Joe Wicks’ chicken pie recipe

Joe Wicks' chicken pie is comforting, filling and ready in an hour. 

Crisp pastry, succulent chicken, a rich, creamy sauce and tender vegetables - this pie has all the components you'd expect but is healthier than a classic recipe. This is one of Joe's most popular recipes and we can understand why.

He explains: 'If you love chicken pie this recipe won’t disappoint. It’s actually Lean in about 60 minutes but is such a nice treat that you won’t mind the extra effort. Plus, there’s cream and butter in it, so you know it’s going to taste incredible.' 

If you're looking for more chicken pie inspiration our chicken pie with puff pastry is hearty and comforting, while our chicken pie with shortcrust pastry can be made ahead of time, and the Hairy Bikers chicken pie has a rich, buttery pastry for the ultimate indulgence. 

Ingredients

• 2 large knobs of butter
• 1 large leek, washed and chopped into 2cm pieces
• 200g mushrooms, roughly chopped
• 4 x 250g chicken breast fillets, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 250ml chicken stock
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 100ml double cream
• 2 large handfuls of baby spinach leaves
• 6 sheets of filo pastry
• Drizzle of olive oil
• Salad or veg, to serve

Method

1. Heat your oven to 190C (170C fan, Gas 5).
2. In a large frying pan, heat the butter over a medium to high heat. Add the leek and mushrooms and fry for 2–3 minutes until they just start to soften. Crank up the heat to high, add the chicken pieces and fry for a further 2 minutes – the chicken won’t be cooked through at this point – then pour in the chicken stock and let it come to a simmer.
3. Meanwhile, mix the cornflour with 2tbsp of water until smooth, then pour into the pan, along with the cream. Bring back to the boil, stirring gently, and cook until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat and stir in the spinach, then tip the whole lot into a pie dish about 28cm x 15cm. Set aside to cool a little.
4. Crumple the filo sheets one by one and place on top of the chicken filling in the pie dish.
5. Drizzle the pastry with olive oil, then bake the pie for about 20 minutes, by which time the filo will have crisped up and turned golden brown in places.
6. Serve up your pie with fresh salad or some vegetables.

Top tips for making Joe Wicks' chicken pie

When it comes to perfecting the topping for this pie Joe says: ‘Take a sheet of filo and roughly crumple it in your hands - there is no right or wrong to this method.’ For more tips that will help make the tastiest pie, continue reading below. 

Lean in 15 - The Shift Plan: 15 Minute Meals and Workouts to Keep You Lean and Healthy by Joe Wicks (Bluebird, £6)  - View at Amazon 

Joe has lots more tasty, quick, and easy meal inspiration in his book Lean in 15. This was his first best-selling cookbook and has lots of tips on how to eat more, exercise less, and lose fat. 

If you want more Joe Wicks recipes we have plenty more options for you.  

And for those not worried about calorie counting and who crave a classic chicken and mushroom pie in all its glory, this recipe is perfect for you.