Kitchn Love Letters

The $4 Frozen Chicken Pot Pie That’s (Almost) Better than Homemade

Mara Weinraub
Mara WeinraubSenior Editor of Groceries at The Kitchn
I nudged my way into writing about food after a too-long stint working in advertising. At first, I freelanced for several digital food media outlets, and then worked at Hearst Magazines as the Senior Food & Drink Editor across nearly all titles, including Delish, Good Housekeeping, and Pioneer Woman. I’ve been at The Kitchn since August 2021, and one of my proudest accomplishments is my feature detailing the fascinating grocer solutions to America’s food waste problem. (If you haven’t read it, now’s the time!) I nerd out over groceries. One of the best parts of my job is sharing little-known or untold stories that help shoppers navigate the aisles — and their budget — like the “two-finger” rule on how to pick out the perfect watermelon, our editors' favorite hot cocoa mix, or a corner of our country's food system. I’m always looking for new ways to expand the groceries conversation at The Kitchn.
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published Sep 19, 2024
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Photo: Vicky Wasik; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter
Credit: Photo: Vicky Wasik ; Food Stylist: Rachel Perlmutter

Chicken pot pie is one of those classic foods that — the phrase alone — elicits comfort. The flaky pastry! The warm, savory filling! Just thinking about it is enough to kick my salivary glands into overdrive. 

While I’m no stranger to a project (I just made this caramelized onion, apple, and cheddar tart over the weekend), I rarely ever make chicken pot pie from scratch … or, let’s be honest, with store-bought pie crust and broth. I live alone and try to keep as much food as possible out of the trash, especially something I’ve spent hours making. So a whole, hearty pot pie really only makes appearances at group dinners.

In between those glorious occasions, I always keep one of Blake’s chicken pot pies in my freezer.

Credit: Mara Weinraub

What’s So Great About Blake’s Chicken Pot Pie?

I first learned about Blake’s after this epic search to find the best frozen chicken pot pies. The golden crust stopped me in my scroll, but it was the rave review from the writer that got me up out of my chair and over to the grocery store. 

Credit: Mara Weinraub

The 8-ounce pot pie filling contains gravy, well-seasoned chicken, and organic red potatoes, carrots, and peas. It’s topped with an organic crust that is audibly flaky after a quick 40-minute stint in the oven (despite being made with palm oil and not butter). Seriously, listen closely as you dig your fork in for some ASMR-level satisfaction. It does lack a bottom, but the top more than makes up for it in my humble opinion.

Credit: Mara Weinraub

The filling is studded with big chunks of tender chicken and plenty of peas, carrots, and potatoes. If I could call up Blake’s and make one request, I’d ask for larger carrot pieces in the next go-round, like coins. The brothy base is hearty and chicken-y, like a thickened creamy chicken soup with vegetables. 

Blake's Frozen All Natural Chicken Pot Pie
$4.89
Target
Buy Now

It is near impossible to wait any minutes before digging a fork for that first bite, so I highly recommend setting a timer for at least five minutes and exiting the area to avoid burning your tongue (as I have done in the past).

You can find it at national retailers, like Target for just $4.89, as well as Whole Foods, Amazon, and Instacart for slightly more. I’ve also occasionally seen it on sale, in which case I buy an extra, you know, for insurance purposes.

Buy: Blake’s Chicken Pot Pie, $4.89 for 8 ounces at Target

Have you tried Blake’s chicken pot pie? Tell us about it in the comments.

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