I seldom make chicken pot pie from scratch. I love a good chicken pot pie, that’s for sure. I just make shepherd’s pie more often. Since I don’t make it myself, I usually buy chicken pot pies that are already made when I go grocery shopping. And after a lifetime of trying different brands, Ive definitely noticed huge differences in quality. While some brands are really stingy with the chicken, others fill it up with nice, big chunks. The gravy inside the pie can be thick and creamy or thin and soupy, depending on the recipe. These are just a few of the major differences between brands that make a big impact on the taste and texture of chicken pot pie.
To bring those differences into clearer focus, I took it upon myself to pick up various brands of chicken pot pies and try them all at once, side by side; there are plenty of frozen pot pie brands available in supermarkets, but this article is only about chicken. Look no further. You’ve come to the right place to find out which brands are worth your money and which ones don’t. See below for my list of the worst to best store-bought chicken pot pies. The results may surprise you.
Chicken pot pie is the ultimate comfort food. This old favorite warms you up from the inside out with its flaky, golden crust and tasty chicken filling. But not all chicken pot pies are created equal. The quality can be very different depending on the restaurant or brand you buy it from. Who makes the best pot pie when you’re hungry? I tried some of the best frozen brands and chain restaurant versions to find out.
Evaluating Frozen Chicken Pot Pies
Frozen pot pies from the store are a quick and easy way to make dinner. They’re ready to eat in less than an hour after you put them in the oven. While there are many brands to pick from, it can be hard to figure out which one will taste and feel the best.
I rated 12 frozen chicken pot pie brands from worst to best based on how well they worked. Some important things I thought about were how the filling tasted, how good the chicken and vegetables were, and how the crust felt. Price and availability were also taken into account.
The Worst Frozen Chicken Pot Pies
Brands like Atkins, Banquet, Willow Tree, and Stouffer’s were near the bottom of the list.
The Atkins pot pie is designed to be low carb, so it’s crustless. But it was seriously lacking in flavor and didn’t have much chicken or carrot.
Banquet’s pot pie had a decent crust but skimpy filling And the crust burnt easily even when wrapped in foil
Willow Tree’s filling was very loose and didn’t hold together well The vegetables seemed processed and the chicken was sparse.
Stouffer’s pot pie tasted overly industrial with a bland flavor. And the crust got dry and burnt during baking.
While budget-friendly, these store brands failed to deliver the comforting taste and texture I want in a chicken pot pie.
The Best Frozen Chicken Pot Pies
At the top of the list were Marie Callender’s, Blake’s, Boomerang’s, and Kardea Brown.
Marie Callender’s had the perfect balance of flaky crust, ample filling, and great flavor. They also offer lots of varieties, including gluten-free and plant-based.
Blake’s pot pie stood out for its amazing, buttery crust. It’s baked just on top like a biscuit rather than surrounding the filling. But that let the filling shine.
Boomerang’s hand pie crust got crispy in the oven but perfectly flaky in the microwave. Their chicken and mushroom pot pie was a nice spin on the classic.
Kardea Brown’s pot pie had a richer, more country-style flavor. The filling was peppery and loaded with chicken distributed throughout.
These top brands delivered quality and comfort that rivaled homemade chicken pot pie. Marie Callender’s ultimately came out on top for its wide selection and consistent excellence.
Comparing Chicken Pot Pies from Chain Restaurants
Ready-made pot pies from the grocery store are convenient, but what about when you’re dining out? Which chain restaurants serve up chicken pot pie that’s worthy of your hard-earned dollars?
I reviewed chicken pot pies, as well as chicken pot pie soup, from 8 popular chain restaurants. I looked at reviews from food critics and everyday diners to see which items were praised for flavor and texture or criticized for being bland or mushy.
Chain Restaurants with the Worst Chicken Pot Pies
Boston Market, Metro Diner, Jason’s Deli, and Potbelly ended up with the lowest rankings.
Reviewers found Boston Market’s pot pie filling completely lacking in seasoning and flavor.
Metro Diner’s pot pie was compared to a blend of canned soup and pancake mix by one critic.
Jason’s Deli and Potbelly both offer chicken pot pie soup rather than a full pie. But the mushy chicken and inadequate crust topping left diners unimpressed.
These restaurants failed to capture the comforting flavors people expect from chicken pot pie.
Chain Restaurants with the Best Chicken Pot Pies
The winners for best chain restaurant chicken pot pie were KFC, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Cracker Barrel, and Lazy Dog.
KFC’s pot pie makes use of the chain’s signature fried chicken, giving it incredible flavor. And the price is reasonable.
Cheddar’s bakes their pies fresh daily for unmatched quality and taste. Reviewers loved the flaky crust and tender chicken.
Cracker Barrel’s chicken pot pie features classic veggies and a tasty crust. The filling could use a bit more seasoning, but overall it’s satisfying.
Lazy Dog’s hearty, chunky filling and herb-topped crust impressed reviewers as a high-quality chicken pot pie.
These favorite chains succeeded in making chicken pot pies with fresh ingredients, well-seasoned filling, and a perfectly crispy crust. KFC unexpectedly took the top spot with its fried chicken flair.
Tips for Finding the Perfect Chicken Pot Pie
After extensive testing, I’ve identified some key tips for getting your hands on a supreme chicken pot pie:
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Prioritize freshness – Look for brands that bake their pies daily rather than freezing pre-made ones to ensure quality.
