Buttery Creamy Chicken Vol-au-Vent Recipe: A French Classic

Nestled in classic French culinary techniques, this creamy chicken vol-au-vent brings elegant comfort to your dinner table.

Flaky pastry shells cradle a luxurious filling that whispers sophistication.

Delicate layers promise a delightful experience for everyone gathering around the meal.

Each bite combines tender chicken with a velvety sauce that dances across your palate.

Crisp pastry and rich, smooth interior create a perfect harmony of textures.

Professional chefs and home cooks alike appreciate the simplicity behind this impressive dish.

Prepare to fall in love with a recipe that feels like a warm culinary embrace.

Chicken Vol-au-Vent That’s Crowd-Friendly

• Quick Kitchen Magic: Whip up this elegant dish with minimal cooking skills, perfect for both novice and experienced home chefs.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: Packed with creamy chicken, crispy bacon, and buttery pastry, this recipe guarantees smiles around the dinner table.
• Versatile Entertaining Star: Impressive enough for special gatherings yet simple enough for casual family meals, these vol-au-vents adapt to any dining occasion.
• Customizable Culinary Delight: Easily swap ingredients like adding different vegetables or using turkey instead of chicken to match your taste preferences and dietary needs.

Chicken Vol-au-Vent (Creamy) Ingredient Breakdown

• Puff Pastry Sheets: Classic buttery base for the vol-au-vent shells.
• Egg: Creates a golden shine on pastry surfaces.
• Water: Helps egg wash blend smoothly.

• Chicken: Tender meat forming the main filling.
• Bacon: Provides rich, smoky flavor to the mixture.
• Cream Cheese: Adds creamy and smooth texture to the filling.

• Leeks, Yellow Pepper: Fresh vegetables that provide crunch and color.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings for flavor enhancement.
• Parsley: Fresh herb for garnish and added brightness.

How to Make Creamy Chicken Vol-au-Vent

Step 1: Prepare Pastry Foundations

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Sprinkle a clean surface with flour. Carefully unfold the first puff pastry sheet, ensuring it’s smooth and ready for cutting.

Step 2: Create Pastry Bases

Use a 3-1/4 inch round cutter to slice six perfect circles from the first pastry sheet. Gently transfer these circles onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them evenly.

Step 3: Form Delicate Pastry Rings

Take the second puff pastry sheet and cut six additional circles. With a 2-1/2 inch cutter, remove the centers to create elegant rings. Carefully position these rings atop the original circles.

Step 4: Prepare for Baking

Place the center pastry cutouts on the baking sheet. Whisk an egg with water to create a glossy egg wash. Brush this mixture generously over all pastry pieces. Chill the prepared pastries for 15 minutes to set.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the pastries transform into a beautiful golden brown. Once done, transfer to a wire rack for cooling.

Step 6: Crisp Up the Bacon

While pastries cool, cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until wonderfully crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain, reserving 1 tablespoon of the flavorful drippings.

Step 7: Sauté Vegetable Medley

• Leeks
• Yellow pepper

Cook over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes until vegetables become tender. Reduce heat to low.

Step 8: Create Creamy Chicken Filling

• Crispy bacon
• Cooked chicken
• Cream cheese
• Salt
• Pepper

Continue cooking until ingredients blend smoothly and create a creamy consistency.

Step 9: Assemble and Serve

Gently hollow out the centers of the cooled pastry shells. Generously fill each vol-au-vent with the luxurious chicken mixture. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and an extra dash of pepper for a final flourish.

Chicken Vol-au-Vent Tricks for Creamy Holiday Comfort

• Prep Pastry Perfectly: Use a cold surface and chilled puff pastry to ensure crisp, flaky layers that rise beautifully without melting.
• Boost Bacon Flavor: Crumble bacon finely for even distribution and maximum taste in every delightful bite of the filling.
• Control Cream Cheese Consistency: Soften cream cheese at room temperature to blend smoothly without lumps, creating a silky, rich sauce.
• Maximize Vegetable Tenderness: Dice leeks and yellow peppers uniformly to ensure even cooking and balanced texture throughout the filling.
• Serve Immediately Hot: Fill vol-au-vent pastries just before serving to maintain the crisp shell and prevent soggy bottoms, preserving the delicate texture.

How To Save Creamy Chicken Vol-au-Vent

• Store leftover vol-au-vent in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days, ensuring the pastry remains crisp by separating filling from shells.
• Wrap individual vol-au-vent tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe containers. Freeze for maximum 1 month. Separate filling and pastry shells to prevent sogginess.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Place pastry shells on baking sheet, warm filling separately in microwave. Combine just before serving to maintain crispness. Bake shells for 5-7 minutes until heated through.
• Avoid microwaving entire vol-au-vent as pastry will become soft. Warm filling separately and crisp shells in toaster oven for best texture restoration.

