Creamy Chicken Bakes

Not surprisingly, this savoury hand pie was inspired by a certain chain of bakeries, fortunately, when you can make your own golden, flaky, puffy pastry and creamy chicken filling at home, there’s no need to complain.

Credited to: Becky Excell

Kcal:

Serves 5
40 mins prep

Ingredients

  • 1 quantity of gluten free rough puff pastry**
  • 1 medium egg, beaten
For the filling
  • 200g chicken breast fillet
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1½ tbsp gluten free plain flour*
  • 200ml gluten free chicken stock*
  • 50g full fat cream cheese
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • 3 tbsp double cream

Notes: *Search our online Food and Drink information for suitable products.

Method

  1. Firstly make your filling. Chop your chicken into small chunks, around 1 x 2cm (¾ x 1¼in). In a large pan, heat the oil over a medium heat, add your chicken and fry until sealed. Add your flour and stir until all the chicken is evenly coated. Pour in your stock, cream cheese, and salt and pepper. Bring to the boil and simmer until it reduces to form a nice, thick sauce. Turn off the heat, stir in the cream and allow to briefly cool.
  2. Preheat your oven to 200°C fan / 220°C / 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with non-stick baking parchment.
  3. Place the pastry dough on a large sheet of non-stick baking parchment and cut the dough in half widthways. Re-wrap one portion in cling film (plastic wrap) and place back into the fridge for later. Roll out the other portion into a large rectangle, around 20 x 30cm (8 x 12in) and 2mm (₁/₁₆in) thick. Keep flouring the surface if it gets sticky – this often happen  on warmer days or if you have warm hands! Cut your pastry into rectangles of about 10.5 x 9cm (4 x 3½in) – you’ll need two rectangles per bake. Brush the edges of one of the rectangles with beaten egg.
  4. Spoon a good tablespoon of filling into the middle of your rectangle, then place your second rectangle of pastry on top, pressing it down around all the edges. Use a fork to seal the edges of each bake. Score 6 wavy lines across the top of each bake with a sharp knife (make sure you don’t cut right through the pastry) and then brush the top with a little more beaten egg. Transfer to the lined baking sheet.
  5. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes until golden. Repeat using the rest of your pastry and filling. Enjoy served warm.

Hints and tips:

Freeze these for up to 3 months, then defrost before reheating in a moderate oven. 

Remember that when using rough puff pastry, you cannot simply just re-roll it (or any off-cuts) into a ball. You’ll destroy the layers you’ve spent time creating! If you do have any off cuts, you can always top them with cheese and bake until golden for an easy snack.
 
** Find the gluten free rough puff pastry recipe on page 207 of Becky's recipe book "How to make anything gluten free" or search "rough puff pastry" at coeliac.org.uk/recipes