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Classic Homemade Chicken a la King

This homemade, from scratch, Chicken a la King is a recipe straight out of my childhood. It’s tender, moist chicken cooked in a creamy mushroom and pimiento sauce.

We’re reaching back in the vintage files for another delicious vintage recipe with my classic homemade Chicken a la King. Just in case you’ve never enjoyed this dish before, it’s another one of those great old recipes that people just don’t seem to make very much these days.

A serving of chicken a la king on a white plate.

It contains bite-size pieces of moist chicken in a creamy mushroom and pimiento sauce. It’s one of those homemade, comfort food, lick-your-plate-clean recipes. For real. And it’s super easy to make.

While many people assume this recipe has French roots, it really doesn’t. It’s the “a la” part that seems to give that impression, and I confess, I thought it came from France. Turns out, there are several origin stories.

The most popular of these belongs to Chef George Greenwald of the Brighton Beach Hotel in New York. It’s said that this classic dish was invented there in the 1890s for E. Clark King, II.

Even though it was invented in the 19th century, it didn’t really take off until the 1950s and was phased out of most restaurants by the end of the 60s.

Regardless of its origins, Chicken a la King is an old fashioned recipe that I keep around. Maybe it’s the cream sauce. Maybe it’s the mushrooms. And even with its origin in the North, I always think of it as being decidedly Southern. It was a dinner party staple when I was growing up and also made frequent appearances on our Sunday dinner menus.

Recipe Quick View

Cuisine: Southern, Vintage
Cooking Method: Stovetop/Oven
Total Time: 1 Hour, 40 Minutes

Servings: 8
Primary Ingredient(s): Chicken, mushrooms, pimiento, celery, onions
Skill Level: Easy

Why I Recommend This Recipe

  • Part of our classic southern foodways.
  • Great for both family meals and company dinner.
  • It’s rich and indulgent but can be modified with lighter options.
  • Uses common, easily sourced ingredients.

Equipment You’ll Need

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  • Good Sharp Knife. Ever heard “the sharper the knife, the less you cry” It’s true. You’re much less likely to cut yourself with a sharp knife. Buy the best your budget will allow and treat them right.
  • Large Saucepan or Stockpot. This is one of the workhorses of the kitchen. Perfect for soups, stews, and big old pots of chili.
  • Mixing Bowls. I love the classic glass Pyrex mixing bowls. They’re cheap and last forever.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients needed for making chicken a la king.

There’s nothing at all unusual in the ingredients, especially for a southern pantry! The only things you may not have on hand are the pimientos and allspice.

  • Whole Chicken – I prefer a whole chicken weighing less than 4 pounds, if possible.
  • Diced Pimientos – I always have these on hand because who knows when a craving for Pimiento Cheese may strike! If you need to purchase a jar, try to find the Dromedary brand. Of course, finely diced roasted red peppers will also work in a pinch.
  • Whole Allspice – Many recipes for poaching or boiling chicken call for whole allspice. Use it if you have it, but if it’s not available don’t worry. It’s okay to leave it out.

The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Make Classic Homemade Chicken a la King

Start by Making an Aromatic Chicken Broth

  1. Start by cooking a whole chicken in water with some lovely aromatic seasonings. Celery, carrot, whole allspice, peppercorns, and an onion stuck with whole cloves make a delicious stock!
  2. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, partly covered, for about 30 minutes or until the chicken is tender. Let the chicken cool completely in the broth.
  3. Take out one cup of the broth to use in the recipe and store or freeze the rest to use in something else.

👉 PRO TIP: I always leave the peel on the onion when making chicken stock. It gives a pretty golden color to the finished stock. You’ll have quite a bit of stock, but you only need one cup for this recipe. Take that out and freeze the rest – it will make a wonderful chicken soup later!

Prepare the Chicken

Shredded, deboned chicken in a white bowl.
  1. Once your chicken is done and has cooled, remove all the meat and discard the skin and bones. Cut the meat into bite-size pieces. Set that aside for now.

👉 PRO TIP: Want to skip the whole boiling and deboning the chicken part of the recipe? No problem! Simply purchase a rotisserie chicken from your grocery store, remove the skin and bones, and start from there! Alternately, if you don’t mind using a pressure cooker or instant pot, you can speed the process up significantly by cooking your chicken that way. Your choice!

