There’s something truly irresistible about the combination of tender chicken wrapped in buttery, flaky pastry—let me introduce you to my favorite Chicken Wellington with Mushroom Filling Recipe. It’s fancy enough for a special occasion but surprisingly doable any night you want to impress without stress.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Chicken Wellington with Mushroom Filling Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Chicken Wellington with Mushroom Filling Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Chicken Wellington with Mushroom Filling Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Chicken Wellington with Mushroom Filling Recipe is close to my heart because it manages to deliver elegance and hearty comfort all on one plate. Each bite is a beautiful balance of juicy chicken, creamy mushroom filling, and that perfectly crisp puff pastry. I always get compliments when I make it!
- Decadently rich filling: The mushroom mixture with cream cheese brings deep umami flavor that perfectly complements the chicken.
- Simple to execute: You don’t need to be a professional chef to nail this—just a few key steps and basic ingredients.
- Versatile for any meal: This works for elegant dinners or cozy weekend treats alike.
- Make-ahead friendly: You can prep it in advance, then pop it in the oven for fresh, golden goodness.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The magic of this Chicken Wellington with Mushroom Filling Recipe lies in how the ingredients complement each other, balancing textures and flavors. Using fresh herbs and quality chicken makes all the difference, plus puff pastry binds everything into a beautiful package.
- Chicken breasts: Choose even-sized, boneless, skinless breasts for consistent cooking and easy wrapping.
- Olive oil and butter: Olive oil for searing and butter to cook the mushroom filling adds richness and flavor depth.
- Onion and garlic: These create a fragrant base that enhances the mushroom filling.
- Mushrooms: Finely chopped white or cremini mushrooms provide that earthy, savory heart of the filling.
- Thyme: Fresh or dried thyme adds a subtle herbal note that elevates the flavor complexity.
- White wine or chicken broth: Used to deglaze and intensify the mushroom mixture without overpowering.
- Cream cheese or pâté: Cream cheese creates creamy richness, while pâté makes it classic and slightly luxurious.
- Fresh parsley: Brightens the filling and adds a fresh touch.
- Puff pastry sheet: Store-bought makes it easy, just make sure it’s cold to keep puffing beautifully.
- Egg wash: For that gorgeous golden, glossy crust you’ll want to bite into immediately.
- Dijon mustard: Brushed on the chicken to add tang and help the filling stick—plus it’s delicious.
Make It Your Way
I love playing with this Chicken Wellington with Mushroom Filling Recipe to suit different occasions. Feel free to swap cream cheese for pâté to amp up richness or add fresh herbs like tarragon for a unique twist. You can also make individual parcels or one big Wellington for company.
- Variation: Once, I added finely chopped spinach to the mushroom filling—extra veggies and color without compromising the flavor. It was a hit!
- Dietary swap: Using gluten-free puff pastry works well if you’re gluten-sensitive, though keep an eye on baking times, they may vary.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Chicken Wellington with Mushroom Filling Recipe
Step 1: Sear the Chicken for Golden Flavor
Start by patting your chicken breasts dry and seasoning them well—it helps the crust develop a nice color. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high and sear the chicken just 2-3 minutes per side until beautifully golden. Don’t worry about cooking through here, the oven will finish it. Let the chicken cool; this keeps the filling fresh and keeps you from burning your fingers during assembly.
Step 2: Prepare the Mushroom Filling
Use the same skillet to melt butter and soften chopped onion. Add garlic and chopped mushrooms, cooking until all moisture evaporates so the filling isn’t soggy. This step is crucial—dry mushrooms mean crisp pastry later! Stir in thyme, white wine, then cream cheese and parsley. Season to taste and let cool completely before using.
Step 3: Assemble the Wellington Parcels
Roll out your chilled puff pastry and cut into four squares. Brush each chicken breast with Dijon mustard—this not only adds flavor but helps the filling stick. Spoon some mushroom filling over the chicken, then wrap the pastry tightly around it, sealing seams firmly. Place seam-side down on your baking sheet. Brush with egg wash and cut a small slit on top for steam escape.
Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection
Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 25-30 minutes. You’re looking for a puffed, golden crust and an internal chicken temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safe, juicy meat. Let it rest a few minutes before slicing to keep everything juicy inside.
Top Tip
I’ve learned a few key things making this Chicken Wellington with Mushroom Filling Recipe enough times to get that perfect balance of flaky and moist. These tips make a huge difference:
- Don’t skip cooling: Let the chicken and mushroom filling cool before assembling or the pastry can get soggy.
