If you’re craving a cozy, comforting meal with a twist, you’ll love this Chicken Pillows with Creamy Chicken Gravy Recipe. Imagine tender shredded chicken wrapped in golden, buttery pastry pillows, all smothered in a rich, creamy chicken gravy. It’s the kind of dish you’ll want to make when you need something satisfying, easy, and utterly delicious—perfect for weeknights or a casual weekend treat.
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Why You’ll Love This Chicken Pillows with Creamy Chicken Gravy Recipe
From the moment you unwrap these flaky crescents filled with savory, creamy chicken, you’ll notice how effortless it is to whip up a meal that feels special without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Texture you want: Crispy, buttery outer pillows with a soft, cheesy chicken filling inside.
- Flavor that pops: The combo of chives, cream cheese, and tender chicken brings comfort and a subtle herbal lift.
- Everyday ingredients: Pantry staples like crescent dough and canned soup make it an accessible go-to.
- Works for any night: Whether family dinner or easy company fare, it’s a winner every time.
Ingredient Spotlight
Getting to know the key ingredients helps you nail this Chicken Pillows with Creamy Chicken Gravy Recipe. The crescent roll dough gives you that flaky, golden crust, while cream cheese adds richness and moisture to the filling. Using cooked shredded chicken keeps things quick and ensures every bite bursts with tender flavor.
- Cooked shredded chicken: Boneless, skinless breasts work best for lean, tender chicken without extra fat.
- Crescent roll dough: Pillsbury refrigerated dough is perfect for easy shaping and reliable browning.
- Cream cheese: Use softened cream cheese for a smooth filling that blends perfectly with chicken and herbs.
Seasonality & Sourcing
You’ll find great chicken year-round, but sourcing fresh, high-quality cooked chicken gives the best result—think rotisserie from your local market or leftover roasted chicken. Crescent dough and canned soups are pantry mainstays ready whenever you are. While herbs like chives are dried here for convenience, fresh chives in spring add a lovely bright note if you have them on hand!
Step-by-Step: How to Make It
Step 1 — Prep & Preheat
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lightly greasing a baking sheet to prevent sticking. Next, soften your cream cheese and butter—this helps blend them smoothly with the shredded chicken. Make sure to press the crescent roll triangles well so your filling won’t leak during baking; this step really saves you from a messy oven and keeps the pillows intact.
Step 2 — Cook & Build Flavor
Mix together the cream cheese, butter, shredded chicken, dried chives, minced onion, plus a pinch of salt and pepper. Layer that flavorful filling evenly onto the crescent rectangles, then fold and seal each pillow tightly. Dip each into melted butter and then Italian breadcrumbs for a toasty crust. Bake for about 22-25 minutes until golden and crisp—if they brown too quickly, tent with foil to avoid burning while finishing the inside.
Step 3 — Finish & Rest
While the pillows bake, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, gravy packet, and water. Bring it to a boil, then simmer gently. Letting the gravy simmer allows flavors to deepen nicely by the time your Chicken Pillows with Creamy Chicken Gravy Recipe finishes baking. When ready, spoon the warm gravy over the pillows and serve immediately. Resting just a few minutes helps everything meld perfectly and keeps the crust crisp yet tender inside.
Troubleshooting Chicken Pillows with Creamy Chicken Gravy Recipe
If your chicken pillows turn out dry, add a little more cream cheese or a splash of milk to the filling next time for extra moisture. Feeling like the flavors are a bit bland? Don’t be shy with salt and pepper or fresh herbs like parsley to brighten things up. And if the crust comes out soggy, make sure to press those perforations tight, and coat the pillows well with butter and breadcrumbs to protect them from moisture during baking.
Pro Tips
I’ve found that baking at a steady moderate temperature gives the crispiest crust without drying the filling. Don’t rush folding the pillows—taking a bit of extra time to seal them perfectly makes clean, pretty pillows every time.
- Heat control: Bake at 350°F to brown evenly without burning the crust.
- Timing window: Bake 22–25 minutes; check at 20 to avoid overbaking.
- Make-ahead move: Assemble pillows up to 2 hours ahead, refrigerate before baking.
- Avoid this pitfall: Don’t under-press the dough perforations or filling will leak while baking.
Variations & Substitutions
If you want to switch things up, try swapping the chives and minced onion for fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary for a fragrant twist. You can use cooked shredded turkey instead of chicken for a holiday spin. For a dairy-free version, try a vegan cream cheese and use olive oil instead of butter—just expect a slightly different texture but still delicious results.
