Ever had one of those days when nothing but a warm flaky chicken pot pie will do? Yeah me too. There’s something about that golden crust and creamy filling that just screams comfort food. But not all restaurant chicken pot pies are created equal – trust me, I’ve tried enough to know the difference between pot pie paradise and pastry disappointment!
After visiting countless restaurants and reading through hundreds of reviews, I’ve put together this ultimate guide to help you find the best chicken pot pie when that craving hits. So grab a fork and let’s dig in!
What Makes a Great Chicken Pot Pie?
Before we jump into our restaurant list, let’s talk about what separates an amazing chicken pot pie from a mediocre one:
- Flaky, buttery crust that’s crisp on the outside but tender underneath
- Tender chicken pieces that aren’t dry or rubbery
- Fresh vegetables that still have some texture (not mushy!)
- Rich, flavorful gravy that binds everything together
- Proper seasoning throughout the entire pie
A true chicken pot pie should be fully encased in pastry – both top AND bottom. Those “soup with a hat” versions? They’re basically just glorified chicken soup with a pastry beret. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but call it what it is!
The BEST Chain Restaurants for Chicken Pot Pie
1. KFC
Yep, you read that right! Kentucky Fried Chicken might be known for their buckets of fried chicken, but their pot pie is actually a hidden gem on the menu. Made with their signature chicken that’s deboned and shredded, mixed with gravy, diced potatoes, peas, and carrots, then topped with a golden-brown crust.
What makes it special
- Uses KFC’s fried chicken, which adds incredible flavor
- Perfectly flaky crust
- Super affordable (under $7 at most locations)
- Personal-sized, so you don’t have to share!
As one YouTube reviewer put it: “Ya’ll, that thing is absolutely fantastic.” I couldn’t agree more!
2. Lazy Dog
Lazy Dog has earned a serious reputation for their incredible chicken pot pie. What’s cool about this restaurant is they’re super pet-friendly (dogs are welcome on the patio!), and they pay homage to classic comfort foods with their menu.
Their chicken pot pie features:
- Slow-roasted chicken breast
- Seasonal vegetables
- Flaky pie crust
- Fresh herbs on top
The love for this pot pie is so strong that when Lazy Dog posts pictures of it on social media, the comments section fills with people begging for locations to open closer to them. One reviewer even suggested: “Get two! One to eat @ dinner & one to take home for dinner tomorrow!!”
Bonus: They even sell frozen versions of their pot pies to take home!
3. Claim Jumper Steakhouse & Bar
Don’t let the “steakhouse” name fool you – Claim Jumper makes one of the best chicken pot pies around. Their recipe dates back to 1977, and they don’t cut corners with a pastry hat – this is a fully encased pie with chicken, carrots, peas, and mushrooms.
One loyal customer described it as the “World’s best chicken pot pie bar none” and admitted to eating at Claim Jumper at least once a week just for this dish. Now THAT’S dedication!
4. Potbelly
Okay, so technically Potbelly serves Chicken Pot Pie Soup rather than a traditional pot pie, but hear me out – it’s absolutely delicious! The soup captures all the flavors of a classic pot pie, and they even hand-crumble warm fresh-baked pie crust into each bowl.
People love this soup so much that there are tons of copycat recipes online trying to recreate it. And unlike some other places that serve “pot pie” that’s really just soup, Potbelly is honest about what they’re serving – it’s labeled as soup on the menu.
5. Hash House a Go Go
If you’ve never been to Hash House a Go Go, prepare yourself for MASSIVE portions. Their “Big ‘O Chicken Pot Pie” stays true to their oversized theme, and while the presentation is a bit different (the crust sits slightly off to the side), the flavors are on point.
The filling is more casserole-like than runny, with bright, fresh vegetables and plenty of chicken. It’s not traditional, but it’s definitely delicious!
6. Jason’s Deli
Like Potbelly, Jason’s Deli serves a chicken pot pie soup rather than a traditional pie. What earns them a spot on the “best” list is their honesty – they clearly label it as soup on the menu, and you can even ask for a puff pastry on the side for the complete pot pie experience.
Pro tip: Try pouring this soup over one of their baked potatoes for the ultimate comfort food mashup!
The WORST Chain Restaurants for Chicken Pot Pie
Now for the places where you might want to skip the pot pie and order something else instead…
1. Boston Market
Once upon a time, Boston Market was a go-to for comfort food, but their chicken pot pie is just disappointing. Despite showing pictures of fully-encased pies in their marketing, the actual product has only a top crust.
Former employees have confirmed this bait-and-switch, and customer photos show just how sad these can get – huge chunks of chicken, minimal vegetables, barely any filling, and a crust that looks more like a giant cracker peeled off the top. Yikes!
2. Metro Diner
Metro Diner started as a local spot in Jacksonville, Florida but has now expanded to multiple states. Unfortunately, their chicken pot pie suffers from the “stew with a hat” problem – no bottom crust, just filling with a pastry top.
As one Reddit user put it: “If it doesn’t have crust on the bottom, it ain’t a chicken pot pie. It’s chicken stew with a hat and delusions of grandeur.” Plus, many reviewers complain about the lack of vegetables in the filling.
3. Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen
Despite the “Scratch Kitchen” name suggesting homemade goodness, Cheddar’s chicken pot pie is essentially just soup in a bowl with pastry on top. The filling is overly gooey, and the chicken is cubed rather than shredded.
