, we've done pretty well making sure we eat with Mac at least a few times a week.  It's stressful, takes planning and doesn't happen every night, but we're making an effort.  The hardest part for me is no longer having that one-on-one time with him to play and cuddle together, which is all he usually wants to do when I get home since he hasn't seen me all day.  As he gets a bit older and is able to help me in the kitchen (or entertain himself for a few minutes), I think it'll get easier.  But for now, this means I'm on the hunt for easy and good meals that I can whip up super quickly after work and have on the table shortly thereafter.  Bonus points if it includes vegetables and tastes good enough that the toddler will eat it.  

So, needless to say, I have been cooking up a storm these days!  It feels so great to get back in the kitchen and try out a few new recipes this fall.  Back to school time is perfect for finding and trying new quick meal ideas that help out busy families.  And because of the blog, I've been really lucky to have the opportunity to try out some new recipes/products lately...otherwise, I think we'd be eating frozen microwave burritos for more meals than I want to admit.  I hope you guys don't mind seeing posts like this every now and then.  I know you're all really here for Mac photos (which I promise are coming), but in the meantime, you are going to LOVE this recipe...I promise.  

Pillsbury is one of those companies that made me absolutely giddy just thinking about working with.  I mean, one word...BISCUITS.   Then they throw out recipes like sloppy joes, taco melts and pot pies and I'm putty in their hands.  They've got an entire booklet filled with simple, easy, quick recipes that you can make lickety-split on a busy school night (download it here).  I couldn't get past the chicken pot pie puffs.  Chicken pot pie is one of those meals that make me feel like a kid again.  And it's not really something that I've ever tried to make at home (because it looks really hard).  So, I figured if these tasted anything like real chicken pot pie, I would be in heaven.  (Spoiler alert - yes, they do...they're GOOD.)

STEP ONE - Gather ingredients.  There are only 4, so it's pretty easy.  Frozen mixed veggies, cream of chicken soup, chicken and biscuits. 
  
The original recipe calls for cooked chicken (and I hate dealing with raw chicken), so I used a buttermilk rotisserie chicken from our neighborhood grocery store.  It saved me a lot of time not having to cook the chicken.  Plus, I get a strange satisfaction from tearing a rotisserie chicken apart with my hands (is that weird).  I can have the whole thing disassembled and chopped up in about 2 minutes.  Sometimes I'll have my husband do it, but I usually end up with way less chicken that way and then he's mysteriously no longer hungry for dinner.  Hmmm.  That man is not to be trusted around rotisserie chicken.  (P.S. I didn't use the whole chicken, I saved some of it for Mac to eat separately for lunch.)
STEP TWO - Combine veggies, chicken and soup in a mixing bowl.  Season with a little bit of salt and pepper.  (FYI- I left some of the chicken skin on because it's SOOOOO good and really gives it a homemade taste.)  If you want to get fancy, add some sauteed onions or some shredded cheese or use different veggies (I bet broccoli and cauliflower would be great additions).
STEP THREE - Flatten a biscuit using a rolling pin.  Actually, I started out with a rolling pin, but as soon as Mac saw it he absolutely had to have it so he could chase the dogs around with it and throw it down the stairs.  So, I used a cup. 
STEP FOUR - Put flattened biscuit into a muffin tin sprayed with non-stick spray.  Fill with veggie mix and pinch top closed.  They each took two big spoonfuls. Stuff them as full as you can get them.  I did them one at a time and then had some veggie mix leftover.  Next time I'll fill them all up before sealing them so I make sure I use all the mix.  
STEP FIVE - Spray the top with cooking spray (to get that nice browned crusty effect) and pop them into a oven (preheated to 375 degrees) for 20-22 minutes.  
STEP SIX - Enjoy!  But be warned, husbands and babies are big fans of these and will eat them ALL while you're busy taking pictures and cleaning up.  They go fast.  And they really do taste like homemade chicken pot pie.  Really good.  


