These mini chicken pies are one of my favorite starter recipes, perfect for game day, parties, and entertaining.
These mini chicken pies are perfect as a game day snack
Let’s be honest. I’m not a sports person. That’s not in my DNA. Never was. Game day is a concept that I’m still getting used to. BUT, there’s one thing that I DO LOVE about game day! And this might come as a complete shocker – but I DO LOVE food, drinks and all the awesome entertainment that comes with it! 🙂 So this year, I am going all out with some quality game day snacks, like these pork sausage rolls, fried cheese balls and pigs in a blanket, paired with this amazing spicy sweet chili sauce! And for dessert I’ll be making this balsamic swirl lime cheesecake! But first entry in my game day menu – these gorgeous Creamy and Cheesy Mini Chicken Pies (Chicken Hand Pies)! Creamy and cheesy chicken pie filling made with sour cream, cheese, leeks and herbs, all encased in a beautifully flaky homemade puff pastry. And put away that dipping sauce, because these chicken hand pies are so flavourful, you don’t need anything else. And with a snack this scrumptious, you need a good drink to go with it too. Which is why I paired these with this Woodbridge Chardonnay Wine! I am and have always been a white wine girl. My choices usually go in this order – Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvgninon Blanc, Pinot Gris. And in the complete absence of white, then I will take red. I am Kiwi after all, and we take our wines very seriously! This Woodbridge Chardonnay is said to have notes of pear, green apple with vanilla and floral notes. I liked the sound of it so much that I bought two bottles of it. I also made this creamy coq au riesling dish with this wine, and it was just as sublime! And that’s why this wine when paired with these creamy, cheesy mini chicken pies is a match made in heaven! The pies are easy to put together, you can make them ahead of time and freeze, and then bake them on the day of the game (or party) and serve while they’re still hot. No need to slave over the stove, you can take part in the cheering and all the festivities along with your friends and family! 🙂 I made these gorgeous chicken hand pies with my homemade quick and easy rough puff pastry recipe. But you’re more than welcome to use store-bought puff pastry too. You get plenty of filling for these mini chicken pies from this recipe, and it can even be halved. You can also make larger pies or triangle pies (cut into squares, add the filling in the middle, then fold over to create a sealed triangle) as well. I personally prefer round ones, because they just look pretty and dainty. I cut out about 40 circles to make 20 pies. Don’t over fill the bottom circle, as you have to stretch the top pastry circle on top as to stretch over the filling. Seal the edges with egg wash, and brush the top with some egg wash too, so that you get beautifully golden-brown shiny mini pies with an unbelievably satisfying, creamy and cheesy chicken filling. The creaminess of the chicken filling complements the sweetness of the wine perfectly. The wine and the pies definitely enhance the flavour profiles of each other. Seriously, the more we had them together, the better they tasted together. The fruity, floral notes of the Chardonnay came through even stronger. I cannot say enough good things about these mini chicken pies. Buttery, flaky puff pastry with cheesy chicken filling, there’s simply nothing that can go wrong with that. They are so addictive, and they are almost like mini chicken pot pies with the added goodness of cheese of course. And if you’re anything like me, forget the big game, you’ll end up with a cheesy chicken pie in one hand and a glass of Chardonnay in the other, and that’s all the fun and games that you’re ever going to need. If you’re looking for a vegetarian option – check out these Eggplant and Cheese Hand pies and these cheesy mini French onion pies! If you liked this recipe don’t forget to subscribe for new (and free) recipes by entering your email address below or on the side bar (and get all these recipes delivered straight to your inbox), so you don’t miss out on a thing. You can find me on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST and GOOGLE-PLUS too.
