On Friday last week, we packed up our bags and headed towards the mountains. I photographed a beautiful and intimate wedding in the hills of Crested Butte while Ryan and Lucy explored that quaint mountain town. The next day we adventured together and stumbled upon this gorgeous mountain lake.
Lulu is just now learning to walk, which means she takes most every occasion to try out her new skills. I tentatively let her take a few steps on our hike…and she did surprisingly well considering the gravel! Children are meant to play outdoors, to take steps, and even falls. I’m learning more and more to let go of control and embrace my daughter’s innate curiosity about her world. That being said, I’m thankful for products that can prevent sunburn and treat any small wounds that she might incur on her adventures. The kind folks at Healthy Essentials sent us a box of all sorts of summer goods–and we made use of them on our trip to the mountains.
We drove home on Saturday afternoon, nearly missing a heavy rain storm. By the time we settled down and unpacked, we were all exhausted and in need of a good warming meal. Immediately I thought: chicken pot pie. But God knows I wasn’t about to turn on my oven for a solid hour. So this stove-top cheddar chicken pie was born…and it’s so very good. The majority of the cooking takes place on your stove-top, with the pastry circles only requiring eight minutes or so in the oven to reach this beautiful golden brown. Creamy, comforting, and made with fresh broccoli (a summer gem!), this cheddar chicken pie is especially good for the warmer months of the year.
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Stove top Cheddar Chicken Pot Pie
2 large heads of broccoli
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (we prefer Organic Valley’s Raw Cheddar)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 Rotisserie chicken (light and dark meat shredded)
1 disc basic pie dough (this pie dough works great…just omit the sugar!)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. On a lightly floured surface, roll out pie dough to a circle 10 inches wide. Using a biscuit or cookie cutter, cut out discs of pie dough. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove to cool.
Chop broccoli into bite-sized pieces. Steam until just slightly tender. Set aside. In a medium skillet, melt butter oven medium heat. Add flour and stir until just begins to brown. Stir in chicken broth and whisk until all clumps have dissolved. Bring to a gentle boil and then turn stove off. A thick gravy should form. Stir in shredded chicken, broccoli florets, and shredded cheddar cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and top with baked pie discs. If desired, return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes to warm.
This post is part of the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® 2014 program by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them.
I really love that you did this on the stove! I’ve never done anything like that with pot pie before! We are definitely going to be trying this out!
Love that photo of Lucy walking – she is just too sweet Monet!
Looks and sounds like you and Ryan had a wonderful weekend! There’s nothing like spending time in the mountains away from the crowds and hubbub. Lulu is just adorbs! I’m so excited to see her walking!
I can imagine this stove top chicken pot pie was the perfect comforting meal to come home to. It looks amazing, my dear!
Not to take away from your post – but the talk about Healthy Essentials made me think of it -have you tried out Episencial? I feel like they’re a company you would be interested in. We used so many of their products when my little guy was…littler. From the bug spray/lotion, sunscreen, body wash, etc.
This looks so delicious and a whole lot more nutritious than a typical chicken pot pie 🙂
Those pastry circles are adorable! Chicken Pot Pie is one of my favorite meals. The scenery in Colorado is so amazing. What a great place to raise a child. Lucy is sure to be a nature lover!
I’ve been camping up above Crested Butte! Such a gorgeous area. 🙂 I love how simple and hearty this pot pie is — perfect for a busy night.
Chicken pot pie is one of my guilty pleasures and I love that this seems like a much healthier version! I love the cute little pie dough bites that you put on the top! This is going to happen in my kitchen soon! Colorado looks so beautiful! I’ve only visited a few times, but I always tell my husband that I wouldn’t mind at all if he got a job there!
looooove this recipe! so simple and gorgeous and looove that you make it on the stovetop!
I also adore that photo of cute little Lucy walking!
Fabulous idea to cut out the little pastry circles for the top of your pie! I’ve never seen that done before, but it’s much easier (and I guess healthier) than putting the crust over the top of the whole pie. The scenery over there looks just beautiful, by the way! 🙂
What a clever idea baking the biscuits in the oven and then doing the rest on the stovetop! 🙂
Not only does this look delicious, but I absolutely love the way you cut the pie dough into little discs! It makes the dish look so much more festive. Pretty and delicious too – you can’t beat that! 🙂
That photo of Lucy walking is the cutest thing ever! I’d never think it would be possible to make a pie on the stovetop but this looks perfect!
That lake picture is so serene– love it. You definitely have to let go to a certain degree when they start walking– I had to get used to seeing Lila faceplant pretty frequently, ha. But I think the more you allow them to fall, the quicker they “get it” and become steady on their own. She’ll be running before you know it!
Talk about a quick and easy recipe! I love this and all that broccoli looks delicious! We’ve never been up to Crested Butte, but it is on our list of places to visit. These rain storms have been crazy lately. Glad you guys didn’t get soaked 😀
I think chicken pot pie is my favorite comfort food. I love the addition of broccoli and cheddar here too!
Also, Lucy is adorable!
Oh yummy! I just love a good pie – so sweet with the little pastry hats!
I love this stove-top pie, and those pastry circles are the best idea. This looks so wholesome. Pinning to try!
Wow does that lake look gorgeous…and then the dish? Holy yum does that look amazing, definitely need to try it!
What a fun version of chicken pot pie! I love it!
What a brilliant idea for making a hearty dinner in this heat! I can’t believe your beautiful little girl is walking already!