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Creamed chicken or turkey makes a tasty lunch or dinner when served with hot split biscuits, potatoes, or rice. It’s also an excellent way to use leftover chicken or turkey. Or use 2 small rotisserie chickens to make the dish. Add a tossed salad for a fabulous meal.
If you don’t care for mushrooms, feel free to leave them out. I like to use peas in this dish, but it can be made without adding the vegetable. Or sauté some sliced onions and celery in the butter before you add the flour. It’s a versatile recipe!
What You’ll Like About This Dish
Quick comfort food. A creamy, flavorful sauce that comes together in minutes.
Great use for leftovers. Works beautifully with leftover chicken or turkey.
Versatile serving options. Delicious over potatoes, rice, noodles, or biscuits.
Ingredient Notes
- Butter: Forms the base of the roux and adds richness.
- All-purpose flour: Thickens the sauce into a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Chicken stock: Provides depth to the white sauce.
- Light cream or half-and-half: Makes the sauce velvety without being too heavy.
- Mushrooms: Canned sliced mushrooms keep the recipe quick and easy.
- Pimiento: Adds color and a subtle sweetness.
- Cooked chicken or turkey: Use rotisserie, leftover roasted poultry, or poached chicken.
- Peas: Frozen peas add color, freshness, and texture.
- Salt and pepper: Season to taste.
Steps to Make Creamed Chicken or Turkey
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir in the flour and cook briefly to make a roux.
- Gradually add the chicken stock and cream, stirring until thickened.
- Add the mushrooms, pimiento, chicken, and peas.
- Heat through and season to taste.
- Serve over potatoes, biscuits, rice, or toast.
Tips
- Whisk constantly when adding liquid to avoid lumps in the sauce.
- Use leftover Thanksgiving turkey for a quick next-day meal.
- Add extra stock if you prefer a looser sauce for serving over rice.
- Stir in a splash of sherry for a subtle flavor boost.
Recipe Variations
- Vegetable-packed. Add carrots, celery, or onions sautéed in the butter before making the roux.
- Creamier version. Use heavy cream instead of light cream for extra richness.
- Herbed twist. Add thyme, parsley, or tarragon to the sauce.
- Mushroom lovers. Use fresh sautéed mushrooms instead of canned.
- Cheesy version. Stir in a handful of shredded Swiss or cheddar.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve over mashed potatoes for a classic homestyle meal.
- Pair with biscuits or puff pastry shells.
- Add steamed rice or buttered noodles as a base.
- Garnish with fresh parsley for color.
How to Store
Refrigerate: Store leftover creamed chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freeze: Freezing is not ideal due to the cream sauce, which may separate.
Reheat: Warm gently over low heat, adding a splash of broth or cream if needed to loosen the sauce.
These easy chicken breasts with creamy sauce are another excellent option for a meal. Or take a look at this delicious Instant Pot chicken with garlic and sun-dried tomatoes or this chicken with basil cream.
Creamed Chicken or Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 4 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock
- ¾ cup half-and-half
- 1 (4-ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
- 2 tbsp chopped pimiento, drained
- 3 cups diced cooked chicken, or turkey
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the peas following the package directions and set aside.1 cup frozen peas
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. When the butter is hot, add the flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.4 tbsp butter | 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- Gradually stir the chicken stock into the flour roux, then add the half-and-half. Stir until the sauce is smooth and thickened.1 1/2 cups chicken stock | 3/4 cup half-and-half
- Add the drained mushrooms, pimiento, chicken (or turkey), and cooked peas to the sauce and heat through. Season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.1 (4-ounce) can sliced mushrooms | 2 tbsp chopped pimiento | 3 cups diced cooked chicken | Kosher salt | Freshly ground black pepper
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
