My All-Time Favorite Chicken Cobbler Recipe

Comfort food doesn’t get any better than this.

By
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel has over 10 years of experience developing recipes and writing about food. She is the author of 4 cookbooks, including the bestselling "The Instant Pot Electric Cookbook."
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated January 29, 2025
Laurel Randolph
Serving of Chicken Cobbler With Cheddar Bay Biscuit Top on a plate at a table setting with a plate of salad greens, glasses of cider, and a casserole dish with cobbler

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

When it’s cold outside and I’m craving comfort food, few things can beat a classic chicken cobbler. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. 

By swapping out the standard cobbler topping for cheddar bay biscuits, chicken cobbler is transformed into a dish worthy of a special occasion. Luckily, it’s easy enough to make for a casual family dinner. Kids and adults alike will love the buttery, garlicky, cheesy biscuits and the creamy chicken and vegetable filling. Together, it’s a one-pot meal that will satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

Tips for Making This Chicken Cobbler

  • I use rotisserie chicken for ease. You’ll need meat from about two rotisserie chickens.
  • You can make the filling up to a day ahead of time and stash it in the fridge.
  • Don’t overmix the biscuit dough or you’ll make it tough. Just mix until no big streaks of flour remain.
  • Serve with a bright, lemony green salad to balance the richness of the cobbler.
Serving of Chicken Cobbler With Cheddar Bay Biscuit Top on a plate at a table setting with a plate of salad greens, glasses of cider, and a casserole dish with cobbler

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

One-Pot Chicken Dinners

Chicken Cobbler With Cheddar Bay Biscuit Top

Prep Time 25 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 65 mins
Servings 8 servings

This recipe was developed by Julia Levy.

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

For the filling

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 2 cups)

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces

  • 1/2 cup (60g) all-purpose flour

  • 3 cups chicken broth

  • 1 cup heavy cream

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1 (15-ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

  • 8 cups chopped or shredded cooked chicken (about 2 pounds)

For the biscuit topping

  • 2 cups (255g) all-purpose flour

  • 1 tablespoon baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

  • 1 cup whole buttermilk, chilled, plus more if needed

  • 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)

For the butter topping

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

  • 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

    Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

  2. Prepare the filling: 

    Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent and softened, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme, and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. 

    Add the butter, stirring constantly to melt. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until it has adhered to the mixture and no clumps remain, about 2 minutes.

    Flour mixed into cooked onions in a pot for chicken cobbler with cheddar bay biscuit top recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    Broth added to flour and onion mix for chicken cobbler with cheddar bay biscuit top recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  3. Make the gravy and add the vegetables and chicken:

    Gradually add the broth, about 1 cup at a time, whisking constantly until thickened and smooth, about 4 minutes. Whisk in the heavy cream, salt, and pepper until incorporated. 

    Stir in the mixed vegetables and chicken. Remove from the heat. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Set aside.

    Broth whisked into the flour and onion roux in the pot for for chicken cobbler recipe with cheddar bay biscuit top

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    Chicken cobbler gravy in a pot for chicken cobber recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    Chicken cobbler filling added to a casserole dish for chicken cobbler with cheddar bay biscuit top recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  4. Prepare the biscuit topping: 

    Whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, garlic powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl until combined. Toss in the cold butter pieces and cut in with a pastry cutter or fork until crumbly and the butter pieces are pea-sized.

    Stir in the buttermilk and cheddar cheese until no pockets of dry flour remain, using your hands if needed.

    Bowl of dry ingredients for for cheddar bay biscuit top recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    Pea-sized butter pieces in the bowl of flour for for chicken cobbler with cheddar bay biscuit top recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  5. Form the biscuit top: 

    Drop 12 (1/4-cupfuls) of dough evenly on top of the chicken mixture in the baking dish.

    Dough spooned onto the casserole filling in the dish using a 1/4 measuring cup for chicken cobbler with cheddar bay biscuit top recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    Chicken cobbler recipe topped with cheddar bay biscuit top

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  6. Bake:

    Bake until the biscuits are golden brown, a toothpick inserted in biscuit centers comes out clean, and the cobbler is bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes. Rotate the pan from front to back halfway through the bake time. 

    Remove from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes.

    Baked chicken cobbler with cheddar bay biscuit top

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  7. Add the butter topping:

    While cobbler bakes, stir together the melted butter, Old Bay seasoning, and garlic powder. Brush the warm biscuit topping with the butter mixture and serve hot.

    Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a review below!

    Old bay butter mixture brushed onto the cheddar bay biscuit top for chicken cobbler recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    Serving of Chicken Cobbler With Cheddar Bay Biscuit Top on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
950 Calories
64g Fat
48g Carbs
45g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 950
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 64g 82%
Saturated Fat 32g 159%
Cholesterol 248mg 83%
Sodium 1136mg 49%
Total Carbohydrate 48g 18%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 45g
Vitamin C 6mg 30%
Calcium 330mg 25%
Iron 6mg 31%
Potassium 623mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.