Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie: Proven Easy Creamy Recipe

Is finding a delicious, homemade dinner that’s both quick and easy on a busy weeknight a constant challenge? Do you crave the comforting embrace of a classic meal, but often lack the time or energy for extensive prep and cleanup? Many home cooks struggle to balance the desire for hearty, satisfying food with the demands of a fast-paced life.

This Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie recipe offers a proven easy and creamy version of the classic comfort food, leveraging the pressure cooker for tender chicken, rich sauce, and speedy preparation, making it perfect for busy weeknights. It delivers a delicious, hearty meal by combining succulent chicken, mixed vegetables, and a thick, flavorful sauce, promising no more runny fillings. Leveraging tested frameworks and data-driven insights, this guide provides a reliable path to a creamy, flavorful chicken pot pie. You’ll discover expert tips and reliable Instant Pot instructions to avoid common issues like a watery filling. Get ready to enjoy a satisfying, homemade classic without the fuss.

Your Proven Easy Creamy Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie Recipe: 7 Steps to Comfort Food Perfection

1. Gather Your Ingredients & Prepare for Creamy Pot Pie Success

Pin this essential ingredient checklist to your “Instant Pot Recipes” board!

To create a delicious homemade Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie, having all your ingredients ready is the first crucial step. This ensures a smooth and stress-free cooking experience from start to finish. Quality ingredient selection directly impacts the flavorful creamy pot pie. For tender chicken pot pie Instant Pot, you need fresh protein and vibrant vegetables.

Ingredients & Supplies

• 1.5 lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs: For tender chicken pot pie instant pot. Can use pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken for even faster prep.
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil or Butter: For sautéing.
• 1 medium Yellow Onion, diced: Adds depth of flavor.
• 2 Carrots, peeled and diced: Classic chicken pot pie vegetable.
• 2 Celery Stalks, diced: Aromatic base.
• 1 cup Frozen Peas: No need to thaw.
• 4 cups Chicken Broth, low sodium preferred: Forms the liquid base.
• 1/2 cup Heavy Cream: For creamy instant pot chicken pot pie.
• 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour: To create a roux for thick instant pot chicken pot pie.
• 1 tsp Dried Thyme: Classic chicken pot pie seasoning.
• 1/2 tsp Dried Rosemary: Earthy aroma.
• Salt and Black Pepper, to taste: Essential seasoning.
• Topping of Choice: 1 sheet puff pastry, refrigerated biscuit dough, or pie crust.
• Instant Pot (6 or 8-quart model): The core pressure cooker appliance.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Chop all vegetables: Ensure carrots, celery, and onion are uniformly diced to cook evenly.
2. Measure out all liquids and seasonings: Having everything ready ensures a smooth cooking process.
3. Prepare your topping: If using puff pastry or pie crust, allow it to thaw slightly for easier handling. Biscuits can be pre-cut if desired.
4. Have your Instant Pot ready: Ensure the inner pot is clean and properly seated in the base.

• > Pro-Tip: Using good quality, savory broth makes a significant difference in the flavorful instant pot chicken pot pie base. Consider making your own or choosing a high-quality store-bought option. Opt for low-sodium to control the salt content.

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2. Cook Chicken & Sauté Aromatics in Your Instant Pot

Master the perfect sauté for your pot pie – save this tip!

Developing foundational flavors is essential for a rich, creamy pot pie. This step focuses on browning the chicken and sautéing the aromatics directly in the Instant Pot. The Instant Pot’s sauté function is an unsung hero for building flavor layers, preventing a bland instant pot chicken.

Ingredients & Supplies

• 1.5 lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil or Butter
• 1 medium Yellow Onion, diced
• 2 Carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 Celery Stalks, diced
• ½ tsp Dried Thyme
• ¼ tsp Dried Rosemary
• Salt and Black Pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Set Instant Pot to SAUTÉ (Normal): Add olive oil or butter. Once hot, sear chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly golden brown. Remove chicken and set aside.
2. Sauté Aromatics: Add diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté vegetables for 5-7 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally. Add dried thyme, rosemary, a pinch of salt, and pepper during the last minute of sautéing.
3. Deglaze the Pot: Pour a splash of chicken broth (about ¼ cup) into the hot pot. Use a wooden spoon to deglaze pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. This prevents a burn notice and adds depth of flavor.
4. Return Chicken: Place the seared chicken breasts back into the Instant Pot over the sautéed vegetables.

