Are you craving that perfect combination of flaky crust, tender chicken, and creamy sauce that only a great chicken pot pie can deliver? I’ve been on a mission to find the absolute best places to satisfy this comfort food craving, and I’m excited to share my findings with you!
There’s something about chicken pot pie that just hits different when the weather turns chilly or when you need some serious comfort food. But not all pot pies are created equal – and trust me, I’ve had my fair share of disappointing ones that left me wishing I’d just made one at home.
Top 10 Restaurant Chains for Chicken Pot Pie (Ranked)
After analyzing tons of customer reviews and expert opinions. here’s my definitive ranking of restaurant chains serving chicken pot pie from best to worst
1. Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
Despite what the name might suggest, there’s actually no cheese in this top-rated pot pie! Customers absolutely rave about this option, calling it reminiscent of “mom’s homemade” version. The pot pie features:
- Large chunks of chicken (not tiny pieces!)
- Perfectly cooked vegetables
- Homemade cream sauce
- Exceptionally flaky crust
One YouTube reviewer emphasized you can “taste every pea and carrot” and claimed it couldn’t be beaten by any other restaurant chain. If you’re on a budget look for their weekday lunch special that includes a house salad.
2. Mimi’s Cafe: Chicken Pot Pie
With locations in 12 states, Mimi’s Cafe has built a solid reputation for their freshly baked items, including their popular chicken pot pie. Their version includes:
- Roasted chicken
- Peas, carrots, onions, and potatoes
- Creamy herb sauce
- Buttery crust
Multiple reviewers on Tripadvisor and Yelp call this pot pie “delectable” and “great.” Pro tip: they apparently make limited quantities daily, so grab one when available!
3. Jason’s Deli: Chicken Pot Pie Soup
While technically a soup version, Jason’s Deli’s chicken pot pie soup deserves this high ranking because it captures all the flavors in a deliciously different format. The soup features
- Chicken
- Red potatoes
- Carrots, celery, and green peas
- Creamy sauce
- Topped with puff pastry
Reviewers describe it as “so flavorful” with “super buttery” puff pastry – their only complaint is wanting more of that pastry!
4. Lazy Dog: Chicken Pot Pie
This pet-friendly restaurant chain has earned praise for using high-quality ingredients from respected producers and farmers. Their pot pie contains:
- Roasted chicken
- Slow-cooked vegetables
- Flaky, rich crust
Some customers call it the “best chicken pot pie I’ve had at a restaurant,” though a few reviewers mentioned issues with temperature (served too hot) or found it bland.
5. Metro Diner: Chicken Pot Pie
Featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” (though for their meatloaf, not pot pie), Metro Diner’s chicken pot pie has some loyal fans. Their version includes:
- Chicken
- Carrots, celery, and corn
- Cream sauce
- Topped with biscuit-dough crust
While some reviewers call it “the best chicken pot pie ever” and praise its flavor, others note a preference for pastry crust over the biscuit topping.
6. Claim Jumper Steakhouse & Bar: Chicken Pot Pie
In business since 1977, Claim Jumper’s chicken pot pie recipe has remained unchanged, featuring:
- Carrots, onions, mushrooms, and peas
- Creamy herb sauce
- House-made crust
Reviews are mixed – some customers love it so much that they note the pot pie often sells out, while others found it too salty or dry.
7. KFC: Chicken Pot Pie
A fast-food option that’s been on the menu for nearly 30 years, KFC’s chicken pot pie contains:
- Tender fried chicken
- Diced potatoes, peas, and carrots
- Savory sauce
- Flaky crust
One reviewer gave it a 9/10, calling it “absolutely fantastic,” though others found the sauce overpowering and the fillings mushy.
8. Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Similar to Jason’s Deli, Potbelly offers a soup version topped with crumbles of fresh-baked pie crust. It includes:
- Slow-roasted chicken breast
- Mixed vegetables
- Thick, creamy base
Reviews are mixed – some recommend it highly, while others felt it lacked seasoning and was overpriced.
9. Boston Market: Chicken Pot Pie
Once a go-to for pot pie lovers, Boston Market has struggled in recent years (with only 27 locations remaining as of March 2024). Their pot pie features:
- Rotisserie chicken
- Vegetables and chicken-infused sauce
- Crust on top only (no bottom crust)
- Comes with cornbread
Reviewers noted the chicken was juicy, but many complained about the “cakey” crust and lack of flavor in the sauce.
10. Marie Callender’s Restaurant & Bakery: Heartland Chicken Pot Pie
Surprisingly, despite being known for frozen pot pies, Marie Callender’s restaurant version ranked lowest. Their Heartland Chicken Pot Pie includes:
- Chunks of chicken
- Vegetables
- Hand-pressed crust
Multiple customers complained about temperature issues, bland filling, and some even claimed the frozen version was better!
