Chicken Ala King

When you’re staring down a container of leftover chicken or turkey and wondering what to do with it, this is the recipe to reach for. Chicken à la King is one of those comforting, creamy meals that comes together quickly and doesn’t require much fuss. Everything simmers in one pan, and you can serve it over whatever you have on hand, such as biscuits, noodles, puff pastry, toast, or even a baked potato. A one-pan, classic comforting meal in about 30 minutes, made with simple pantry ingredients. 

Chicken à la King has always been one of my favorites, but I never seemed to get the knack of making it, that was until I found this super easy recipe back in 2016, using leftover meat and frozen veggies. Ever since then, it’s the one I have always come back to. Today, it’s getting a bit of a makeover. 

Chicken à la King Recipe

You might be wondering what exactly goes into Chicken à la King and where that fancy-sounding name comes from. At its core, it’s a creamy, savory dish made with tender chicken or turkey, mushrooms, peas, carrots, and a rich cream sauce that sometimes includes sherry or chicken broth for extra flavor. It’s usually served over something comforting like egg noodles, toast, or biscuits.

Despite the French name, Chicken à la King is an American creation. It became popular in the early 1900s as a delicious way to use up leftover chicken and turn it into something special. As for the name? That part’s a little questionable. Some say it was invented at the Brighton Beach Hotel in New York and named after a patron or chef named King. Others trace it to a hotel in Philadelphia or even Long Branch, New Jersey. No matter where it came from, the “à la King” style of creamy, flavorful poultry has been a household favorite ever since.

Chicken à la King

This dish checks a lot of boxes: it’s pantry-friendly, budget-conscious, and adaptable. It has that old-school charm of a meal your grandma might have served, but with shortcuts that make it easy enough for a busy weeknight. It’s creamy and savory, with just enough vegetables to round it out. Plus, it works just as well with leftover turkey after the holidays as it does with rotisserie chicken on a regular Tuesday night.

This is one of those sentimental, old-timey recipes. It’s creamy, comforting, and comes together with stuff you probably already have in your kitchen. Everything simmers in one pan, no extra mess, no fancy steps. As I mentioned, it’s the kind of meal that works just as well on a busy weeknight as it does when you’re staring down holiday leftovers. And the best part? You can serve it over whatever you’ve got: toast, egg noodles, buttermilk biscuits, popovers, baked potatoes, puff pastry, you name it!

Ingredients in Chicken à la King

For complete ingredients and instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe card. 

• Cooked chicken or turkey – shredded or diced, either works great (leftover chicken or turkey works well here!)
• Cream of chicken soup – or substitute cream of mushroom or cream of celery, the flavor won’t be quite the same, but it works in a pinch.
• Half & half or heavy cream – for extra richness
• Cooking sherry- or use chicken broth if you prefer to leave out alcohol
• Chicken bouillon – granules or paste
• Frozen peas and carrots – or any frozen mixed vegetables, or swap for a different vegetable like green bell pepper or green peas
• Canned mushrooms – or use fresh sautéed mushrooms if you prefer
• Poultry seasoning -or a mix of thyme, sage, and a little black pepper
• Worcestershire sauce -adds depth
• Fresh parsley – optional, but brightens everything up
• For serving – Biscuits, buttered toast, egg noodles, puff pastry shells, or baked potatoes – for serving

How to Make Chicken à la King

This Chicken à la King recipe comes together quickly and easily, so you are eating dinner in no time at all. 

In a large saucepan, add the chicken, cream of chicken soup, cream or half & half, cooking sherry, chicken bouillon, frozen vegetables, mushrooms, poultry seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce.

Stir everything together and heat over medium heat until the mixture begins to bubble gently.

Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 15 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. This gives the flavors time to meld and the sauce to thicken.

Right before serving, stir in fresh parsley. Spoon over your chosen base: buttermilk biscuits, egg noodles, baked potatoes, or even puff pastry shells.

To Make Chicken ala King in the Crockpot, mix everything (except the fresh parsley) in the crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours or high for 1½ to 2 hours, just until everything is heated through and the flavors have melded. If you’re using raw chicken breasts instead of pre-cooked chicken, cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or high for 3½ to 4 hours, then shred the chicken and stir it back into the sauce. Stir in the fresh parsley just before serving. If the sauce is too thick, thin it with a splash of chicken broth or milk.

Storing the Leftovers: Let the dish cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 – 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of cream or broth if needed to loosen the sauce. I don’t recommend freezing this due to the creamy sauce base, as it changes the consistency. But it’s so easy to make fresh that you probably won’t need to.

Love it? Pin it!

If you love this recipe for Chicken A la King, make sure that you don’t lose it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!

Tips & Tricks for Easy Chicken à la King:

• Use rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked chicken for an even quicker meal. Shredded or diced leftover chicken also works great.
• To make a creamy mushroom sauce, try adding extra mushrooms or sautéing them in olive oil with a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little heat.
• If you prefer a lighter version, chicken broth can be used in place of the cream or half & half.
• When adding the chicken, make sure it’s room temperature or slightly warm to avoid cooling down the sauce too much.
• Adjust the poultry seasoning to taste; for extra flavor, a dash of onion powder can elevate the creamy chicken mixture.
• Serving this over egg noodles gives it that classic comfort food vibe, but it also works wonderfully with baked potatoes or buttermilk biscuits for a different spin.

More Recipes to Love

One of my favorite things is when you can take a recipe and turn it into something else. Sometimes even more than once! Take this one, for example. Start with my recipe for Homemade Rotisserie Chicken, double the batch, and enjoy the chicken for a meal. Take the leftovers and turn them into this Chicken à la King recipe, then later that week, top baked potatoes with it for those beautiful Chicken à la King Baked Potatoes you see pictured above.

You can find all of my chicken recipes here and my collection of easy meals right here. There is no reason not to gather your family around the table when meals are this delicious and simple! If you are hungry for more, make sure to grab a copy of my cookbook, Savor It. Like this recipe, you will have access to nostalgic, comforting meals and desserts. All tried and true family recipes!

Chicken à la King is one of those classic comfort foods that never really goes out of style. Whether you’re making it with rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, leftovers from last night’s dinner, or a batch of juicy chicken breasts you cooked just for this, it’s a great way to bring a creamy, satisfying meal to the table with very little effort. This one’s a keeper for busy nights, cozy weekends, or anytime you need something quick and filling. 

This recipe was originally posted on September 11, 2016, as a part of a group called The Secret Recipe Club. It has been updated to improve the user experience and re-shared on August 4, 2025.