Amish cuisine embodies rural resourcefulness and soulful comfort—hearty, homespun meals crafted from the land and perfected over generations. I love how Amish food celebrates simple ingredients turned transcendent by patience and plenty of know-how. Here are three of my top picks: creamy brown butter mashed potatoes, luscious chicken pot pie, and the legendary shoofly pie. Try these recipes to bring the warmth of an Amish kitchen into your own home.
Amish Chicken Pot Pie
A staple of Amish gatherings, chicken pot pie isn’t just pie—it’s a thick, savory stew brimming with noodles, tender chicken, potatoes, and vegetables. Old-fashioned and rib-sticking, this dish is perfect for family dinners or chilly evenings.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup water
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 tbsp onion, chopped
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 7 cups water
- 3–4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups potatoes, cubed
- 1 cup green peas (optional)
- ¾ tsp seasoning salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1½–2 tbsp flour (for thickening)
Instructions:
- Make noodle dough: Beat eggs, water, and salt together. Stir in flour to form a dough ball. Cover and set aside.
- Sauté butter with garlic, onion, and carrots in a large pot until golden.
- Add water and broth, bring to a boil. Roll out dough to ⅛” thick; cut into 1–1½” squares.
- Drop noodles into boiling soup, stir well. Boil 15–20 min, then add potatoes, peas, and chicken. Season with salts and pepper. Cook 12–15 min.
- Mix flour with water for a paste; stir into soup to thicken. Simmer 1 min, serve hot!amish-heritage
Favorite review:
“We serve our chicken pot pie with applesauce and pickled beets, but you may also enjoy this Amish pot pie with a side of fresh bread or creamed corn. It’s always the dish that disappears first at potlucks!”thismomcooks
Creamy Amish Mashed Potatoes
The secret to unforgettable Amish mashed potatoes is hearty yellow spuds whipped with cream cheese, sour cream, and a drizzle of brown butter. It’s the centerpiece of every Sunday supper.
Ingredients:
- 3 lbs yellow potatoes, peeled & cubed
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- ½ cup unsalted butter (divided)
- ¼ cup evaporated milk
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions:
- Boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender. Drain and transfer to a mixer bowl.
- Whip potatoes on medium with ¼ cup melted butter, cream cheese, sour cream, and salt.
- Brown remaining butter in a pan until fragrant and nutty. Slowly add evaporated milk to potatoes until fluffy.
- Serve in a warm bowl, pour browned butter over top, and enjoy!thecaglediaries+1
Chef’s note:
“Use Yukon Gold for the best texture, and don’t skip the brown butter—this simple touch delivers flavor that’s pure nostalgia.”thecaglediaries
Amish Shoofly Pie
An absolute legend from Pennsylvania Dutch country, shoofly pie features a gooey molasses center, sweet crumb topping, and a tender, flaky crust. Its name comes from the sticky allure that drew houseflies during cooling—so good, you’ll want to shoo them away yourself.
Ingredients:
- 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
- 1 cup unsulfured molasses
- ¾ cup boiling water
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 large egg
- 1½ cups flour
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- Pinch salt
- ½ cup cold butter, cubed
Instructions:
- Combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt for crumbs. Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal; reserve.
- Dissolve baking soda in boiling water, add molasses and lightly beaten egg. Pour into pie crust.
- Gently blend 2 cups crumbs into wet mixture, sprinkle remainder on top.
- Bake at 425°F for 10 min, then at 350°F for 40–45 min until set.
- Cool before slicing—enjoy vanilla ice cream alongside!plattertalk+2
Featured comment:
“Never tasted or made Shoo Fly Pie before—it was a surprise hit! Perfect consistency, rich flavor, and that molasses tang.” — Ifapaperheartplattertalk
These recipes are proven crowd-pleasers that transform your kitchen into a little slice of Lancaster County. The chicken pot pie is deeply savory, the mashed potatoes impossibly creamy, and the shoofly pie is one unforgettable bite after another. Cook up these Amish classics and share the bounty—the simple joy of comfort food, straight from the heart of country tradition!wishesndishes+6
Check sources
- https://amish-heritage.org/pennsylvania-dutch-chicken-pot-pie/
- https://thismomcooks.com/2023/01/23/old-fashioned-amish-chicken-pot-pie-with-pie-crust/
- https://thecaglediaries.com/amish-mashed-potatoes/
- https://wishesndishes.com/traditional-amish-mashed-potatoes/
- https://www.plattertalk.com/shoo-fly-pie-recipe/
- https://amish-heritage.org/amish-wet-bottom-shoo-fly-pie/
- https://www.discoverlancaster.com/blog/shoo-fly-pie-lancaster-county/
- https://amish-heritage.org/amish-food-traditional-amish-food-recipes/
- https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/traditional-amish-recipes/
- https://www.amishoutletstore.com/blog/traditional-amish-recipes/
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTnT2NPigV6xUbGLYgKpXGdgYdFD03Yra
- https://www.allrecipes.com/gallery/traditional-amish-mennonite-recipes/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/CookbookLovers/comments/1ktt8z3/amish_recipes/
- https://www.tastesoflizzyt.com/old-fashioned-amish-recipes/
- https://www.bellandevans.com/recipe/pennsylvania-dutch-chicken-pot-pie/
- https://brooklynfarmgirl.com/amish-shoofly-pie/
- https://amish-heritage.org/creamy-amish-mashed-potatoes/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7_GROm5XQw
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fakQcYTejC0
- https://cookingwithmammac.com/amish-brown-butter-mashed-potatoes/