14ouncesrefrigerated rolled pie crusts(standard 2-pack)
1largeegg+ 1 teaspoon water, beaten
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté 2-3 minutes, or until translucent.
¼ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup diced yellow onion
Add the flour, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the flour mixture begins to brown.
¼ cup all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Slowly pour in the chicken broth, then the milk, whisking constantly until smooth. Allow it to simmer for 3 minutes, then stir in the peas and carrots and chicken. Continue to simmer for 4-5 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened, then remove from the heat and allow it to cool. It will thicken more as it cools.
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth, 1¼ cups whole milk, 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, 2 cups diced cooked chicken
While the chicken filling cools, make the pie crust rounds: Remove the pie crusts from the packaging. Unroll one crust on a lightly floured surface and use a rolling pin to roll it flat, but do not thin it out.
14 ounces refrigerated rolled pie crusts
Use a bowl with a 6-inch round opening to cut out 6 circles of dough, rerolling the scraps as needed but keeping the dough the same thickness.
Place the crust circles onto a work surface and place a ⅓ cup-sized scoop of filling into the center of the circle.
Brush a bit of the egg wash around the edge of the circle, then fold the crust in half to form a half circle. Press down lightly, ensuring the filling remains inside, then crimp use a fork or your fingers to seal the edges. Place the pie on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining circles.
1 large egg
Brush the pies with the egg wash. Use the tines of a fork to poke a few venting holes in the top of the pies.
Bake for 15-16 minutes, or until the pies are golden brown and the crust is crispy.
Notes
In place of the butter, you can use vegetable or canola oil.
While I recommend whole milk for the richest flavor, you can use any milk you have on hand, including nondairy milk.
In place of the chicken broth, you can use vegetable broth.
Feel free to switch up the frozen veggies. Corn or broccoli would be delicious!
You can use shredded rotisserie chicken to save time.
Be sure to cook the filling until it is thick and gooey. Watery filling will lead to soggy hand pies.
Take care not to thin the pie crust when you roll it out, as this could lead to split or soggy pies.
Don't overfill the pies; too much filling will cause them to pop open.
Don't skip the egg wash. It helps seal the dough together and give it that golden brown sheen.
Storage: Store chicken hand pies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.