Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits

Name: Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 6 h 30 min
Total time: 6 h 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 medium yellow onion, diced; 3 medium carrots, sliced about 1/2 inch thick; 2 celery ribs, sliced; 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 bay leaf; 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1/4 cup cornstarch; 1/4 cup cold water; 1 1/2 cups frozen peas; 1 can (16.3 ounces) refrigerated biscuits (8 large biscuits); 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, to serve

Crockpot chicken pot pie gives you everything you love about the classic, the creamy filling, the tender chicken, the peas and carrots and the golden top, without rolling out a crust.

The slow cooker makes the filling while you get on with your day, and a batch of biscuits baked at the end takes the place of the pastry. There is no canned soup in this one. The creamy sauce comes from chicken broth, a little heavy cream and the juices the chicken and vegetables give up as they cook. It tastes like homemade because it is.

Why this recipe uses chicken thighs

Creamy chicken pot pie filling with shredded chicken, potatoes, carrots and peas in a black slow cooker with a wooden spoon

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs stay juicy through a long, slow cook and shred easily at the end. Chicken breasts work too, but they are much leaner and dry out if they cook too long, so they need less time. You will find the timing for both below.

How the biscuits work

Biscuits do not bake well inside a slow cooker. The lid traps the steam, so they come out pale and doughy on the bottom. The better way is to bake them in the oven during the last 20 minutes, while the filling thickens, and put them on top just before serving. Every biscuit stays golden and flaky.

Store-bought refrigerated biscuits keep this easy. If you prefer homemade, any drop biscuit or buttermilk biscuit recipe works the same way.

A few things that make it better

Add the peas at the end. Frozen peas only need a few minutes. Put them in at the start and they turn grey and mushy.
Thicken at the end, not the start. Cornstarch added at the beginning breaks down over a long cook and the sauce goes thin again.
Cut the potatoes and carrots small, about half an inch, so they are tender at the same time as the chicken.
Use low-sodium broth and taste before serving. It is easier to add salt than take it away.

Questions people ask

Can I use a pie crust instead of biscuits?
Yes. Cut a refrigerated pie crust into squares or wedges, bake them on a sheet pan until golden, and lay them over each bowl. You get the flaky crust without trying to bake pastry in the slow cooker.

Can I make it into crockpot chicken pot pie soup?
Yes. Leave out the cornstarch and add an extra cup of broth. You end up with a creamy soup, and the biscuits are perfect for dunking.

What about chicken pot pie pasta?
Cook 8 ounces of short pasta, like rotini or penne, until just tender. Stir it into the thickened filling right before serving, and add a splash of broth if it gets too thick.

Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes. Cook the vegetables in the broth on LOW for 5 to 6 hours, then stir in 4 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken with the cream and cornstarch and finish as written.

Can I use chicken breasts?
Yes. Cook them on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, until they reach 165F, then shred and finish as written.

Can I put the chicken in frozen?
No. Thaw it in the fridge first. The USDA advises against slow cooking frozen meat, because it spends too long in the unsafe temperature range.

How long do leftovers keep?
Store the filling and the biscuits separately. The filling keeps 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the fridge. Reheat it gently and warm the biscuits in the oven so they crisp up again.

More recipes you’ll love: Crockpot Beef and Noodles, Crockpot Beef Stew, Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings, Chicken a la King, and our full Easy Crockpot Dinner Recipes roundup.