Chicken, Sage and Onion Pie
A chicken, sage and onion pie is a pie that borrows the flavours of stuffing: sweet, slowly cooked onions and earthy sage. Three onions are cooked gently for a full 20 minutes until golden and collapsed, which builds a sweetness no quick fried onion can match.
By the chickenpie.net test kitchen · Published 2 September 2026
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 50 min
- Yield
- 6 servings
Ingredients
- 550g skinless chicken thighs, diced
- 3 onions, thinly sliced
- 40g butter
- 8 fresh sage leaves, shredded
- 30g plain flour
- 400ml chicken stock
- 1 tsp cider vinegar
- 320g ready rolled shortcrust pastry
- 1 egg, beaten, for glazing
Method
Melt the butter in a wide pan over low heat and cook the onions with a pinch of salt for 20 minutes, stirring now and then, until soft, golden, and sweet.
Turn the heat up, add the chicken and half the sage, and cook for 6 minutes until the chicken is sealed.
Stir in the flour, cook for 1 minute, then gradually add the stock, stirring to a smooth sauce, and simmer for 5 minutes.
Stir in the vinegar and the remaining sage, season, then transfer to a 1.5 litre pie dish and cool for 10 minutes.
Top with the pastry, trim and crimp, cut a steam vent, and brush with beaten egg.
Bake at 190C (375F) for 30 minutes until golden, then rest for 5 minutes.
Worth knowing
- Do not rush the onions, the 20 minute sweat is where all the flavour comes from.
- The teaspoon of vinegar is not optional, it stops the sweet onions turning the pie cloying.
Common questions
Can I use dried sage?
Yes, use 1 teaspoon of dried sage, all added with the chicken. Dried sage is stronger and dustier than fresh, so do not be tempted to match the fresh quantity leaf for leaf.
Could I add sausage meat to make it more like stuffing?
Yes. Brown 200g of sausage meat in the pan before the onions, break it up, set it aside, and return it with the stock. Reduce the chicken to 400g so the dish is not overfilled.
What should I serve with this pie?
It is a roast dinner in pie form, so mashed potatoes, greens, and extra gravy suit it. For a lighter meal, a sharp apple and watercress salad cuts through the sweet onions well.