Chicken Pot Pie Puffs
(original recipe HERE)

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 rotisserie chicken
  • 1 can Grands biscuits
Directions:
  1. Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, combine vegetables, chicken and soup; mix well. 
  2. Press each biscuit into 5 1/2-inch round. Place 1 round in each of 8 greased regular-size muffin cups. Firmly press in bottom and up side, forming 3/4-inch rim. 
  3. Spoon a generous 1/3 cup chicken mixture into each. Pull edges of dough over filling toward center; pleat and pinch dough gently to hold in place.
  4. Bake at 375°F 20 to 22 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from pan.

I hope you'll try these, they're so good!

I think I'm going to try the taco melts next.

Have you ever used biscuits in recipes?  What's your favorite?




**I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of General Mills. Compensation was provided by General Mills via Clever Girls Collective.

21 comments:

  1. Yum! I make these, but use crescent rolls as the pouch!

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  2. Ok, these even look good at 8 in the morning, imagine how good they'll look at dinnertime! Pinning it!

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  3. So...I rarely comment on sponsored posts because they usually seem so irrelevant (i.e. I am SO happy I tried this random vinyl poster on my car door...blah blah blah) but this one..THIS ONE. a) I could have written the first half. That is SO my family so far. b) My husband also can't be trusted with a rotisserie chicken and c) I would actually like to make that recipe!! WIN WIN WIN :-) 3 days a week is pretty great lady - good goal!!

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  4. OH MY GOSH. My stomach just literally rumbled out loud. I am making these for dinner tonight! Taco melts? Ahhh...I am actually excited to cook for once!

    Have a great week!!! xo

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  5. THIS is the kind of recipe I've been needing. 4 ingredients? Takes roughly half an hour? Done and DONE! Also I love that you kept it real about the rolling pin. I end up using a large glass most of the time because I'm too lazy to dig out the rolling pin. haha! And I LOVE chicken pot pie but have never attempted making my own for the same reasons you cited. Can't wait to try this!

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  6. Yummy! I'll have to try this! Hubs and I have gotten accustomed to using canned chicken for Chicken Helper, so while the "real" kind would be better I may just opt for canned to save me some time (I'm so slow at picking apart a rotisserie chicken). Thanks for the great recipe!

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  7. SARA! Have you ever used them to make homemade donuts? They are DELISH and sweet Macaroni will love them. Come over this weekend?

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  8. I totally understand wanting to do the whole family dinner thing. We can't usually do 6 PM because I get home around 530 with the baby and my hubby at 6ish, but usually I can do 6:30. Crockpot meals have been my best friend. But this recipe looks like a winner! Will have to keep this in mind!

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  9. Totally stealing this idea. These look delicious!

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  10. Looks delish. My boyfriend is a huge pot pie fan, he would go nuts for this.

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  11. I have a casserole recipe that my mom used to make all the time called Hamburger bake. Its so very delicious and is topped with Grand's Butter tasting biscuits. I could eat the whole pan!

    I am going to try these, I am sure that C would LOVE them!!!

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  12. OMG I am not normally a casserole type person but seriously that looks super easy and yummy! I mean how can it not be yummy when made with grands biscuits?!

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  13. These look amazing! Thanks for sharing! We've also gotten into the bad habit of not starting supper until Lincoln is in bed. My pregnancy heartburn says THIS NEEDS TO STOP!

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  14. My mom used to make these all the time and they are SO SO good! You're making my mouth water now! :)

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  15. Hi! I found your blog via Colleen over at So much to say! and I'm really happy I did.
    This recipes looks so yummy and easy I'll be giving it a try real soon!
    Have a great day!

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  16. These look really good and easy! My kind of recipe! Going to be trying soon.

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  17. These look soooo good and so easy! I can't wait to try. Thanks for sharing!

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  18. These look fun! I have made "puffs" with crescent rolls before but not with biscuits.

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  19. I comment because of pictures. Just so good of photography.
    If food is delicious and its photos posting is more, then blog become more interesting to read.
    I wish to have something similar blog for me. :)

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