- Dry mushrooms thoroughly: Cooking off every bit of moisture from mushrooms helps keep the pastry crisp.
- Seal seams firmly: Press edges well and place parcels seam-side down to avoid any juicy leaks during baking.
- Use an instant-read thermometer: This ensures perfectly cooked chicken—juicy, not dry.
How to Serve Chicken Wellington with Mushroom Filling Recipe
Garnishes
I usually sprinkle freshly chopped parsley on top for color and freshness, and a light drizzle of a simple pan sauce or jus really brings home the flavor. A few lemon wedges on the side brighten the dish wonderfully as well.
Side Dishes
This Wellington pairs beautifully with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, or even a fresh green salad with tangy vinaigrette to balance that richness. I love adding some steamed asparagus whenever it’s in season.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I like arranging sliced Chicken Wellingtons on a wooden board with herb sprigs and roasted baby potatoes around—great for casual sharing. Another fun idea is serving mini Wellingtons as finger food at parties!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend reheating gently in the oven rather than a microwave to keep the pastry crisp and chicken juicy.
Freezing
I’ve frozen assembled, unbaked parcels before baking and then cooked them straight from the freezer—just add a few extra minutes to baking time. This is a great option for prepping ahead for entertaining.
Reheating
The best way to reheat is in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10-15 minutes until warmed through and crisp on the outside. You get that fresh-baked feel without sacrificing texture.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with shiitake, portobello, or a blend for richer flavor, just make sure to finely chop and cook out all moisture to keep the filling dry.
If puff pastry isn’t available, phyllo dough can be a lighter alternative although it requires more layers and extra care when wrapping. Alternatively, a shortcrust pastry works but results in a denser crust.
Searing the chicken briefly before wrapping locks in juices, and baking just until it reaches 165°F ensures it won’t dry out. Resting the Wellington a few minutes after baking also helps redistribute juices.
Yes! You can assemble the Wellington parcels, cover them loosely, and refrigerate for a few hours before baking. Just brush with egg wash before popping them in the oven for that golden finish.
Final Thoughts
This Chicken Wellington with Mushroom Filling Recipe is one I keep coming back to whenever I want to wow guests or just treat myself. It feels indulgent but uncomplicated—sort of like a hug on a plate. Give it a try, and I promise you’ll love pulling that golden crust apart for the first time. Trust me, it’s worth every delicious minute.
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Chicken Wellington with Mushroom Filling Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Description
Chicken Wellington is a delicious and elegant dish featuring tender chicken breasts wrapped in flaky puff pastry with a savory mushroom and herb filling. This recipe combines seared chicken with a creamy mushroom mixture, all enveloped in golden puff pastry for a perfect dinner centerpiece.
Ingredients
Chicken and Puff Pastry
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 6 ounces each)
- salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 egg (beaten with 1 tablespoon water for egg wash)
Mushroom Filling
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 8 ounces mushrooms (finely chopped, white or cremini)
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaves (fresh or dried)
- 2 tablespoons dry white wine (or chicken broth)
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese (or pâté)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 400 °F (200 °C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare Chicken: Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear chicken 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden. Remove and let cool slightly.
- Cook Mushroom Filling: In the same skillet, melt butter. Add chopped onion and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and chopped mushrooms; cook 5 to 6 minutes until moisture evaporates and mushrooms brown. Add thyme and white wine; cook until dry. Stir in cream cheese and parsley, season with salt and pepper. Let filling cool.
- Assemble Wellington: Roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut into 4 equal squares. Brush each chicken breast with Dijon mustard and spoon some mushroom mixture on top. Place chicken in center of each puff pastry square and wrap pastry around, sealing edges tightly. Place seam-side down on prepared baking sheet.
- Apply Egg Wash and Bake: Brush each pastry parcel with the egg wash. Cut a small slit on top for steam to escape. Bake for 30 minutes until pastry is golden brown and internal chicken temperature reaches 165 °F (74 °C).
Notes
- Use fully thawed but still cold puff pastry for best puff and ease of handling.
- Sear chicken just to develop color; it will finish cooking in the oven to remain juicy.
- Cook mushrooms until all liquid evaporates to avoid soggy pastry.
- Cream cheese creates a rich and creamy filling, while pâté gives a classic restaurant-style flavor.
- Seal pastry seams well and place seam-side down to prevent leakage during baking.
- Assemble earlier in the day and refrigerate uncovered; brush with egg wash just before baking for convenience.
- Ensure chicken internal temperature reaches 165 °F (74 °C) for safe consumption.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
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