Creamy Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pies

These Creamy Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pies topped with crispy puff pastry are easy to make and taste delicious... a classic winter dinner. Printable conventional and Thermomix recipes included. 

When it comes to comfort foods, I'm all about:

• slow cooker meals
• rich and delicious desserts and puddings
• oven baked casseroles
• hearty soups
• ... and of course, pies!

And these Creamy Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pies are the ultimate comfort food. The delicious creamy leek filling has yummy chunks of chicken and streaky bacon, topped off with strips of golden crispy puff pastry.

You can make these Creamy Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pies in the Thermomix or on the stovetop... either way, they're super easy! Just whip up the mixture, pop them into individual ramekins (or 1 large pie dish) and top with pastry. The perfect midweek dinner!

Oooh and did I mention that these are always a winner with the whole family (fussy toddlers included!). Any dinner that's simple and 'everyone-approved' is definitely a good thing in my books!!!

If you'd like to add some extra veggies to these Creamy Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pies, you can use frozen peas and corn, or small chunks of carrot. They're super versatile and pretty well any veggies work great in them.

For more great dinner ideas, check out my main meal collection here. 

Chicken and Leek Pies with Bacon

These irresistible chicken and leek pies are classic family comfort food! Encased in flaky puff pastry and packed with a creamy chicken, leek and bacon filling; they make an easy and comforting dinner that everyone will love.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: pies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

0 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings: 12 pies

Calories: 600kcal

Author: Lucy - Bake Play Smile

Ingredients

• ▢ 6 sheets shortcrust pastry defrosted
• ▢ 3 sheets puff pastry defrosted
• ▢ 30 g butter
• ▢ 500 g chicken thigh fillets chopped into small 2cm pieces
• ▢ 2 leeks roughly chopped
• ▢ 2 garlic cloves minced
• ▢ 150 g bacon streaky bacon - chopped
• ▢ 200 g cooking cream
• ▢ 2 tsp chicken stock powder
• ▢ 1 egg lightly whisked
• ▢ sesame seeds

Instructions

Conventional Method

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius (fan-forced).
• Place the pastry sheets onto the bench and allow to defrost.
• Melt the butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook the chicken for 5 minutes or until browned.  Add the leeks, bacon and minced garlic and cook for a further 3-4 minutes or until the leek has softened. 
• Add the cooking cream and vegetable stock and bring to a low simmer. Cook until thickened.
• Lightly grease a 12 hole muffin tray.
• Use a small bowl or cutter (approximately 13cm in diameter) to cut 12 circles from the shortcrust pastry sheets (2 per sheet).
• Use your fingers to press them into the muffin tray holes (each pastry round should be large enough to slightly overhang).

  TIP: Cut a small triangle section out from each pastry circle as this helps when fitting them into the muffin holes.
• Divide the mixture equally between the 12 muffin tray holes (being sure not to over-fill).
• Cut 12 slightly smaller rounds (approximately 10cm in diameter) from the puff pastry sheets (4 per sheet).
• Place them over the top of the meat pies and use your fingers to seal the overhanging shortcrust pastry to the puff pastry top.
• Brush over the whisked egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds. 
• Bake for 25 minutes or until golden. 

Thermomix Method

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius (fan-forced).
• Place the pastry sheets onto the bench and allow to defrost.
• Place the leeks, garlic and bacon into the Thermomix bowl. Chop on Speed 5, 3 seconds. 
• Add the butter and saute for 5 minutes, Varoma, Reverse, Speed Soft (Stir).
• Add the chopped chicken and cook for a further 5 minutes, Varoma, Reverse, Speed Soft (Stir).
• Add the cooking cream and chicken stock and cook for 20 minutes, 100 degrees, Reverse, Speed Soft (Stir).

  TIP: If the sauce has not thickened, mix 1 tbs cornflour with ¼ cup water. Add to the Themomix bowl and mix for 20 seconds, Reverse, Speed Soft (Stir).
• Lightly grease a 12 hole muffin tray.
• Use a small bowl or cutter (approximately 13cm in diameter) to cut 12 circles from the shortcrust pastry sheets (2 per sheet).
• Use your fingers to press them into the muffin tray holes (each pastry round should be large enough to slightly overhang).

  TIP: Cut a small triangle section out from each pastry circle as this helps when fitting them into the muffin holes.
• Divide the mixture equally between the 12 muffin tray holes (being sure not to over-fill).
• Cut 12 slightly smaller rounds (approximately 10cm in diameter) from the puff pastry sheets (4 per sheet).
• Place them over the top of the meat pies and use your fingers to seal the overhanging shortcrust pastry to the puff pastry top.
• Brush over the whisked egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds. 
• Bake for 25 minutes or until golden. 

Notes

1. Chicken thighs – are the perfect cut of meat for this recipe, as thighs will stay juicy and tender after being simmered in the creamy sauce and baked in the oven. Chicken breasts are not recommended, as they will dry out.
2. Pastry – for the perfect crispiness : flakiness ratio, were are using shortcrust pastry on the bottom (crisp and firm) and puff pastry on the top (flaky and soft). You can use ready-made sheets of pastry from the freezer section in your supermarket, or make your own if you prefer.
3. Cooking cream – is a light cream that has been specifically developed to withstand high temperatures without splitting or curdling. It also thickens, making it perfect for creamy pie fillings. Find cooking cream at your local supermarket. If using regular cream, make sure you don’t over-boil it. I used Bulla cooking cream in this recipe, as it doesn't curdle when cooked. 
4. Make sure the pastry has thawed completely before attempting to shape it into the tins, or it will crack. Just leave it out on the bench to thaw while you prepare the filling.
5. Add the cream at the end, just before baking. This will minimise the risk of the sauce splitting.
6. Wash the leeks well before cooking, or the sauce will end up with grit.
7. The chicken mixture can be made the day before and kept, covered, in the fridge.
8. Freezing; These pies can be frozen in a number of different stages. The filling can be prepared and then wrapped and frozen for up to 3 months. Alternatively, assemble the pies, glaze and chill before freezing for up to 3 months.
9. Reheating; These pies store and reheat beautifully, making them such an easy grab-and-go dinner, lunch or snack. To reheat, place them in an oven at 180C for around 10-12 minutes, or until crisp and completely heated through. They can also be reheated in an air fryer.
10. Check the consistency of the filling and adjust, if necessary. To make the sauce a little thinner, a little stock or cream can be added. To thicken the sauce, stir 1-2 teaspoons of cornflour into a little water and add it to the sauce, stirring until thickened.

Nutrition

Calories: 600kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 422mg | Potassium: 206mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 612IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 3mg

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