• > Pro-Tip: Achieving a slight maillard reaction instant pot on the chicken adds significant depth of flavor to your pot pie. Don’t rush this browning function optimization step! It’s key for a truly rich instant pot chicken pot pie.

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3. Build the Creamy Pot Pie Filling Base for Rich Flavor

Unlock the secret to a thick, flavorful pot pie sauce – save this!

The heart of a creamy instant pot chicken pot pie lies in its rich, thick sauce. Creating this base correctly is key to a satisfying pot pie filling that is both flavorful and substantial, avoiding runny pot pie filling. This section details how to achieve that perfect consistency by building a robust foundation.

Ingredients & Supplies

• ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour
• ½ cup Heavy Cream
• 4 cups Chicken Broth, low sodium preferred

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare Slurry (Optional Pre-thickening): In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and all-purpose flour until no lumps remain. This creates a cream based sauces slurry that will help thicken sauce later.
2. Add Broth to Pot: Pour the remaining chicken broth into the Instant Pot, ensuring it covers the chicken and vegetables.
3. Mix Cream Slurry: Stir the cream and flour slurry into the pot. Gently mix until well combined. Do not stir excessively to avoid disturbing layers too much, but ensure the slurry is incorporated.

• > Pro-Tip: For an even richer base, after deglazing, you can melt butter (2 tbsp) directly in the pot, then stir in butter (2 tbsp) of flour to create a quick roux. Cook for 1-2 minutes until lightly golden before adding the broth. This classic roux making guide ensures a deeply flavored and thick instant pot chicken pot pie.

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4. Pressure Cook Chicken and Vegetables for Tender Results

Set it and forget it! Pressure cook your way to the best pot pie.

The Instant Pot truly shines in this step, transforming raw chicken and mixed vegetables into perfectly tender components for your creamy Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie. Understanding the correct pressure cooking method and pressure release methods (NPR vs QR) is crucial for both food safety and achieving optimal texture without overcooking.

Ingredients & Supplies

• Chicken and vegetable mixture from previous steps
• 1 cup Frozen Peas

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Seal and Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid, ensuring the sealing ring is properly in place and the vent is set to ‘Sealing.’ Select ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ (High Pressure) for 8 minutes.
2. Natural Pressure Release (NPR): Once cooking is complete, allow a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 5 minutes. This helps the tender chicken stay moist and prevents liquids from gushing out.
3. Quick Release (QR): After 5 minutes, carefully turn the steam release valve to ‘Venting’ for a Quick Release (QR) of any remaining pressure. Once the pin drops, you can safely open the lid.
4. Remove Chicken: Carefully remove the cooked chicken breasts from the pot and transfer them to a cutting board.
5. Shred Chicken: Use two forks to shred chicken into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
6. Add Peas: Stir in the frozen peas into the hot liquid in the Instant Pot. The residual heat will cook them perfectly.

• > Pro-Tip: For tender chicken every time, adhere to the 5-minute pressure release methods (NPR vs QR). This allows the pressure to drop slowly, preventing the chicken from becoming tough and ensuring a juicy instant pot chicken pot pie.

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5. Achieve a Thick, Creamy Pot Pie Filling That’s Never Watery

No more watery pot pie filling! Save this trick for thick instant pot chicken pot pie.

This is the moment to transform your pot pie from a delicious medley of ingredients into a truly creamy, cohesive meal. A common instant pot pot pie error is a watery instant pot chicken pot pie filling. This section provides the foolproof method to thicken sauce and ensure your creamy instant pot chicken pot pie has the perfect, rich consistency.

Ingredients & Supplies

• Cooked chicken and vegetable mixture
• 2 tbsp Cornstarch
• 2 tbsp Cold Water
• Salt and Black Pepper, to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare Cornstarch Slurry: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth. This is your advanced thickeners solution if your filling is still too thin.
2. Activate SAUTÉ Mode: Set the Instant Pot to SAUTÉ (Normal). Once it starts heating, pour in the cornstarch slurry, stirring constantly.
3. Thicken Filling: Continue to stir gently until the filling begins to visibly thicken sauce to your desired consistency, usually 2-4 minutes. If you used the flour-cream slurry in step 3, simply continue to stir until thickened.
4. Adjust Seasoning: Stir in the shredded chicken. Taste the creamy instant pot chicken pot pie filling and adjust salt and pepper as needed for perfect flavor.
5. Turn Off Instant Pot: Once thick instant pot chicken pot pie is achieved, cancel the SAUTÉ function.

