Chicken Ragù Hand Pies Recipes

EASY HAND-HELD CHICKEN POT PIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Pour mixed vegetables into a microwave-safe bowl. Add water. Heat in the microwave until warmed through, 1 to 3 minutes. Drain.
• Spray a skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add mixed vegetables, diced chicken, condensed soup, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until filling is heated through, 3 to 5 minutes more.
• Open biscuits and flatten each circle out with your fingertips. Place a portion of filling on one half of a circle and fold the other half over. Press edges with a fork to seal closed. Place mini pie carefully onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining biscuits and filling.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the outsides are golden, 30 to 35 minutes.

CHICKEN RAGù HAND PIES

Steps:

• Whisk together flour and salt in a large bowl and work the butter into the flour with your fingers until it resembles coarse sand. It's O.K. if some of the butter pieces aren't fully incorporated.
• Whisk together the ice water, vinegar and 1 egg, then slowly add to the flour a bit at a time, stirring gently with a fork until a shaggy dough forms.
• Flour your hands lightly, gather the dough into a ball and knead it gently a few times.
• Form the dough into a thick, flat square, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill for an hour. (The dough can stay overnight in the refrigerator or be frozen at this point.)
• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough until 1/8-inch thick. Cut out 4 1/2-inch rounds (a small bowl works well for this if you don't have a cookie cutter). Collect dough scraps if needed to re-roll dough to obtain 10 rounds.
• Whisk the remaining egg. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Add one heaping tablespoon of the chicken ragù to each pie, being careful to not scoop up too much liquid. Sprinkle with a little of the cheese, then brush the outer rim of each round with egg and fold over to seal tightly.
• Set the hand pies on the prepared baking sheet. Use the tines of a fork to crimp the edges, being careful not to puncture the dough that covers the filling. Brush the top of each hand pie with egg.
• Bake until the pastry tops are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

FLAKY CHICKEN HAND PIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. Roast, uncovered, for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until cooked through. Set aside until cool enough to handle.
• Remove skin and meat from bones. Chop meat roughly into 1/2-inch chunks and set aside or refrigerate, covered, for up to 2 days. (If desired, save skin, bones and pan drippings for stock.)
• Make filling: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until softened, stirring, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, thyme and chopped mushrooms. Season mixture with salt and pepper and reduce heat to medium.
• Cook, stirring, until onions have colored slightly and mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with flour and stir to coat. Add broth and cook, stirring, as mixture thickens. Add chicken, turn heat to low and cook 5 minutes more. Stir in crème fraîche, turn off heat, and set aside to cool. Stir in scallions and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Unfold puff pastry on a lightly floured (or parchment-paper-covered) work surface. Using a rolling pin, roll out into an approximate 15-inch square. Use the tip of a knife to cut into 9 equal squares. Spoon about 3/4 cup chicken mixture into the center of each piece, then divide any remaining mixture evenly on top, so each has the same amount.
• Pick up and fold one corner of pastry over the filling to make a triangular pie. Press and pinch both edges together tightly to seal. Divide on the prepared pans.
• Brush the tops with egg wash and bake until deep golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm.

CHICKEN RAGù WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Put the oil in a wide saucepan or deep skillet that will fit six thighs snugly and turn the heat to medium. Add the bacon and cook it until it's crisp, 5 to 6 minutes, then, using a slotted spoon, transfer it to a small bowl.
• Sprinkle the chicken generously with salt. Turn the heat to medium-high and add the chicken, skin-side down, to begin to brown. After 3 or 4 minutes, turn it and cook for another 3 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and pour off all but 3 tablespoons of the fat.
• Add the onion and fennel and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and just starting to turn golden, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the thyme and cook for another minute or so.
• Pour in wine and simmer, stirring and scraping up any browned bits in the bottom of the pan. Reduce the wine by half, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the bacon and then the chicken with any accumulated juices, skin-side up, keeping the thighs in a single layer. Pour in enough water to almost cover the chicken.
• Bring to a simmer and then turn the heat down so the liquid is bubbling very gently. Partially cover with a lid, setting it so some steam can escape. Cook until the chicken is tender, about 45 minutes.
• Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside to cool. Once you can handle it, remove the bones and skin and shred the chicken by hand.
• If you are serving the ragù over pasta, get your water going: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions, reserving 1 cup pasta water before draining.
• Add milk to the pan and turn the burner to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until sauce is nearly reduced by half and slightly thickened, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the shredded chicken back to the pan and season with salt and pepper.
• Stir in the butter, then the Parmesan. If serving over pasta, add some of the starchy pasta water if the sauce seems too thick.
• Add the parsley, and toss sauce with the pasta, if using. Pass more Parmesan at the table.