Classic Homemade Chicken a la King (Print version)

Tender chicken and mushrooms in a velvety cream sauce with peas and pimentos, ready in 40 minutes for a cozy classic dinner.

# Ingredients:

For the chicken

01 - 1 lb (450 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
02 - Salt and black pepper
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the sauce

04 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 8 oz (225 g) cremini mushrooms, sliced
06 - 1 small green bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 small yellow onion, diced
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1/3 cup (45 g) all-purpose flour
10 - 1/2 cup (120 ml) dry sherry
11 - 2 cups (480 ml) chicken stock
12 - 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
13 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
14 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
15 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
16 - 3/4 cup (110 g) frozen peas
17 - 4 oz (115 g) jarred pimentos, drained and diced

For serving

18 - Warm biscuits, rice, or puff pastry

# Instructions:

01 - Pat the chicken pieces dry and season with salt and pepper. Sear in olive oil over medium-high heat until golden on the outside, about 4 to 5 minutes. It does not need to be cooked through yet. Remove to a plate.
02 - Melt the butter in the same pan. Add the mushrooms, onion, and bell pepper. Cook until the mushrooms release their liquid and it evaporates, about 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
03 - Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir constantly for 2 minutes. The flour should turn pale gold and smell slightly nutty. This step prevents a raw flour taste.
04 - Pour in the sherry and let it bubble for 30 seconds, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Slowly whisk in the chicken stock and cream. Add the paprika, nutmeg, and cayenne. Simmer gently for 8 to 10 minutes until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
05 - Return the chicken and any collected juices to the pan. Add the peas and pimentos. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the peas are tender. Taste and adjust the salt.
06 - Spoon over warm split biscuits, buttered rice, or toasted puff pastry shells. A crack of black pepper on top is the only garnish you need.

# Good to know:

01 - Best served immediately while the sauce is hot and silky.

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