Chicken Pot Pies with Ham

By PineyCook

Clever shortcuts make these individual pot pies from Everyday Food reader Martha C. Neumann of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, surprisingly easy. Store-bought rotisserie chicken and pie dough cut the prep time; fennel bulb, fennel seed, and cubed ham update it.

Ingredients

• 2.00 tablespoon(s) butter
• 1.00 carrot, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
• 1.00 medium onion, chopped
• 1.00 fennel bulb, cored and chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) fennel seed, crushed
• 1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
• 1.00 cup(s) whole milk
• 1.00 can(s) (14.5 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1.00 (about 2 1/2 pounds) rotisserie chicken, skin and bones removed, meat shredded (about 4 cups)
• 1.00 ham steak (8 ounces), cubed
• 1.00 tablespoon(s) fresh lemon juice
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 9 -inch-round store-bought pie dough (from a 15-ounce package)

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with rack in the middle. In a large saucepan, heat butter over medium. Add carrot, onion, fennel, and fennel seed. Cook until carrot is crisp-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add flour; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Gradually add milk and broth, stirring until smooth. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a simmer and thickens, 5 to 8 minutes.

Remove from heat; stir in chicken, ham, and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Divide filling among eight 8-ounce ramekins or ovenproof bowls; set aside.

On a floured surface, roll out dough to a 15-inch round. With a 3 1/2-inch floured biscuit cutter, cut out eight rounds; place one on each ramekin. Transfer ramekins to a rimmed baking sheet; bake until filling is bubbling and crusts are golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.