Ingredients
Method
Prepare the chicken
- Pat the chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels, then season both sides with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme.
- Spread the flour on a plate and lightly dredge each chicken piece, shaking off any excess. The flour is what will build a proper gravy base later.
Build the pot
- Place the dredged chicken in the slow cooker, skin-side up if any skin remains.
- Peel and quarter the potatoes, leaving them roughly the size of a golf ball so they don't dissolve.
- Pour the chicken broth and half of the heavy cream over the chicken. Leave the remaining cream for later.
Cook and finish
- Cover and cook on low for 7 hours, or until the chicken is tender and easily pulls apart.
- Remove the chicken to a cutting board and shred it using two forks. Set aside.
- Toss the frozen vegetables and potatoes into the hot liquid in the slow cooker. Stir in the remaining heavy cream.
- Return the shredded chicken to the pot, cover, and cook for another 45 minutes until the potatoes are fork-tender and the vegetables are heated through.
- If the filling looks too thin, mix 2 tablespoons of flour with 2 tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry, stir it in, and cook uncovered for 10 more minutes to thicken.
Top with pastry
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Spoon the chicken filling into a 9-inch pie dish or baking dish, mounding it slightly in the center.
- Lay the puff pastry sheets over the top, trimming excess to fit. Crimp the edges with your fingers to seal.
- Brush the pastry lightly with melted butter and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and puffed.
Notes
Don't skip the flour dredge on the chicken—without it, the gravy comes out thin and watery instead of that rich, velvety consistency we want. Also, keep the potatoes on the side of the pot rather than tossing them in with the chicken; if you mix them, they'll disintegrate and turn the whole thing into mush before the chicken is done.
