Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Pot Pie

12 servings
3 hr

This Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Pot Pie is a homey and delicious stew made with chicken, vegetables, chicken broth, and chewy homemade pot pie noodles. Classic comfort food from Pennsylvania Dutch country, this version is known around the state and is unlike the more widely-known pie crust version.

Bowl of dutch chicken pot pie with onions, bread, and herbs surrounding the bowl.
Why You'll Love This Recipe


Flavor & Texture - this pa dutch chicken pot pie is like chicken noodle soup on steroids. It's got all of the lovely aromatic flavors from the herb-infused chicken stock and is loaded with vegetables, moist chicken, and homemade dough squares.

Nostalgia - there's something so wonderful about making your own homemade noodles, which is what makes this recipe so special. Many Pennsylvania folks will have fond memories (myself included) of making the homemade dough with their families and eating this in the dead of winter, warming their souls! This was often enjoyed next to a salad with hot bacon dressing and finished off with a shoo-fly pie.

Make ahead - just like any soup or stew, this just gets better and more flavorful with time, making it an awesome dish to create ahead of time, and also freeze.

Serve this alongside my homemade pepperoni bread, which is another Pennsylvania staple recipe!

Dutch chicken pot pit in a bowl with a spoon in the bowl.
Pennsylvania Dutch Pot Pie History


This particular type of pot pie came about from the Lancaster county region, known for a large population of Amish, Mennonite, and the Pennsylvania dutch community filled with german traditions. The dish came about from a dish of broth and meat known as "bott boi," which in the PA dutch language (a mix of German and English), turned into pot pie.

So why is it called pot pie? Well, it's made in a pot! Unlike the pastry crust types of pot pie (like chicken pie or other meat pies) that are known in the rest of the United States, many folks from Pennsylvania will attribute this dish to the soup-like version in this recipe. Growing up, my family always called this dish "slippery noodle pot pie."


Ingredients
Chicken stock ingredients.
PA Dutch Chicken Pot Pie ingredients.
  • Chicken. I love to use chicken leg quarters. They're affordable and have a ton of meat, fat, and flavor.
  • Vegetables. Carrots, celery, onion, garlic, potatoes, and peas.
  • Herbs. Thyme, rosemary, parsley, and bay leaf.
  • Flour. A standard all-purpose flour is used to create the square egg noodles.
  • Eggs.
  • Milk.
  • Celery salt. This is always served on Pennsylvania Dutch chicken pot pie and adds a ton of extra flavor!


See the recipe card for full ingredients list and quantities.


Substitutions & Variations


  • Make the broth with any type of chicken you prefer, such as chicken breasts. Note that bone-in options with more fat will produce a tastier stock.
  • If you don't want to make your own stock, you can use store-bought and then add some herbs to boost the flavor.
  • Use any type of vegetables you'd like. Growing up, we only used potatoes and onions, but I love to add extra veggies these days.
  • The pot pie dough can be made in a bowl with a wooden spoon and squeezing with your hand (rather than using a stand mixer).


How to Make This Recipe
Water being poured into a pot of chicken stock before boiling.

One: Add the chicken, vegetables, herbs, and aromatics to a large stockpot and cover with cold water.

A spoon removes foamy impurities from a pot of chicken stock.

Two: Bring the stock to a rapid boil, then reduce to a medium-low simmer. Use a spoon to scoop off any foam and impurities.

A hand uses a spider to remove cooked vegetables from chicken stock.

Three: After about two hours, remove the chicken and vegetables and strain the stock, adding it back into another stock pot.

Picked chicken leg quarters. One side holds bones and skin, the other holds meat.

Four: Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove it from the bones and pull it into bite-sized pieces.


How to Make Chicken Pot Pie Dough
Chunky noodle dough in a stand mixer bowl with the paddle sitting next to it.

Five: Mix together the flour, salt, eggs, and milk until a stiff dough forms. Add an additional tablespoon of milk at a time if there are a lot of dry spots.

Hands using a rolling pin to roll noodle dough.

Six: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and roll it out to ⅛" thick.

A hand uses a pizza cutter to cut noodle dough.

Seven: Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into one to 2-inch squares.

Raw pot pie noodles on a sheet tray with flour.

Eight: Transfer the square noodles to a floured pan and cover them lightly with plastic wrap.

A hand drops raw noodles into a pot of pot pie.

Nine: Add the chopped vegetables to the hot stock and boil for 10 minutes. Then, add the pot pie squares and cook for 8 minutes.

Peas and chicken on top of chicken soup and noodles.

Ten: Add the reserved chicken and peas and low boil for another 5 minutes.


Scoop the PA Dutch chicken pot pie into bowls and top with fresh parsley, celery salt, and serve with a slice of crusty bread.


Expert Tips


  • Keep the chicken covered with water, adding more as necessary during the stock-making process.
  • Try to keep the dough to ⅛" thick. Rolling them too thin will make it feel like chicken noodle soup, and too thick will be cumbersome to eat.
  • The noodles will absorb quite a bit of liquid during the cooking process, and will also thicken the pot pie. It should be thicker than soup, but thinner than stew. It will thicken further as it cools.


Recipe FAQs


Can you freeze PA Dutch chicken pot pie?

Yes, this can be frozen in a sealed container for up to six months.

Do I have to make my own stock?

No. While making your own according to the recipe will produce the best flavor, you can definitely use store-bought stock or broth. If using store-bought, I recommend boiling fresh herbs in it for a bit to impart some extra flavor.


Storage


Store the Pennsylvania Dutch chicken pot pie in a sealed container in the fridge for one week. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave until hot. Note that you may need to add a touch more water or broth to loosen it up, as the noodles absorb a ton of liquid.

To freeze the pot pie, allow it to cool completely, then transfer to storage containers and freeze for up to six months. Allow it to thaw completely, then follow the same reheating methods as above.

A bowl of PA dutch chicken pot pie in a bowl with a spoon and piece of bread resting on the side.
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📖Recipe
Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Pot Pie
Recipe details
  • 12  servings
  • Prep time: 30 Minutes Cook time: 150 Minutes Total time: 3 hr
Show Nutrition Info
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Ingredients
Homemade Chicken Stock
  • â–¢ 4 chicken leg quarters
  • â–¢ 10 cups water 80 fl oz
  • â–¢ 3 carrots cut in 2-inch pieces
  • â–¢ 3 stalks celery cut in 2-inch pieces (with leaves are best)
  • â–¢ 1 large yellow onion quartered (with skins on)
  • â–¢ 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • â–¢ 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • â–¢ 6 stems fresh parsley
  • â–¢ 2 dried bay leaves
  • â–¢ 8 whole peppercorns
Pot Pie Noodles
  • â–¢ 3 cups all-purpose flour 360g
  • â–¢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • â–¢ 2 large eggs
  • â–¢ 3/4 cup whole milk 6 fl oz, only 2/3 cup may get used
Pot Pie Vegetables
  • â–¢ 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt can add more to taste
  • â–¢ 2 russet potatoes peeled, halved, and sliced 1/4" thick
  • â–¢ 1 yellow onion peeled and diced
  • â–¢ 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
  • â–¢ 3 carrots peeled and sliced
  • â–¢ 3 stalks celery sliced (without leaves)
  • â–¢ 1/2 cup peas fresh, frozen, or canned
  • â–¢ fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
  • â–¢ celery salt for topping
Instructions

Cut a slit in between the leg and thigh on the leg quarters, then layer them into a large stock pot. Add 10 cups of water, adding more if needed so the water is fully covering the chicken.4 chicken leg quarters, 10 cups water
Add the carrots, celery, onion, thyme, rosemary, parsley bay leaves, and peppercorns and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce it to a low simmer.3 carrots, 3 stalks celery, 1 large yellow onion, 4 sprigs fresh thyme, 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, 6 stems fresh parsley, 2 dried bay leaves, 8 whole peppercorns
Cook for about 2 hours until the meat is tender and falling off the bones. Skim any foam or chicken impurities off of the top with a spoon and discard during this time. Add water as needed to just keep the chicken covered, bringing it back to a low simmer each time.
Remove the chicken and place them on a sheet pan to cool. Add a colander to another large pot and strain the liquid to separate the stock from the vegetables. Discard the vegetables once cool.
Add the strained stock back onto the heat, keeping it on low, and stir in the salt. Taste the stock and add more salt, if desired. ½ tablespoon kosher salt
Pot Pie Noodles
Lightly flour a large sheet pan and set aside.
Add the flour, salt and eggs to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on low speed until a shaggy dough forms.3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 2 large eggs
Drizzle in ⅔ cup of the milk with the mixer running until it forms together. Drizzle in a bit more liquid if the mixture looks dry and crumbly. ¾ cup whole milk
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and sprinkle flour onto the top of the dough and your rolling pin.
Roll out the dough to â…›" thick, keeping it roughly in a rectangle if you can.
Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut the dough into 1-2" squares, then transfer the dough to the floured sheet pan. Do one layer (try not to let them overlap too much), sprinkle with more flour, then add the remaining noodles on top. Cover with a sheet of plastic wrap to rest.
Vegetables, Chicken, and Assembly
Bring the stock to a low boil. Peel and chop the vegetables, then add the vegetables (except the peas) to the stock and cook for 10 minutes.2 russet potatoes, 1 yellow onion, 3 carrots, 3 stalks celery
Pick the cooled chicken off the bone, discarding the fat and bones. Pull the pieces into 1-2" chunks. Set aside.
Add the noodles by the handful and give the pot pie a stir. Boil the noodles for 8 minutes, then add the chicken and peas and simmer for another 5 minutes. ½ cup peas
Spoon the chicken pot pie into bowls and top with fresh topped parsley and celery salt. A piece of crusty, buttered bread is also great alongside the dish. fresh parsley, celery salt
Tips
  • If using store-bought stock, add the stock to a pot and add the chicken, as well as the fresh herbs and bay leaves. Keep it at a steady simmer until the meat becomes very tender, skimming the foam from the top with a spoon, then remove the chicken. Allow it to cool, then pick the meat off. Add about 1 cup of water and bring the liquid back to a boil, and continue with the recipe as written.
  • Store the pot pie in sealed containers for one week. Note that the noodles will continue to absorb liquid, so you may need to add a touch of stock or water upon reheating if you like it looser.
  • Reheat the pot pie in a pot on medium-low heat until hot, or in a microwave until hot.
The Cozy Plum | Callan
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Comments
  • Toni Joyce Toni Joyce on Oct 04, 2022

    Oh I love this dish. Always has been a comfort food. I have grown up on it and now my girls make it for their families. It makes me miss my mom and grandparents.

  • KimH KimH on Oct 25, 2022

    WHY discard the veggies that are cooked in the stock? shoot, those would go through my food processor to be put into ice cube trays to freeze tot hen be used to thicken up dishes; you don't EVER discard food like that; that being said, this is an awesome recipe

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