Individual Creamy Chicken Pot Pies

Ingredients

• 5 tsp unsalted butter, divided
• 1 1/2 pound(s) uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast(s), cut into bite-size chunks
• 4 rib(s) uncooked celery, thinly sliced (about 2 « cups)
• 4 large uncooked carrot(s), diced (about 2 cups)
• 1 large uncooked onion(s), chopped (about 1 ¬ cups)
• 1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
• 3 1/2 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup(s) frozen baby peas
• 2 oz low fat cream cheese
• 1 Tbsp fresh thyme, chopped (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp table salt, or more to taste
• 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
• 8 oz reduced fat crescent roll dough

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
2. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large pot over medium-high heat; add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken from pot with a slotted spoon; set aside.
3. Melt remaining 2 teaspoons butter in same pot over medium-high heat; add celery, carrots and onion and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
4. Reduce heat and sprinkle vegetables with flour; cook, stirring, until vegetables are coated, about 1 minute. Stir in broth; bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally.
5. Reduce heat to medium; simmer 5 minutes. Add peas, cream cheese, thyme, salt and pepper; simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thickened and vegetables are just tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in chicken and any accumulated juices; heat through.
6. Evenly divide mixture among eight (8 oz) ramekins or custard cups (about 1 cup filling each).
7. Unroll crescent dough; carefully separate at perforations. Place 1 piece of triangle dough over each ramekin, letting edges drape over sides (or folding it back over into middle).
8. Place ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until crust is golden and filling is bubbly around edges, about 11 to 13 minutes. Yields 1 pot pie per serving.

Notes

Don't have 8 ramekins or custard cups? Not to worry: Just spoon the filling into an 11 x 7-inch baking dish. Unroll crescent dough and press at perforations to seal. Top baking dish with full sheet of dough, letting ends hang over sides of dish (poke a few holes in crust). Bake until filling is bubbly and crust is golden, about 11 to 13 minutes. For a decorative touch, sprinkle dough with fresh thyme leaves before baking. For a sophisticated touch, substitute « cup of the broth for white wine.