Chicken A La King

ByCorey CreatedMarch 16, 2023March 16, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

If you aren’t familiar with the classic Chicken a La King dish, it’s essentially chopped chicken with a basic French white sauce that combines mushrooms, pimentos and chicken, then served over rice, pasta, toast or biscuits.

The creamy sauce in this recipe is the real hero for me, pulling everything together to create tender ingredients and an explosion of flavors that will have you coming back for more.

Luckily, this Chicken A La King freezes quite well so you can meal prep for those busy weeknights for an easy and satisfying meal with the family!

Recipe Notes:

You can store this chicken a la king in an airtight container for up to 5 days in your refrigerator. To reheat, do so on the stove top over a medium-low heat or microwave till heated through.

You can substitute half ‘n’ half or heavy cream for milk if you’re wanting a richer, creamier consistency in your sauce. Otherwise if you prefer a lighter sauce then you can use low fat milk instead.

I really recommend browning the butter and flour for this recipe – it seems to create another level of flavor to the dish!

Use leftover chicken for this recipe or a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from cooking chicken from scratch if you prefer.

Can I freeze Chicken A La King?

Yes! While I do recommend eating while freshly cooked, you can freeze it for up to 1 month. Once cooked, allow your chicken a la king to completely cool before transferring it to an airtight container or freezer bag for storage in the freezer.

To reheat, thaw your frozen chicken a la king overnight in the refrigerator and then heat it on the stovetop for an even reheating. If you find at this stage that the sauce has thickened a bit, you could add a splash of milk to thin it out.

What can I serve this dish with?

This dish is typically served over something like pasta, toast, biscuits or rice. If you’re looking for a low-carb pairing, cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles work brilliantly too.

Can I use a different meat for this recipe?

Yes, you can. While the classic recipe calls for chicken (hence the name “chicken a la king”) I’ve come across variations that make use of turkey instead – all of a sudden you have yourself some “turkey a la king”! You could do the same and use a different poultry for this recipe.

Chicken A La King

In a large saucepan or skillet, heat butter over medium. Add mushrooms and saute until mushrooms are softened and beginning to brown.
Add flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper and cook 1-2 minutes longer to brown the flour mixture.
While stirring or whisking, pour in milk and chicken broth and whisk to combine into a smooth sauce. Continue whisking and cooking 2-3 minutes longer until sauce thickens. Season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
Stir in peas, pimientos, and chicken. Cook until heated through.
Serve immediately over wide egg noodles, biscuits, or toast.