Make the a la King Sauce

  1. Melt two tablespoons of the butter in a large pan. Add the flour and stir together with a wire whisk until well blended.
  2. Add the cup of chicken stock and whisk rapidly until smooth and well blended.
  3. Cook for about five minutes, stirring frequently.
  4. Stir in the half-and-half and simmer for an additional ten minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed. Add the lemon juice.
  5. Beat the egg yolks in a small bowl.
  6. To the yolks, add 1/2 cup of the hot sauce mixture and stir rapidly.
  7. Scrape the yolk and sauce mixture back into the pan and bring barely to the simmer while stirring. Remove the pan from the heat.

Saute the Mushrooms and Put it All Together

  1. Heat the remaining tablespoon of butter in a small skillet and add the sliced mushrooms.
  2. Cook stirring constantly until wilted and golden brown.
  3. Add the pimientos and Tabasco and continue cooking just long enough to heat the pimientos through.
  4. Add the shredded chicken and mushroom mixture to the cream sauce. Stir together.

Make the Toast Points

👉 To Make Toast Points: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Remove the crust from 4-5 slices of bread. Cut across the bread to create triangles. Spray each side of the bread with cooking spray and place on a baking sheet. Bake until toasted and slightly crispy. May be made ahead of time.

How to Serve

I’ve heard of people serving Chicken à la King over thin pasta, but the traditional service is over toast points. Or, if you’re serving it for a luncheon, it’s quite nice to spoon over puff pastry shells.

A spoon holding a bite of chicken a la king above a skillet.

Recipe Variations

  • Substitute turkey or tuna for the chicken. It’s a great way to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey and Tuna a la King is delicious!
  • Instead of pimientos, you can always substitute finely diced roasted red peppers.
  • Half a green bell pepper, diced very finely, is an excellent addition to the sauce.
  • Instead of fresh mushrooms, substitute drained, jarred mushrooms.

Can I Make Chicken a la King in Advance?

My easy to follow recipe below gives you instructions for making the recipe all at once. However, you can also cook the chicken in advance and keep it in the fridge for up to three days and then finish the recipe later.

A serving of chicken a la king on a white plate.

Questions About Chicken a la King

How do I store and/or freeze this recipe?

Leftovers may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To freeze, allow it to cool completely and freeze in an appropriate freezer safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using. I’d suggest reheating in a saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently. If the sauce separates when reheating, stir in a little milk or half and half.

What can I serve with this?

Chicken a la King doesn’t need much embellishment. I usually serve it with a fresh tossed green salad dressed with an oil and vinegar based dressing to provide a contrasting acidity for the cream sauce. A mixed fresh fruit salad or mixed steamed vegetables would also be nice.

Lana Stuart.

Questions? I’m happy to help!

If you have more questions about the recipe, or if you’ve made it and would like to leave a comment, scroll down to leave your thoughts, questions, and/or rating!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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A serving of chicken a la king on a white plate.

Classic Homemade Chicken a la King

My old fashioned Chicken a la King with its creamy mushroom and pimiento sauce will have your family asking for seconds, guaranteed!
5 from 1 vote
Print It Rate It
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: Southern, Vintage
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 386kcal
Author: Lana Stuart

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken under 4 pounds if possible
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 small onion stuck with 2 whole cloves
  • 2 whole allspice
  • 1 carrot peeled and cut in large pieces
  • 3 ribs celery cut in large pieces
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  • 8 peppercorns
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 2 egg yolks beaten
  • 1 ½ cups sliced mushrooms
  • ½ cup diced pimiento drained
  • ½ teaspoon Tabasco sauce
  • 16 toast points

Instructions

  • Place the chicken, water, bay leaf, onion, allspice, carrot, celery, salt and peppercorns in a large pot.
  • Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer, partly covered, for about 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Let the chicken cool in the broth.
  • Strain the broth, reserving one cup of broth for this recipe and freeze or store the remainder for another use.
  • Remove all the meat from chicken and discard the skin and bones. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Set aside.
  • Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet. Add the flour, stirring with a whisk.
  • When blended, add the cup of reserved broth. Stir rapidly until the sauce is blended and smooth.
  • Cook about five minutes, stirring frequently.
  • Stir in the half-and-half and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed. Add the lemon juice.
  • Beat the two egg yolks in a small bowl.
  • Add ½ cup of the hot sauce mixture to the egg yolks and stir rapidly.
  • Scrape the mixture back into the sauce and bring barely to the simmer while stirring. Remove pan from the heat.
  • Heat the remaining tablespoon of butter in a small skillet and add the mushrooms.
  • Cook, stirring constantly, until the mushrooms are wilted and nicely browned and most of the liquid has evaporated.
  • Add the pimientos and Tabasco and stir well. Cook just long enough to heat the pimientos.
  • Add the cubed chicken and the mushroom mixture to the sauce.Serve over toast points.