Specialty Pot Pie Options (Non-Chain)
If you’re looking beyond chain restaurants, consider these specialty options:
Southern Baked Pie Company
For a premium pot pie experience, Southern Baked Pie Company offers a traditional chicken pot pie featuring:
- All white meat chicken
- Peas and carrots
- Rich, homemade roux
- Double-crusted in all-butter pie crust
Priced at $44.95, this 10-inch pie serves 8-10 people and can be shipped nationwide. It arrives cool to the touch and can be frozen for up to 6 months.
Delivery Options
Don’t want to leave home? Several options exist for getting chicken pot pie delivered:
- Grubhub – Search for “chicken pot pie” to find local restaurants that deliver this comfort food classic
- Restaurant delivery services – Many chains like Cheddar’s and KFC offer delivery through their own apps or third-party services
- Shipped options – Southern Baked Pie Company ships nationwide, packing their pies with dry ice in insulated coolers
Making Your Own at Home
If you can’t find a restaurant option that satisfies your craving, consider making your own! The essential components of a great chicken pot pie are:
- Buttery, golden-brown crust
- Tender chicken
- Soft (but not mushy) vegetables
- Rich, flavorful gravy sauce with the right thickness
Many grocery stores also offer frozen options that can be a decent substitute when you’re in a pinch.
What Makes a Great Chicken Pot Pie?
After researching so many pot pies, I’ve identified what separates the good from the great:
- Quality ingredients – Fresh vegetables and real chicken chunks (not processed meat)
- Proper seasoning – Many lower-ranked pies suffered from blandness
- Crust texture – The best pies have flaky, buttery crusts that complement the filling
- Filling consistency – Not too watery, not too thick
- Temperature – Served hot, but not burning hot
Final Thoughts
When the craving for chicken pot pie strikes, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen appears to be your best bet among national chains. For a premium experience, consider ordering from Southern Baked Pie Company for a homestyle pot pie delivered to your door.
Whatever you choose, there’s nothing quite like breaking through that golden crust to reveal the steaming, savory goodness inside. Happy pot pie hunting!
Healthy Choice crustless chicken pot pie
Ranking dead last is Healthy Choices crustless chicken pot pie — though to be fair, I did not hold this chicken pot pies lack of crust against it. Instead, I judged this chicken pot pie purely on the quality of the gravy and the filling. Because theres no crust, this chicken pot pie doesnt require being baked in an oven and is designed to be cooked in a microwave. The plastic bowl has two separate tiers: the top tier has chicken, peas, carrots, and dumpling pieces, and the bottom tier has the gravy. The directions instructed me to microwave the bowl, and then combine the chicken and veggies with the sauce once it was finished cooking.
Im going to shoot straight from the hip here. This is one of the worst microwavable meals that Ive ever had. As you can see from the photo, the chicken in this is downright frightening — ultra-processed, spongy, and seriously unsightly. After chewing on a strange piece of this stuff, I was so overcome with disgust that I couldnt bring myself to swallow it. The “gravy” was bland and runny — an extremely unappetizing liquid thats more akin to weird, salty water. I will never eat this again. I wouldnt feed this to my cats.
Banquet chicken pot pie
Banquet sells a wide variety of classic frozen dinners including chicken pot pie, salisbury steak, and meatloaf. Ive tried a few of the companys meals over the years, and Ive never been particularly impressed, so I went into this a bit skeptical. After baking this chicken pot pie in the oven, I sat down with a spoon and gave it a try.
The gravy immediately flooded into my spoon, but I didnt spot any chicken, peas, or carrots. I stabbed through the crust into another section of the pie, hoping that Id find some actual sustenance. This time, I was able to spoon out a couple of withered veggies and a few small pieces of chicken. As strange as it sounds, when I took a bite, the first thing that came to mind was Campbells chicken noodle soup (which is admittedly one of the best chicken noodle soups out there). Because the gravy is so thin and kind of salty, it has the taste and texture of canned soup. And because the chicken is super spongy and processed, it has a very similar mouthfeel to those little cubes of chicken you tend to see in canned chicken noodle soup. At the end of the day, there just wasnt enough meat and veggies in this to make it enjoyable, and every ingredient was very low in quality. The only redeeming quality here is the low price tag, but you certainly get what you pay for.
The Best HOMEMADE CHICKEN POT PIE RECIPE I Ever Made
FAQ
What fast food places have chicken pot pie?
While traditional chicken pot pies are not a staple of fast food, you can find versions at some fast-casual and restaurant chains like KFC and Mimi’s Cafe, or opt for a frozen option from brands such as Marie Callender’s and Stouffer’s, or a chicken pot pie-flavored soup from places like Jason’s Deli.