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Craving comfort food with a twist? I’ve got just the thing: Chicken Pillows. These are savory pockets filled with creamy chicken and mushrooms, served with a quick gravy for dipping.
Plus, they’re easier to make than you might think—perfect for a weeknight dinner that will satisfy the whole family!
What You’ll Love About This Chicken Pillows Recipe
- Family-Friendly: This recipe will surely be a hit with people of all ages, and I always find it an excellent option for family dinners.
- Easy and Fun to Make: I love how this recipe uses simple ingredients and techniques, making it perfect for busy weeknights when I want to mix up my typical chicken dinner routine.
- Comfort Food Classic: The chicken and creamy filling are the epitome of comfort food for me, perfect for a satisfying and hearty meal.
Ingredients
This recipe has three main components: homemade dough, a cream cheese chicken filling, and a homemade chicken gravy.
Dough Ingredients:
- milk
- instant yeast
- granulated sugar
- salt
- butter
- all-purpose flour
Filling:
- cream cheese
- salted butter softened
- ground black pepper
- poultry seasoning
- dried minced onion
- shredded chicken
- canned sliced mushrooms
Gravy:
- salted butter
- all-purpose flour
- chicken broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
How To Make Chicken Pillows
***This is just a teaser! To see the complete ingredient list and step-by-step instructions, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Make Dough: In a stand mixer, combine milk and yeast and let sit for 5 minutes. Add sugar, salt, butter, and 2 cups of flour and mix until combined. Attach the dough hook and add the remaining flour. Mix on medium speed until combined. Increase speed to medium-high and mix for 2 minutes. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
Make Filling: While the dough rises, combine cream cheese, butter, spices, and onion in a bowl. Fold in chicken and mushrooms.
Roll, Cut, and Fill Dough: Divide the dough into 2 balls. Roll one ball into a 10-11-inch circle. Cut into 8 triangles. Place filling on the widest part of each triangle.
Roll-Up Chicken Pillows: Roll up like crescent rolls. Place seam side down on lined baking sheets. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
Bake: Bake for 12-15 minutes in a 375°F oven, rotating pans halfway, until golden brown.
Make Gravy: While puffs bake, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour until golden brown. Slowly whisk in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cook until thickened.
Serve: Spoon gravy over chicken puffs and enjoy.
Top Tips & Tricks
Creating delicious Chicken Pillows involves a blend of precise dough preparation, a flavorful filling, and a rich gravy. Here are some key tips and tricks to help you master this recipe:
- Proper Dough Handling: To activate the yeast effectively, ensure the milk is warmed correctly (90-110 degrees F), and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free area to ensure it doubles in size and develops flavors.
- Smooth Filling: Soften the cream cheese and butter to room temperature before mixing to ensure a smooth, lump-free filling. Distribute the filling evenly and seal the edges of the dough well to prevent leakage during baking.
- Baking Techniques: Preheat the oven before baking and position the racks for optimal air circulation. Rotate the baking sheets halfway through to ensure even browning.
- Gravy Perfection: For the gravy, cook the flour in butter until golden to make a roux, then gradually whisk in chicken broth to prevent lumps, ensuring a smooth and thick gravy.
Make It A Meal
For a complete meal, serve these chicken pillows alongside a simple salad or easy vegetable, such as cooked carrots.
Serving & Storage Tips:
Serve: Chicken Pillows are best enjoyed fresh. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Store: Store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze: To freeze leftovers, store them in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag for up to three months.
Defrost: Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Reheat in a 350-degree F oven for 5-10 minutes or until heated.
Recipe FAQs
How long do you cook chicken pillow?
These will cook for twelve to fifteen minutes at 375 degrees F. Each oven cooks differently, so use this time frame as a guide. The pillows are done when they are golden brown.
Can I use premade dough?
Yes, you can substitute two cans of crescent rolls instead of making the homemade dough.
Can I use store-bought gravy?
Yes! While we prefer homemade gravy, you can use your favorite brand of store-bought gravy to top the pillows with if you do not want to make it or are short on time.
More From The Cozy Fork
Chicken Pillows Recipe
Equipment
- Stand mixer
- 2 baking sheets
- silicone baking mat OR parchment paper
- mixing bowl
- Pizza Cutter
- medium saucepan
- whisk
Ingredients
DOUGH:
- 1 cup milk warmed to 90-110 degrees F
- 1 ¾ Tablespoon instant yeast
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 Tablespoons butter softened
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
FILLING:
- 8 oz brick cream cheese softened
- 8 Tablespoons salted butter softened
- ½ teaspoons ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon dried minced onion
- 2 ½ cups shredded chicken
- 4 oz can sliced mushrooms optional
GRAVY:
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
MAKE DOUGH:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer add milk and yeast. Whisk and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes.
- Add sugar, salt, butter, and 2 cups of flour and mix with the paddle attachment until combined.
- Switch to the dough hook and add the remaining 2 cups of flour. Mix on medium speed until the dough is combined and no flour pockets remain.
- Increase speed to medium-high and mix for 2 minutes.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let the dough rise for 30 minutes.
MAKE FILLING:
- While the dough rises, make the filling. In a large bowl mix together cream cheese, butter, black pepper, poultry seasoning, and minced onion. Fold in chicken and mushrooms.
PREHEAT OVEN PREP BAKING SHEETS:
- Move the oven racks to the upper-middle and lower-middle positions. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
FILL, ROLL, AND BAKE PUFFS:
- Divide the dough into 2 equal dough balls. Place one dough ball onto a floured countertop, and keep the other covered in the mixing bowl.
- Roll the dough into a 10-11 inch circle. Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into 8 triangle pieces (just like you were cutting a pizza).
- Place 2-3 tablespoons of the filling on the biggest part of the dough triangle. Roll the dough like you would roll crescent rolls.
- Place the chicken puff, seam side down, onto one of the prepared baking sheets.
- Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Placing 8 chicken puffs on each baking sheet.
BAKE:
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking, until the chicken puffs are golden.
MAKE GRAVY:
- While the puffs bake, make the gravy. In a medium saucepan over medium heat melt butter. Whisk in flour and continue stirring until flour is golden in color, about 2 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in chicken broth and bring the mixture to a bubble. Continue to cook until the gravy has thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
TO SERVE:
- Spoon gravy over chicken puffs. Enjoy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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