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Seek variety – Look for companies offering classic chicken as well as veggie or protein options to suit different tastes.
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Read reviews – Check what food critics and everyday customers say about flavor and consistency.
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Aim for visible ingredients – Chunks of chicken and veggies indicate a homemade touch. Uniform pieces or mushy textures suggest overprocessing.
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Evaluate crust – A great pot pie should have a crispy, flaky crust that complements the filling. Burnt or soggy crusts diminish the experience.
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Consider cost – Higher prices don’t necessarily guarantee better taste. Well-rated budget brands can still satisfy.
With these tips in mind, you can zero in on the chicken pot pie brands and restaurants that will satisfy your craving. Trust me, I’ve eaten enough of them to know which are worth your hard-earned money. Just follow my recommendations and you’re sure to find chicken pot pie perfection.
Blake’s chicken pot pie
The first thing that I noticed is that the crust on this chicken pot pie is much lighter in color compared to the rest of the pot pies in this ranking. It was so good that I thought the crust wasn’t fully baked at first, but the first bite proved me wrong. As it turns out, the crust was actually much better than the previous pot pies in this ranking. It retains a buttery flakiness and tastes more like something homemade.
I also noticed on the label that, unlike the previous chicken pot pies lower in this ranking, this chicken pot pie contains potatoes. As I ate this chicken pot pie, I came to realize how heavy on the potatoes the recipe is. In fact, it seemed like the potatoes in this pot pie far outweighed the amount of chicken in it. It’s fine to have potatoes in my chicken pot pie, but I’d rather have more chicken than potatoes. On the plus side, the gravy was nice and thick — unlike the watery gravy that the other pot pies thus far suffered from.
Marie Callender’s chicken pot pie
This Marie Callenders pot pie has real chicken in it instead of fake chicken, so I was interested to see how it turned out. As I learned from Banquet, real chicken doesnt necessarily translate into tasty, so as you can imagine, I was happy to see that, unlike Banquet, Marie Callenders chicken pot pie recipe uses much better quality chicken. The chicken is also cut into surprisingly generous chunks. But thats pretty much where the good news here ends.
Similar to the other chicken pot pies on the lower end of the spectrum here, the gravy in this pot pie is thin and watery. The flavor is flat and mostly just tastes like salt. If the gravy were seasoned just a little more — all it would take is a touch more black pepper and a dash of dried herbs — this probably wouldve landed a little higher in the ranking.
The Best HOMEMADE CHICKEN POT PIE RECIPE I Ever Made
FAQ
What is the best chicken pie to buy?
Top 10 Chicken PiesTesco. Chicken & Vegetable Pie. Iceland. 4 Chicken and Vegetable Pies. Greggs. 2 Creamy Chicken Pies. Tesco. 4 Chicken & Bacon Pies. Tesco Finest. Creamy Chicken & Garden Vegetable Pies. Pukka. 2 Chicken & Bacon Microwaveable Shortcrust Pies. Iceland. 4 Balti Chicken Pies. Bells. 2 Chicken Curry Pies. Where to buy.
Which Marie Callender pot pie is best?
The Best Marie Callender’s Chicken Pot Pie: Creamy Mushroom Chicken Pot Pie. The Creamy Mushroom Chicken Pot Pie has the same delicious golden crust and same big chunks of white meat chicken as the other chicken and turkey pies, but with additions that make it slightly more upscale and sophisticated.
Why is Costco chicken pot pie so good?
For ingredients, the Costco pot pie had rotisserie-style chicken in it with ingredients that would ultimately create more a more broth type of flavor. There are also more veggies, and with the addition of flavors like thyme, it’s savory.
Which frozen chicken pot pie brand is best?
We went through 12 different frozen chicken pot pie brands and found that Marie Callender’s was clearly the best when compared to Banquet’s.
Is chicken pot pie easy to make?
Chicken pot pie may be the ultimate comfort food, but it’s not the easiest to make. That’s why we tried different frozen pot pie brands to find the best.
Where can I buy a chicken pot pie?
Buy: Blake’s Frozen All Natural Chicken Pot Pie, $3. 99 for 8 ounces at Target 2. Kiwi Kuisine Curry Chicken Pie This was, by far, my favorite pot pie of the ones I sampled, and would have claimed the top spot if it were more readily available nationwide.
What are the best frozen chicken pies?
This pot pie is one of the most popular frozen chicken pies on the market today. It’s got a flaky crust and delicious filling that will satisfy your hunger. Plus, it’s easy to prepare. Just pop it in the oven and wait for it to cook. I liked that the crust was flaky and that the filling had a good flavor.
Which chicken pot pies have the best crust?
Among chicken pot pies, the Boston Market version has one of the best crusts. The Boston Market crust was the only one to include more than just a basic cracker taste; it was very thick, flaky, and buttery. The chicken turned out to be juicy and delicious. Being able to hear oneself chew the peas made up for their lack of flavor.
Where did Marie Callender make chicken pot pies?
There was a time when Marie Callender made her chicken pot pies by hand in a small shop in California, long before they were sold in stores. Her pies became legendary, which is probably why we also ranked the chicken pot pie as the second best Marie Callender’s frozen meal.