• > Pro-Tip: If your instant pot chicken pot pie is runny pot pie filling, a cornstarch slurry (equal parts cornstarch and cold water) is your best friend. Add it gradually while the Instant Pot is on SAUTÉ mode, stirring constantly, until you reach a perfectly thick instant pot chicken pot pie. This quick pot pie solutions hack works every time.

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6. Assemble & Bake with Your Favorite Golden Topping

Achieve a golden crust on your pot pie – save for perfect topping ideas!

Now that your creamy instant pot chicken pot pie filling is perfected, it’s time to add that iconic golden topping. Whether you prefer the flaky texture of puff pastry or the heartiness of biscuits, this step guides you to a crispy pot pie topping every time. Avoiding soggy pot pie crust is a key goal here.

Ingredients & Supplies

• Thick instant pot chicken pot pie filling
• Topping of choice (1 sheet puff pastry, refrigerated biscuit dough, or pie crust)
• Egg wash (1 egg whisked with 1 tbsp water, optional for golden crust)
• Oven-safe dish (if not baking directly in Instant Pot liner)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat Oven (Optional): If using an oven for the topping, preheat to 400°F (200°C).
2. Prepare Topping: Roll out puff pastry or pie crust to fit your serving dish or the Instant Pot liner if baking in an oven-safe insert. If using biscuit topping, separate the biscuits.
3. Transfer Filling: Pour the creamy instant pot chicken pot pie filling into an oven-safe dish (or keep in the Instant Pot liner if it’s oven-safe).
4. Add Topping: Place your chosen topping over the filling. If using pastry, cut a few slits in the top for steam to escape. Brush with egg wash for golden brown finish.
5. Bake for Golden Perfection:
   • Oven Method: Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the topping is golden crust and puffed.
   • Air Fryer Method (for individual servings): Bake individual portions (e.g., in ramekins) at 350°F (175°C) for 8-12 minutes.
   • Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid Method: If you have an Air Fryer lid, place the lid on your Instant Pot. Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until crispy pot pie topping is achieved.

• > Pro-Tip: For the crispiest, golden brown crust without a soggy pot pie crust, ensure your filling is nice and thick, and bake topping at a high temperature. If using a standard oven, placing the pie on the lowest rack for the last few minutes can help crisp the bottom. This instant pot chicken pot pie with a golden crust strategy works wonders!

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7. Troubleshooting & Pro Tips for Instant Pot Pot Pie Success

Fix runny pot pie filling and more! Save these expert Instant Pot tips.

Even with the best recipes, sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. This section provides quick pot pie solutions and easy pot pie fixes for common issues. We address troubleshooting Instant Pot pot pie problems, ensuring your creamy Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie is a success every time.

Ingredients & Supplies

• Cooked instant pot chicken pot pie
• Storage containers (for leftovers)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Too Watery? If your creamy instant pot chicken pot pie filling is still runny pot pie filling after step 5, make a small slurry of 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water. Turn SAUTÉ back on, whisk in the slurry, and cook until thickened.
2. Dry Chicken? If your tender chicken turned out dry, it might be overcooked. Next time, try reducing the pressure cooking time by 1-2 minutes, or ensure you do a 5-minute Natural Pressure Release before Quick Release.
3. Soggy Topping? To avoiding soggy crust, ensure your filling is thick enough and bake at a high temperature. For a crispy pot pie topping in the oven, consider baking it in a separate dish and serving over the filling.
4. Meal Prep & Freezing: This recipe is excellent for meal prep containers. Let leftovers cool completely before transferring to airtight containers. The filling can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
5. Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven until warmed through. If reheating with a topping, use the oven or air fryer to re-crisp.

• > Pro-Tip: To preventing runny filling in your instant pot chicken pot pie, always ensure your flour-cream slurry or cornstarch slurry is fully incorporated and brought to a simmer on SAUTÉ mode. This cooking science insight guarantees a thick instant pot chicken pot pie every time.

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FAQs About Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie

How long do you cook chicken pot pie in an Instant Pot?