For the toast points:

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
  • Remove crust from 4-5 slices of bread.
  • Cut across the bread to create triangles.
  • Spray each side of the bread with cooking spray and place on a baking sheet.
  • Bake until toasted and slightly crispy.

Notes

  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • To freeze, allow it to cool completely and store in a freezer safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
  • Reheat in a saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently. If the sauce separates when reheating, stir in a little milk or half and half.
 

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 | Calories 386kcal | Carbohydrates 19g | Protein 23g | Fat 24g | Saturated Fat 10g | Trans Fat 1g | Cholesterol 143mg | Sodium 721mg | Potassium 420mg | Fiber 2g | Sugar 3g | Vitamin A 2099IU | Vitamin C 15mg | Calcium 96mg | Iron 2mg

Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.

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— This post was originally published on August 10, 2011. It has been updated with new photos and additional information.

A serving of chicken a la king over toast points on a white plate.
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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20 Comments

  1. Lana, I came across your site sometime back. Was introduced to many, many of these dishes living on my families peanut and cattle farm in God’s Country. I’m 6th generation here and a sweet cowboy/farmer joined me in 1966!
    Been eating and making the chicken and turkey ALK all my life. The little school I attended served this often and it was delicious. Your recipe for this is perfect.
    I was truly blessed having my Great Aunt, Grandmother, Mother and several ladies from the Sea Islands for kitchen instruction. You would be corrected (lol) for not putting the skin and bones back in the remaining broth and continue to simmer for several hours. We still have bone broth often.
    Thank you for sharing with us. Peanut dryers and cows lowing are music to me.

  2. Rocky Mountain Woman says:

    My grandmother made a northern PA version of this with just peas and pimentos on toast. I loved it….

  3. Oh my gosh! I remember when I used to eat meat and LOVED chicken ala king but it was from a can! Wonder if they still sell that stuff? I used to have it over toast.
    I’ll have to use your recipe and make it for my husband. I know he’ll love it and it will be SO much better than what I rememeber.

  4. this looks wonderful!

  5. claudia lamascolo/aka pegasuslegend says:

    My mom used to love this one, I never made it will have to give it a try… Florida is so hot during the summer months, this looks like a light meal, we love hotsauce!

  6. Mari @ Mari's Cakes says:

    Lana another great recipe! Like Liv, I love tabasco. I am sure my family will enjoy this recipe :)

    1. I love Tabasco, too, Mari. God bless Mr. McIlhenny.

  7. Barbara | Creative Culinary says:

    It is funny how some things we love get forgotten over time. I was just reminded the other day how much I actually love my meatloaf recipe which must be 35 years old (OK, probably love the sandwiches the day after even more!).

    Here’s another one…so thanks for the memories and the reminder; it’s needs to get done!

    1. Barbara – I just love reviving some of these old recipes. Just because they’re not the latest fad doesn’t mean they’re not worth cooking from time to time, right?

  8. Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says:

    Oh Lana, I haven’t had this in YEARS. It’s time…

    1. Hope you enjoy it, Sommer. I’ve been on a vintage kick lately and am really enjoying some older recipes.

  9. Alison @ ingredients, Inc. says:

    Such a great sunday casserole idea!

  10. I just love it, Momma used to make this all the time and I thought it was so fancy… maybe just the name…
    I think so many church casseroles are based on this recipe, I know every time I start researching a chicken/mushroom dish, I am reminded of this one….

    1. My Mama used to make this a lot, too. It was one of her dinner party recipes :-)

  11. Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says:

    This just looks so filling and delicious. I could eat at your house everyday and be so happy! Not that you would take me on to raise or anything. :)

    1. Aw, thanks, Milisa. So sweet of you to say so.

  12. Barbara Wiedemann says:

    What delightful pictures ! Especially the one with the whole onion. Never saw this done before. Delicious looking recipe. I certainly enjoy your presentations. Thank you.

    1. Thanks, Barbara. Yes, leaving the peel on the onion makes the stock a really pretty golden color.

  13. Love Tabasco… and practically any recipe with it in it.

    1. Me, too, Liv! Tabasco makes almost anything better.