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Monterey Chicken Pie

A hearty and flavorful twist on classic chicken pot pie, featuring smoky bacon, tender chicken, sweet peppers, and melted Monterey Jack cheese in a flaky crust.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

For the Filling
  • 500 g boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 medium breasts)
  • 6 strips streaky bacon, chopped into small pieces
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Cheese Layer
  • 1.5 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 170g)
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
For the Crust
  • 2 sheets ready-made shortcrust pastry (thawed if frozen)
  • 1 egg beaten (for egg wash)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cook the chicken by placing the chicken breasts in a medium saucepan and covering with cold water. Bring to boil, then simmer for 15-18 minutes until fully cooked.
  2. Remove chicken, let it rest for 5 minutes, and shred into chunky pieces.
  3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook the chopped bacon until crispy, about 4-5 minutes.
  4. In the same pan, cook the diced onion until softened, about 3 minutes, then add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  5. Add diced bell peppers and cook for 4-5 minutes until peppers are tender.
  6. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables, stir, and cook for 1 minute. Gradually add chicken stock while stirring, then add barbecue and Worcestershire sauce, and spices.
  7. Combine the shredded chicken and cooked bacon into the filling and let it cool for 10 minutes.
Assembly
  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F) and grease a pie dish.
  2. Line the dish with the first sheet of pastry, letting the excess hang over the edge.
  3. Add the cooled filling and sprinkle with both cheeses.
  4. Cover with the second pastry sheet, seal the edges, and cut slits for steam vents.
  5. Brush with egg wash and bake for 35-40 minutes until golden.
  6. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Ensure that the filling cools before adding to the pastry to avoid a soggy crust. Use Monterey Jack cheese for the best flavor and texture.