Complementary Flavors for Chicken Vol-au-Vent

• Perfect Beverage Pairing: Choose a crisp Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc to complement the rich, creamy chicken filling and cut through its buttery texture.
• Refreshing Side Salad: Toss a light mixed green salad with lemon vinaigrette to balance the decadent vol-au-vent and provide a fresh, zesty contrast to the creamy chicken.
• Wine Alternative Suggestion: Opt for a light-bodied Pinot Grigio if you prefer a more delicate white wine that won't overpower the subtle flavors of the pastry and chicken filling.
• Herbal Accent Recommendation: Garnish with fresh chives or additional chopped parsley to enhance the dish's aromatic profile and add a bright, clean finish to each bite.

Chicken Vol-au-Vent Style Swaps

• Gluten-Free Pastry Swap: Replace traditional puff pastry with gluten-free puff pastry or use almond flour-based pastry shells for celiac or gluten-sensitive individuals.
• Vegetarian Protein Version: Substitute chicken with firm tofu, roasted mushrooms, or plant-based chicken alternatives, maintaining the creamy sauce and vegetable components.
• Low-Carb Adaptation: Skip pastry entirely and serve the chicken mixture over cauliflower rice or inside lettuce cups for a lighter, carbohydrate-reduced option.
• Dairy-Free Modification: Use coconut cream instead of cream cheese and replace butter with olive oil to create a dairy-free friendly recipe that preserves the original flavor profile.

FAQs

• What are Vol-au-Vent pastries originally from?

Vol-au-Vent is a classic French pastry dating back to the 19th century, traditionally made with puff pastry and filled with rich, creamy savory fillings.

• Can I use different meats in this recipe?

Yes, you can easily substitute chicken with cooked turkey, ham, or even seafood like shrimp to create different flavor variations of the dish.

• Is it necessary to chill the pastry before baking?

Chilling helps the pastry maintain its shape and creates a flakier texture by allowing the butter in the dough to firm up before baking.

• How do I prevent my pastry from becoming soggy?

Ensure your filling isn’t too wet, and always add it just before serving to maintain the pastry’s crisp texture. Baking the pastry shells until golden brown also helps prevent sogginess.

Creamy Chicken Vol-au-Vent Recipe

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4.6 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Delightful creamy chicken vol-au-vent promises a French culinary journey through buttery pastry shells filled with tender chicken in rich, velvety sauce. Comfort meets elegance on your plate, inviting you to savor each luxurious bite of this classic French bistro favorite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken
• 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
• 6 bacon strips
• 2 medium leeks (white parts only), sliced
• 1 medium sweet yellow pepper, diced

Pastry Ingredients:

• 1 package (17.3 ounces / 490 grams) frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon water

Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• Minced fresh parsley
• Additional ground pepper

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Instructions

1. Prepare a pristine workspace and arrange a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
2. Delicately unfurl the puff pastry sheet on a lightly dusted surface, utilizing a precise 3-1/4 inch round cutter to extract six elegant circles.
3. Transform the second pastry sheet into decorative rings by cutting six additional circles and meticulously removing their centers using a 2-1/2 inch cutter.
4. Strategically position the rings atop the initial whole circles, nestling them perfectly.
5. Carefully transfer the intricate pastry center cutouts onto the baking sheet.
6. Craft a glossy egg wash by whisking egg and water, then delicately brush over each pastry surface.
7. Refrigerate the prepared pastries for a brief 15-minute interval to enhance their structural integrity.
8. Slide the baking sheet into a preheated 400°F oven, allowing the pastries to transform into golden, crisp vessels for approximately 20-25 minutes.
9. While pastries bake, render bacon in a skillet until achieving a satisfying crispness, reserving precisely one tablespoon of flavorful drippings.
10. Introduce leeks and yellow pepper to the reserved drippings, sautéing over medium-high heat until tender and aromatic.
11. Reduce heat, incorporating bacon, chicken, cream cheese, salt, and pepper into a harmonious mixture.
12. Once pastries have cooled, gently excavate their centers and generously fill with the prepared chicken blend.
13. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and an additional whisper of cracked pepper before presenting this elegant creation.

Notes

• Always work with cold puff pastry to ensure flaky, crisp layers that rise beautifully during baking.
• Crisp bacon adds a smoky depth, but can be omitted for vegetarian guests by substituting with sautéed mushrooms or additional vegetables.
• Swap cream cheese with lighter options like Greek yogurt or cottage cheese for a healthier version that still maintains creamy texture.
• Replace puff pastry with gluten-free alternatives or use pre-made gluten-free vol-au-vent shells to accommodate dietary restrictions.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 550 mg
• Fat: 27 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 11 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg