40 min
Crispy Chicken Katsu with Sesame-Scallion Tonkatsu Sauce
Juicy chicken cutlets wear a craggy panko crust and sit over a glossy homemade tonkatsu sauce sharpened with ginger, rice vinegar, scallions, and sesame.
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Deep-Dish Thyme Chicken Pie with Double Crust
Large, juicy chicken pieces and a thyme-scented savory gravy tucked between two deeply golden, flaky pastry crusts.
Directions
Heat the oven and line the dish
Set a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat to 400°F. Fit one cold crust into a deep 9-inch pie plate, leaving the overhang in place. Refrigerate the lined plate while you make the filling.
Brown the chicken in two batches
Pat the chicken dry and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-high. Brown half the chicken for about 3 minutes, turning once; transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining oil and chicken. The centers may still be underdone.
Build the savory gravy
Reduce the heat to medium. Add onion and celery and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Add butter. When melted, sprinkle in flour and stir constantly for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in broth, then milk. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until the gravy coats a spoon.
Finish and cool the filling
Stir in Dijon, thyme, nutmeg, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Return the chicken and accumulated juices. Simmer for 2 minutes, then spread the filling on a rimmed plate and cool for 15 minutes; hot filling can melt the bottom crust before it starts to set.
Seal the double crust
Spoon the warm—not steaming—filling into the lined pie plate. Lay the second crust over the top. Trim to a 1/2-inch overhang, fold both crust edges under together, and crimp firmly. Cut four 1-inch vents in the center. Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush a thin coat over the pastry.
Bake until deeply golden and safe
Place the pie on a rimmed pan and bake at 400°F for 45 to 50 minutes, rotating once, until the crust is deeply golden and the filling bubbles through the vents. Insert an instant-read thermometer through a vent into a chicken piece; it must reach 165°F. Shield the edge with foil if it darkens too quickly.
Rest before slicing
Cool the pie on a rack for 20 minutes. This pause lets the gravy thicken enough to hold the large chicken pieces in a clean slice. Finish with a few fresh thyme leaves and serve warm.
Why this works
Why it worksBriefly browning large chicken pieces develops savory flavor while leaving enough cooking time for them to finish gently inside the pie.
Why it worksCooling the thickened filling before assembly protects the bottom crust from melting into the gravy.
Why it worksA lower-third oven rack directs more heat toward the bottom crust, while the egg wash helps the top brown evenly.
Useful kitchen gear
Tools that make this easier.
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Swaps & notes
Easy swaps
- Use 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs and verify they reach at least 165°F; their richer meat is especially forgiving.
- Replace celery with 1 cup finely diced leek, rinsed very well, for a sweeter allium flavor.
- For a dairy-free filling, use unsweetened oat milk and plant-based butter; check the pie crust label because some refrigerated crusts contain dairy.
Cook notes
- Use a true deep-dish 9-inch pie plate; a standard shallow plate can overflow.
- Keep both crusts cold until assembly. If the top crust feels soft after crimping, chill the assembled pie for 10 minutes before baking.
- Set the pie plate on a rimmed pan before baking to catch any butter or gravy that escapes.
Storage
Refrigerate cooled pie, tightly covered, for up to 4 days. Reheat individual slices on a pan at 350°F for 18 to 22 minutes until the center reaches 165°F; the oven restores the crust better than a microwave. Freeze fully cooled slices for up to 2 months, thaw overnight, and reheat the same way.
Questions
Can I assemble the chicken pie ahead?
Yes. Prepare and cool the filling up to 2 days ahead. For the crispest bottom crust, keep it separate and assemble the pie just before baking. A fully assembled unbaked pie can be refrigerated for up to 4 hours.
Why did my bottom crust turn soggy?
The usual causes are hot filling, gravy that was not simmered until thick, or cutting immediately after baking. Cool the filling, use the lower oven rack, and give the finished pie the full 20-minute rest.
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Use 4 cups of large pulled pieces and skip the browning step. Add the cooked chicken only after the gravy thickens, then proceed; the assembled filling still needs to reach 165°F in the oven.
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Deep-Dish Thyme Chicken Pie with Double Crust
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1. Heat the oven and line the dishSet a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat to 400°F. Fit one cold crust into a deep 9-inch pie plate, leaving the overhang in place. Refrigerate the lined plate while you make the filling.
2. Brown the chicken in two batchesPat the chicken dry and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-high. Brown half the chicken for about 3 minutes, turning once; transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining oil and chicken. The centers may still be underdone.
3. Build the savory gravyReduce the heat to medium. Add onion and celery and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Add butter. When melted, sprinkle in flour and stir constantly for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in broth, then milk. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until the gravy coats a spoon.
4. Finish and cool the fillingStir in Dijon, thyme, nutmeg, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Return the chicken and accumulated juices. Simmer for 2 minutes, then spread the filling on a rimmed plate and cool for 15 minutes; hot filling can melt the bottom crust before it starts to set.
5. Seal the double crustSpoon the warm—not steaming—filling into the lined pie plate. Lay the second crust over the top. Trim to a 1/2-inch overhang, fold both crust edges under together, and crimp firmly. Cut four 1-inch vents in the center. Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush a thin coat over the pastry.
6. Bake until deeply golden and safePlace the pie on a rimmed pan and bake at 400°F for 45 to 50 minutes, rotating once, until the crust is deeply golden and the filling bubbles through the vents. Insert an instant-read thermometer through a vent into a chicken piece; it must reach 165°F. Shield the edge with foil if it darkens too quickly.
7. Rest before slicingCool the pie on a rack for 20 minutes. This pause lets the gravy thicken enough to hold the large chicken pieces in a clean slice. Finish with a few fresh thyme leaves and serve warm.