For the filling, you typically pressure cook instant pot chicken pot pie for 8 minutes on High Pressure with a 5-minute Natural Pressure Release (NPR), followed by a Quick Release (QR). This ensures tender chicken and perfectly cooked vegetables. The topping is then baked separately in an oven or air fryer until golden brown. This cook time instant pot chicken pot pie creates a quick, comforting meal.

How do you thicken instant pot chicken pot pie if it’s too runny?

To thicken instant pot chicken pot pie if it’s runny pot pie filling, prepare a cornstarch slurry by whisking 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water. With the Instant Pot on SAUTÉ mode, slowly stir the slurry into the hot filling and continue stirring until it reaches your desired thick instant pot chicken pot pie consistency, usually within 2-4 minutes.

Can you make Instant Pot chicken pot pie without a crust?

Yes, you can easily make crustless instant pot chicken pot pie for a lower-carb or gluten-free option. The creamy instant pot chicken pot pie filling is delicious on its own, served in bowls. Alternatively, you can top it with mashed potatoes, biscuits (for instant pot chicken pot pie with biscuits), or puff pastry baked separately, avoiding the traditional pie crust.

Can you freeze Instant Pot chicken pot pie?

Yes, the instant pot chicken pot pie filling freezes exceptionally well, making it great for meal prep containers and freezer meals. Allow the filling to cool completely before transferring it to airtight, freezer-safe containers. It can be stored for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating gently on the stove or in the microwave.

What kind of chicken is best for Instant Pot pot pie?

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs are best for instant pot chicken pot pie due to their tenderness and ease of shredding after pressure cooking. You can also use pre-cooked, shredded chicken or even rotisserie chicken for an even quicker instant pot chicken pot pie preparation, significantly reducing the cooking time.

How do you prevent watery instant pot chicken pot pie?

To prevent watery instant pot chicken pot pie, ensure you use precise liquid measurements and properly thicken sauce with a flour-cream slurry at the beginning or a cornstarch slurry at the end on SAUTÉ mode. Additionally, allow a 5-minute Natural Pressure Release after cooking the chicken to help integrate starches and prevent runny pot pie filling.

What vegetables go well in Instant Pot chicken pot pie?

Classic instant pot chicken pot pie vegetables include diced carrots, celery, onions, and frozen peas, which add essential flavor and texture. You can also incorporate corn, green beans, or even diced potatoes for a heartier meal. Ensure vegetables are cut into similar sizes for even cooking during the pressure cook cycle.

Is Instant Pot chicken pot pie healthy?

Instant pot chicken pot pie can be a relatively healthy instant pot chicken pot pie, especially if you use lean chicken breasts, a generous amount of mixed vegetables, and control the fat in the sauce. Opt for low-sodium broth and consider a crustless instant pot chicken pot pie or a lighter topping to reduce calories. It’s a comforting instant pot chicken pot pie that can be easily customized for dietary needs.

What’s the best alternative to pastry crust for Instant Pot pot pie?

Excellent instant pot chicken pot pie alternative toppings include biscuit topping (from refrigerated dough), mashed potatoes, or even cornbread batter. For a faster crispy pot pie topping, puff pastry is a popular choice. These options allow for a golden brown crust without the fuss of traditional pie pastry, offering quick pot pie solutions.

Can I use cream of mushroom soup for Instant Pot chicken pot pie?

Yes, you can substitute cream of mushroom soup for some of the broth and heavy cream in your instant pot chicken pot pie filling for a richer, more umami flavor. While not part of a proven easy creamy recipe from scratch, it’s a common shortcut that can yield a delicious result, especially for easy instant pot chicken pot pie variations.

Final Thoughts on Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie

There you have it: a truly proven easy creamy recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie that promises to deliver tender chicken, mixed vegetables, and a thick instant pot chicken pot pie sauce that’s anything but watery pot pie filling. We’ve covered everything from cooking instructions to troubleshooting instant pot pot pie common issues, ensuring your homemade instant pot chicken pot pie is a resounding success. This one pot chicken pot pie instant pot method truly instant pot simplifies dinner for busy nights, making classic comfort food accessible and quick. So, gather your ingredients, fire up your Instant Pot, and get ready to enjoy a satisfying meal that will quickly become a family favorite recipe.

What’s your go-to topping for chicken pot pie? Let us know in the comments below!

Last update on 2025-12-17 at 06:24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API