Chicken pot pie is the ultimate comfort food - a golden crust hiding tender chicken and veg swimming in creamy sauce. But not all pot pies are created equal!
Some chain restaurants nail this classic dish while others serve up soggy disappointments. Here's my rundown of the worst offenders and the places that truly know how to create pot pie perfection.
1. KFC
The Colonel might know his fried chicken, but his pot pie? Absolute rubbish!
The filling resembles chicken soup that someone forgot to thicken, swimming with mushy vegetables. Their crust looks promising but turns disappointingly soggy within minutes.
Many customers report finding more potato than actual chicken inside.
2. Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen
Fancy name, disappointing execution!
Their so-called 'homemade' pot pie arrives looking Instagram-worthy but delivers a sodium punch that'll have you reaching for water all night. The pastry often arrives undercooked and doughy in the centre.
Even their vegetables taste like they've been preserved in salt rather than cooked fresh.
3. Marie Callender
How ironic that a restaurant famous for pies can't make a decent chicken version!
Their pot pies look massive but taste of absolutely nothing - like someone forgot the seasoning entirely. The chicken chunks are typically dry and stringy.
Even drowning it in hot sauce can't save this bland disaster.
4. Boston Market
Chicken swimming pool, anyone?
Boston Market's offering resembles chicken soup with a pastry hat rather than a proper pot pie. The ratio of sauce to filling is completely off-balance, creating a flood when you cut into it.
The vegetables seem to have disappeared entirely, leaving just chicken and liquid.
5. Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Is it soup? Is it pie? Nobody knows!
Potbelly's chicken pot pie soup with a tiny pastry square floating atop confuses both your eyes and taste buds. The broth lacks depth, tasting suspiciously like they've used bouillon cubes rather than proper stock.
The measly pastry portion leaves you feeling cheated of a proper pot pie experience.
6. Claim Jumper Steakhouse & Bar
Quantity over quality seems to be Claim Jumper's motto!
Their massive pot pie could feed a family, but you'll struggle to finish even a quarter. The filling is oddly sweet yet overly salty simultaneously, creating a confusing flavour profile.
The pastry shatters into a million pieces when touched, making it impossible to eat gracefully.
7. Jason's Deli
Butter lovers, rejoice - everyone else, run away!
Jason's attempt at pot pie soup features a puff pastry topping that's swimming in enough butter to clog arteries on sight. The soup beneath lacks any chicken flavour, tasting oddly artificial.
Strangely, they've added corn - a controversial addition that pot pie purists find absolutely sacrilegious.
8. Pieminister
British pie royalty for good reason!
Pieminister crafts their chicken pot pies with free-range meat and seasonal veg encased in buttery, flaky pastry that shatters perfectly with each bite. Their clever herb blend includes a hint of tarragon that elevates the filling beyond ordinary.
Each pie arrives with a satisfying dome that releases aromatic steam when pierced.
9. Mother Mash
Grandma's recipe with chef-level execution!
Mother Mash pairs their heavenly chicken pot pie with creamy mashed potatoes for the ultimate comfort food duo. Their pastry achieves the impossible balance - sturdy enough to hold the filling yet delicate enough to melt in your mouth.
Leek and thyme feature prominently in their filling, creating a distinctly British flavour profile.
10. The Victoria
Traditional technique meets modern flavours!
The Victoria's chicken pot pie incorporates unexpected elements like leeks, pancetta, and a hint of wholegrain mustard. Their pastry contains black pepper visible throughout, adding a subtle kick to each bite.
Instead of a full pastry shell, they use a generous puff pastry lid that rises dramatically in the oven.
11. Battersea Pie
Market-fresh ingredients make all the difference!
Battersea Pie sources chicken from local farms and vegetables from Borough Market vendors. Their pastry achieves that perfect golden hue without looking artificially glossy.
Unique to their recipe is a splash of white wine and tarragon, giving their filling a sophisticated French twist that elevates the humble pot pie.
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