Chicken a la Gurnham is a family recipe that includes delicious gravy sauce with chicken and carrots topped with golden biscuits for ultimate comfort food.
Jump to RecipeNever heard of this? That’s because it’s a recipe that my grandparents created. Gurnham is their last name so we call it Chicken a la Gurnham. It’s one of my favorite dinners that they make.
We have had to tweak the recipe a little bit because one of the ingredients is no longer available in the US. When their neighbor goes home to London they used to have him pick them up some from there!
I found a pretty good substitute, though, that gives it almost the same flavor and have been making it with that for a few years now. Also, my grandparents always make it with peas. I can’t stand peas so we leave those out. So I guess I have changed the recipe a couple of times too. But it is still based on their recipe, so I leave the name as is.
Chicken a la Gurnham is similar to Chicken a la King, but the sauce is a bit different. The concept is the same, though. Veggies with a sauce and chicken in the bottom of a glass dish, topped with biscuits and baked together.
I’ve always enjoyed this meal at any time of the year, but it’s especially great for the fall and winter. It’s a warm dish and just makes me feel cozy; it’s definitely a comfort-food recipe.
A few other family recipes to try: Mozzarella-Stuffed Meatloaf and Christmas Sandwiches.

Step by Step
Preheat the oven to 450F. Boil the chicken until it is cooked through. Then either cut into bite-sized pieces or shred the chicken. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine the gravy mix, milk, and chicken broth. Stir constantly until it boils. I find a whisk works well for this.

Add the butter and simmer for one minute, stirring constantly, then remove from the heat.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the sauce, chicken, and carrots together.


Pour the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish.

Bake for about 20-25 minutes, then remove from the oven. Reduce the temperature to 350F and place the biscuits on top of the chicken mixture.

Bake again for about 10 minutes, or until the biscuits are done. Serve warm, making sure to scoop plenty of the chicken mixture with each biscuit.


Recipe
Originally Published On: February 12, 2016
Last Updated On: October 28, 2019

Chicken a la Gurnham
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 1 pkg biscuit gravy (Pioneer Brand)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 10 oz chicken broth
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup carrots (shredded)
- 1 can biscuits
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450F
- Boil chicken until cooked through, then cut into bite-sized pieces
- In a medium saucepan, combine gravy, milk, and chicken broth
- Stir until it boils
- Add butter and simmer for 1 minute, stirring constantly, then remove from heat
- In a large bowl, mix the sauce, chicken, and carrots together
- Pour into 9×13 baking dish
- Bake for 20-25 minutes then remove from oven
- Reduce oven temperature to 350F
- Place biscuits on top of the mixture
- Place back in oven and back for 10 minutes or until biscuits are done
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Ooh, this looks so good! I’ll have to give your recipe a try – my daughter would absolutely love it!
It’s one of my favorite family recipes. We all really enjoy this one here.
This looks so yum! I am so glad you shared this family recipe with us! And I have to say, I tried your paddle-setting KitchenAid hack to shred some pork for tacos last week! So cool – thanks again! 🙂
It works so well! Just make sure you don’t overmix or you end up with mush 🙁
All your recipes always look so good! I can’t wait to try to make this one, sounds like something the whole family would like too!
Thank you! My whole family loves this meal and the leftovers don’t last long the next day, either.
I love family recipes that are passed down from generation to generation. I too have had to make a few tweaks on family recipes from my grandma. But doing that just makes the recipe even more special! Thank you for sharing your grandparents’ recipe.
It’s so hard when it’s something they started making so long ago, and products change. But, as you said, it allows us to take a family recipe and make some changes to then make it our own!
Family recipes are so special. Eating it is like a huge hug from the people you remember making it!
Yes! My grandma doesn’t make it any more since she developed celiac’s disease so, even though we don’t have it at her house, it’s still her recipe.
This looks so good! Definitely comfort food! And so special that it is a family recipe!
I love comfort food 🙂
This looks really delicious! Next time we make homemade biscuits I will give this recipe a try.
I haven’t tried this with homemade biscuits yet, but I bet that would make it even more amazing!
That is so cool and I love the name of the recipe. You know I am going to try it. I will let you know how it turns out.
It’s a good thing my grandparents have a fun last name that makes a great recipe title! I hope your family enjoys the meal 🙂
This is definitely going to be a recipe that I bookmark. I seem to try all your recipes and they are all so good.
Thank you, April! I’m so happy to hear my recipes are being enjoyed by others.
Yum! This looks delicious. I have been looking for different things to make for my family and I think this would be perfect.
It’s a great way to get so many different foods in with the protein and vegetables and grains!
YUMM!! This is perfect for Family recipe. I love chicken this recipe looks new for me I’ll try to make this recipe soon. 🙂
We eat a lot of chicken at my house, and this is a favorite for my entire family!
Oh my this looks UNREAL! I just had breakfast but now I want this haha
Well, the leftovers do reheat really well! I could eat this almost any time of the day.
Yum – I love biscuits and these look SO good!!
I love biscuits, too, so any reason to have them with a meal works for me!
Family recipes are the best. This looks like a perfect meal on a cold night. And anything topped with a biscuit is amazing!
I agree, biscuits are one of my favorites!
This looks like something I would definitely want for this sweater weather. It’s like have chicken and dumplings in a new kind of way.
It’s a bit like chicken and dumplings. I never thought of that before. But yes, perfect for cool nights to have a warm comfort food meal.
What a great chicken recipe – perfect for now the weather is getting colder… my family would love this!
It’s one of my favorite warm comfort meals. As you said, perfect for cooler weather!
I love the name of it! Recipes passed down are the best ones. This looks delicious. Great weeknight meal.
At least my grandparents have an interesting last name for the recipe! I have a few good recipes that have been passed down that I love to make.
Oh my husband loves chicken a la king and this would be a good one to try. It’s always sad when ingredients are no longer available.
It’s similar to chicken a la king, but still a bit different. I think it’s more creamy. We had to make adjustments for available ingredients, but it still works!
It sounds like a great lunch or dinner on a cold winter day.
Yes, it’s perfect to warm you up when it’s cold outside.
This looks like such a delicious weeknight meal that the whole family will love! I plan to try this one out next week!
I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine does! It’s a great meal for the cooler weather this time of the year.
I love learning about family recipes! This one is so simple to make and yummy! I have to try it! Can you use gravy as the sauce?
I haven’t tried it with a different sauce than the biscuit gravy, but any white gravy would probably work. It would just change the flavor just a bit. If you try it, I would love to know how it comes out!
Ooooooo I bet my hubby would love this!! He’s always asking me to make more chicken. Definitely think it would be a hit!
We eat a lot of chicken in my house, so it’s a great one if you are looking for new, unique chicken recipes!
I am positive it should be absolutely delicious as every recipe you share. I will try it shortly.
Thanks! I love this meal and make it often here. I hope you enjoy it, too!