What's the secret for a delicious pie?

[blackbirdsinginginthenight]

I've got left over roast chicken, mushrooms and leeks. I've made chicken pies before but they're never super tasty like you might get in a nice pub. Are there any secrets to a delicious pie?

Seasoning and herbs, nice pastry.

I've got fresh parsley, anything else you'd recommend

Tarragon is great with those.

Nice strong flavour sauce/gravy is the key I think.

Crumble a chicken stock cube in with the sauce. Campbells condensed chicken soup makes a good rich sauce for a chicken pie filling.

Make a roux, lots of seasoning, add the chicken stock cube, chicken and leek, not mushrooms. Use them for something else!

You need the gravy.

I have made this a few times using chicken and just using sage in the pastry. You could easily add mushrooms. It is delicious. Better with homemade pastry, but bought works too.

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/turkey-recipes/turkey-and-sweet-leek-pie/

Get someone else to make it, not because I can’t make good pies just because it is so lovely being made food by others. So much gravy on the plate the pie could sail away like a boat, a little cream in the sauce you make.

I second the Jamie Oliver recipe above. It’s delicious.

I made this one https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/next-level-chicken-pie it took ages but it was delicious.

Chicken stock pot mixed with cream as the sauce. Plant based cream works too. Any herbs you fancy.

Add some ham or bits of fried bacon, and if you've any leftover stuffing, cut that into chunks and chuck it in as well. Add herbs to the pastry as you are rubbing it in.

My Boxing Day turkey and ham pie is legendary

Stock and herbs. Most tasty pies contain far more salt than you’d imagine.

A really tasty sauce/gravy makes all the difference, however you want to make it. If I'm feeling really lazy I use a tin of condensed chicken soup as a base and put in whatever I like to jazz it up. You could also use a packet soup to add flavour to a sauce, something like chicken and leek is good.
if I'm not feeling lazy I make a really tasty bechamel sauce (infusing the milk with onion and veg before making the sauce) and put in whatever tasty things I have. With your ingredients I would add a little chicken powder (instant stock) and some bacon lardons or ham.

Add Chicken stock, crème fraiche and posh apple juice.

Mary berry does a fab pie:

britishrecipesbook.co.uk/recipe/mary-berry-chicken-and-leek-pie/

I make a (leftover roast) chicken, leek and mushroom pie, but with mash on top, no pastry. I simmer the leeks in a very little water and use that, plus milk and a splash of white wine, to make the sauce, plus a chicken stock cube. Mushrooms sautéed separately in a little butter before adding.
Chicken added just to heat through properly before it goes in the dish.
Grated cheese on top of the mash!
Brown under grill or in the oven.

If you are topping with a pastry, add a tablespoon of horseradish sauce to the pastry mixture. Gives a nice kick.

Tarragon, white wine and crème fraiche. You can sub the crème fraiche with a roux of a bit of flour and then milk and butter.

I like leeks instead of onions as well. And yes to a bit of bacon or pancetta if you fancy it!

Boil an onion, then purée that when it’s cooked. You add that to a sauce made from butter, flour, full cream milk, chicken stock, lemon juice and seasoning.

I long for the day I can add things that my kids won’t eat. Like mushrooms.

I make a (leftover) chicken, leek and mushroom pie! I simmer the leeks in a very little water and use that water, plus milk, for the sauce. Mushrooms sautéed separately in a little butter. Good stock cubes and a splash of white wine essential for my sauce.
Nicer than pastry on top IMO is lots of mash with cheese on top.😋