Great Debates
When it comes to butter vs. oil for dipping the pillows before the breadcrumb coating, I personally love butter for that rich flavor and golden crust. But if you prefer a lighter option, olive oil works fine too—just expect a slightly different crispness. Whether to use fresh vs. dried herbs is another question; dried herbs pack concentrated flavor and convenience, while fresh herbs offer brightness if you have time to add them fresh.
Make-Ahead, Storage & Freezing
These Chicken Pillows with Creamy Chicken Gravy Recipe keep well in the fridge for 3 days stored airtight. Reheat gently in the oven or air fryer to keep the crust crispy. For freezing, freeze pillows unbaked (after shaping and coating) on a tray until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time, and make gravy fresh when ready to serve.
Yield & Conversions
This recipe yields 4 generous Chicken Pillows, perfect for 2–4 people depending on appetite. For a crowd, simply double ingredients and bake on two sheets. To halve, cut amounts in half but keep baking time roughly the same. Metric conversions: 10 ounces chicken = about 280 grams, 4 ounces cream cheese = 115 grams.
Serving Ideas & Pairings
These pillows pair beautifully with a crisp green salad or steamed seasonal veggies to balance the richness. Creamy mashed potatoes or buttery rice work well if you want to keep things extra comforting. A side of tangy cranberry sauce or lightly pickled veggies adds a fun pop contrasting with the creamy gravy.
FAQs
It’s best to use cooked shredded chicken to avoid undercooked filling. If you must use raw, cook it fully before mixing, or your filling won’t be safe to eat.
Press perforations tightly and coat pillows thoroughly with melted butter and breadcrumbs to create a protective, crisp crust while baking.
Yes! Freeze the assembled pillows before baking on a tray, then transfer to freezer bags. Bake from frozen and make gravy fresh after baking.
You can use homemade white sauce with chicken broth or a can of cream of mushroom soup for a milder option with similar creaminess.
Notes, Tools & Special Equipment
A standard rimmed baking sheet ensures even heat for a perfect bake. Using a small bowl or shallow dish for the melted butter makes dipping simple and mess-free. Any gentle hand mixer or just a sturdy spoon works to blend the cream cheese and butter smoothly. I keep a kitchen timer handy to avoid overbaking as oven temps vary.
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Chicken Pillows with Creamy Chicken Gravy Recipe
Chicken Pillows are delightful crescent roll parcels filled with creamy, seasoned shredded chicken, coated in buttery breadcrumbs, baked to golden perfection, and served with a savory chicken gravy. This comforting dish makes a perfect main course for a family dinner or special occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Filling
- 10 ounces cooked, shredded chicken breast (about 2 cups)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon salted butter, softened
- ½ tablespoon dried chives
- ½ tablespoon dried minced onion
- Salt and pepper to taste
Dough and Coating
- 1 can (8 ounces) refrigerated Pillsbury crescent roll dough
- ¼ cup salted butter, melted
- ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
Gravy
- 1 can (10 ounces) cream of chicken soup
- 1 packet (1 ounce) chicken gravy mix
- ¾ cup water
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet with non-stick spray and set it aside.
- Make Filling: In a bowl, mix the softened cream cheese and 1 tablespoon butter together until smooth. Add the shredded chicken, dried chives, dried minced onion, and season with salt and pepper. Stir until everything is evenly combined.
- Prepare Dough Rectangles: Unroll the crescent dough and press two triangles together to form one rectangle, ensuring perforations are sealed to prevent filling leakage. Repeat to make 4 rectangles in total.
- Assemble Chicken Pillows: Divide the chicken filling evenly among the 4 dough rectangles, placing the filling in the center. Fold each corner of the rectangle over the filling to fully encase it, pressing firmly to seal and shape into a ball. Repeat for all rectangles.
- Coat Pillows: Dip each formed pillow into the melted butter, then coat thoroughly with Italian breadcrumbs. Shake off any excess coating and place each pillow on the greased baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake the coated chicken pillows for 25 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Prepare Gravy: While baking, combine the cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix, and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer gently until the pillows are done baking.
- Serve: Once baked, pour the warm chicken gravy over each chicken pillow. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- For a crispier coating, you can double dip the pillows in melted butter and breadcrumbs before baking.
- Shredded rotisserie chicken can be used to save time in preparing the filling.
- To make this dish gluten free, substitute crescent rolls and breadcrumbs with gluten-free versions.
- If desired, fresh chives and onions can replace dried for a fresher flavor.
- Make sure to seal the crescent dough well to prevent the filling from leaking out during baking.
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