Chicken Shepherds Pie

This has become my go to recipe anytime I don't know what to make for dinner. I made this up a few years back when I first started cooking and we wanted Shepherds Pie. I had no idea how to make a Shepherds Pie. I had a memory of it from one of my summers at camp and I remembered how much I loved it. The only thing I could remember of it was mashed potatoes, peas and carrots and some ground beef. However when it came time to make this dish I decided I didn't want ground beef and my idea of what Shepherds Pie is became this dish. Mashed Potatoes, veggies, chicken, LOTS of melty cheese and fall apart chicken. I hope your family enjoys this as much as mine does! If you make it please leave me a comment letting me know how you liked it!

ingredient list:

3lbs chicken breast 

2 packages of frozen mixed veggies (i use Italian blend or stir fry blend)

3 packages of instant potatoes (i use 4 cheese flavored or garlic flavored)

2 8oz packages of shredded cheese (or 1lb of  shredded cheese)

1 large package of french fried onions

Garlic powder, Onion powder, Ms Dash onion blend and Ms Dash Garlic blend.

a stick of margarine

You will also need:

8x12 baking pan

oil or baking spray

a sharp knife

a large microwave safe bowl

a cutting board

a large frying pan with a lid

a pot with a lid (to make mashed potatoes in)

melt your margarine in the frying pan on medium-low heat, don't scorch it.

rinse your chicken breast in cold water

cut the fat and bone fragments off of your chicken breasts

cut your chicken breasts in half and then into chunks

rinse chicken breasts and drain

place your drained chicken breast chunks into the margarine

keep heat on medium to low medium (between 3 and 4 on an electric stove) the chicken will need to cook for up to 2 hours to become very tender. make sure not to scorch it, the lower setting will help. if you want to just cook the chicken on med-high you can, i prefer mine fall apart tender.

sanitize your counters where you cut up your chicken! im ocd when it comes to working with chicken. make sure not to cross contaminate any of your kitchen tools clean everything thoroughly with soap and hot water. 

Boil your water for your mashed potatoes. (if you made 3 packages it will be 6 cups of water)

while your water is boiling add your spices to your chicken. (i personally never measure anything but it should be approximately 1 tablespoon of each of the ms dash ingredients and 1 tablespoon of each garlic and onion powder)

stir all of the ingredients up and cover the chicken and let it continue to cook.

place both packages of your frozen veggies into a large microwave safe bowl. microwave for 6 minutes, stir and microwave for 6 more minutes. drain the veggies and sit them aside.

once your potatoes are finished let them sit for 5 minutes.

preheat your oven to 350

coat your baking pan with either spray or rub it with oil.

add your layer of potatoes and smooth them down.

add a layer of cheese.

add all of the drained veggies making sure they are spread evenl and then add a layer of cheese on top.

once your chicken starts to fall apart when touched with a fork (or other cooking utensil) its finished

place a layer of chicken (make sure any unabsorbed cooking juices are drained)

add a final layer of cheese

place in oven for 10-15 mins until cheese is melted

add the entire container of french fried onions (make sure to spread them evenly) bake for 5 minutes (or until the onions are a golden color)

 remove from the oven and enjoy!

don't forget to wash your dishes as you go! no one likes cleaning up a messy kitchen after they eat :)