It feels like corners were cut, which is disappointing for a restaurant that promises scratch-made food. If you’re at Cheddar’s, you’re better off ordering something else.
4. Marie Callender’s
You might know Marie Callender’s from their frozen pot pies in the grocery store, but they also have restaurant locations. Sadly, the restaurant version doesn’t fare much better than the frozen ones.
Yelp reviews complain about not having enough chicken and too many mushy vegetables. One particularly harsh review called it “the worst chicken pot pie that I’ve ever had!” describing it as “bits of chicken here and there sitting on top of a huge glob of cream of something!” with a “dry and cracked” crust.
5. P.J. Clarke’s
P.J. Clarke’s has great drinks and ambiance, but their “Country Chicken Pot Pie with a cheddar cheese crust” just doesn’t deliver. Reddit users in New York City warn against ordering it, with one saying, “I had it 4ish years ago and it sucked. Decided to give it another try this year, and it was still just as bland and unseasoned as I remembered, plus it was cold.”
6. Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel’s chicken pot pie is a bit of a mystery – it doesn’t appear on their online menu, and depending on which location you call, you might get different answers about whether they serve it at all. Some locations only offer it on Sundays.
But is it worth tracking down? Not really. Like many others on our “worst” list, it suffers from the pastry-top syndrome, with a flat sheet of pastry that doesn’t even match the size of the bowl. It feels like an afterthought rather than a signature dish.
Make Your Own Perfect Pot Pie At Home
Can’t get to one of the good spots on our list? No worries! Making chicken pot pie at home isn’t as hard as you might think. Here’s my super simple approach:
- Buy a rotisserie chicken and shred the meat
- Sauté onions, carrots, celery, and peas
- Make a quick roux with butter and flour, then add chicken broth and a splash of cream
- Mix in the chicken and veggies, season with thyme, salt and pepper
- Pour into a pie dish lined with store-bought pie crust
- Top with another crust, cut a few slits for steam to escape
- Brush with egg wash and bake till golden
Boom! Homemade chicken pot pie without the restaurant price tag.
Final Thoughts
So there ya have it – my comprehensive guide to finding the best (and avoiding the worst) chicken pot pies at chain restaurants. Of course, taste is subjective, and maybe you absolutely love one of the pies I’ve put on the “worst” list. That’s totally cool! Food is personal, and the best chicken pot pie is the one that makes YOU happy.
What’s your favorite restaurant for chicken pot pie? Have you tried any on my list? Drop me a comment below – I’m always looking for new places to try!
Until next time, happy pot pie hunting!
Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Unlike many chain restaurants these days, Potbelly Sandwich Shop is experiencing healthy growth. In September of 2024, its management announced that Potbelly has expansion plans to open 192 new U.S. sandwich shops from coast to coast. At the time, the sandwich chain had 425 locations nationwide, but it has a long-term goal of operating 2,000 restaurants.
Can some of this growth and apparent popularity be attributed to Potbellys unique chicken pot pie soup? The jurys out and the reviews are mixed. This thick soup has slow-roasted chicken breast and vegetables, and is topped with crumbles of fresh-baked pie crust. One review of this soup on YouTube described it as “thick and creamy.” The reviewer enjoyed the soup and pie crust crumbled on top, and highly recommended ordering this.
A different Potbelly patron who tried the soup on YouTube did highlight that this item has everything that it should — chicken, peas, carrots, and corn. This YouTuber thought that the chicken in the soup had a nice flavor to it, emphasizing that “its not getting lost” among the other ingredients. However, the reviewer said that despite the soup being tasty and “evocative of what it was trying to emulate,” it lacked enough seasoning, was overpriced, and has a one-dimensional consistency due to the chicken and vegetables being so tender.
KFC: Chicken Pot Pie
KFC offers some of the weirdest menu items in the fast food landscape. Over the years, this chain dreamed up the Chizza — a pair of extra-crispy chicken fillets topped with marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, and pepperoni — as well as the Kentucky Fried Chicken and Donuts sandwich. However, for nearly 30 years now, one menu item that has been a staple on KFCs menu — whether customers think it should be or not — is its classic chicken pot pie, which includes tender fried chicken, diced potatoes, peas, and carrots in a savory sauce, all baked within a flaky crust.
A former KFC worker shared on Reddit that to ensure its pot pies have good quality meat, the chain uses chicken from the night before to make them. A customer who tried the pot pie on YouTube noted how large the pie was, while highlighting the fluffy yet flaky crust. This reviewers reaction after the first bite was that the pie was “absolutely fantastic” and full of everything it should have, earning it a rating of nine out of 10.
On the other hand, a writer for Uproxx was not as impressed. The reviewer did acknowledge that the pies chicken was “tender and juicy with a great flavor,” but stated that the gravy-like sauce, while rich and savory, was overpowering. The review went on to say that the pot pies crust was buttery and flaky, giving it some texture that it “desperately needs” due to the fillings being soft and mushy. Overall, the writer claimed that this traditional KFC offering was one to skip, and “must be for Midwestern grandparents who need a fast food pot pie.”
Popular Chain Restaurant Chicken Pot Pies Ranked
FAQ
What fast food restaurants have chicken pot pie?
Chicken Pot Pie | KFC®