A Rochester-Inspired Wicks Pies Recipe Contest Entry
Some hometown flavors don’t just live in your memory — they follow you around forever.
For me, one of those flavors is Country Sweet Chicken and Ribs.
Sticky, sweet, spicy, messy in the best possible way, and completely iconic
to Rochester, NY.
These Grilled Country Sweet Chicken & Summer Veggie Pot Pies are my love letter to that flavor —
wrapped in a golden, flaky Wick’s Pies crust and filled with grilled chicken, farmers market corn, zucchini, sweet onions, basil, parsley, chives, New York cheddar, a hint of Parmesan cheese and a creamy cheesy Country Sweet gravy sauce.
It’s backyard BBQ, Rochester nostalgia, and summer pot pie comfort all baked into one golden little dish.
The Rochester Flavor That Never Leaves You
If you grew up in Rochester, you know there are certain foods that feel like a rite of passage.
And, of course, Country Sweet Chicken.
Country Sweet Chicken is not Buffalo chicken.
Let’s make that very clear.
Buffalo chicken is buttery, tangy, hot-sauce-forward, and usually built around that classic wing sauce flavor.
Country Sweet is different.
It’s sticky. Slightly sweet. A little spicy. Glossy. Saucy. Almost BBQ-adjacent, but totally its own Rochester thing.
It’s the kind of sauce you want all over fried chicken, wings, shrimp, ribs, fingers, fries — honestly, probably your entire plate.
And if you went there in high school or college with your friends, you remember the whole thing: the paper plates, the sauce everywhere, the blue cheese on the side, the fried chicken, the sides, the late-night cravings, the group hangouts, the “where are we going after this?” energy.
It was casual, chaotic, delicious, and deeply Rochester.
This recipe takes that hometown flavor and gives it a fresh summer farmers market spin for the Wicks Pies Recipe Contest.
I love Wicks Pies frozen pot pie crusts with precut lids – they are so easy to make and the perfect size for these individual pot pies I am making for the contest.
with the Rochester Flower City logo carved into the lids to vent the steam (and to make them super cute!)
Instead of fried chicken, I’m using grilled chicken thighs seasoned with hot honey BBQ rub
then brushed with Country Sweet sauce (I used the actual sauce they sell in the stores, but I’m providing a homemade Country Sweet-style sauce recipe for you below to make it yourself if you can’t find it near you).
Along with the grilled chicken I’m adding tons of Summer veggies: bell peppers, zucchini, basil, parsley, chives
corn, and onions – adding tons of fresh flavor to the pies.
Then I’m turning it into a creamy filling with the chicken, gravy, a small amount of Country Sweet sauce, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, a little more Hot Honey BBQ rub and folding in all those gorgeous sauteed veggies
and adding sharp triple shredded NY cheddar and grated parmesan cheese to make just enough creamy gravy sauce to bring that sweet-spicy Rochester magic into every bite.
This delicious mixture all gets tucked into individual @wickspies frozen pie crusts
with the lids brushed in egg wash for extra shine and color and a sprinkle of coarse sea salt for extra texture and flavor –
then they’re baked until golden brown, bubbling, and completely irresistible.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This recipe celebrates three things at once:
Rochester nostalgia.
Local summer produce.
And the beautiful golden crust that makes pot pie feel like comfort food royalty.
The filling is colorful and seasonal, with charred corn, tender zucchini, sweet onion, basil, cheddar, and grilled chicken. The sauce is creamy but not heavy, sweet-spicy but not overpowering, and just nostalgic enough to make anyone from Rochester smile immediately.
The Wicks individual pie shells make the perfect little vessel for a hometown-inspired summer pot pie.
Flaky golden crust.
Creamy filling.
Sticky-sweet chicken.
Farmers market vegetables.
It’s local, personal, nostalgic, and contest-worthy.
Grilled Country Sweet Chicken & Summer Veggie Pot Pies
Makes 4 individual pot pies
Ingredients
For the Grilled Country Sweet Chicken
1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breast
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon hot honey BBQ Rub (or paprika)
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ cup Country Sweet sauce, plus more for brushing (bottled or homemade, per recipe below)
For the Homemade Country Sweet Sauce
1 cup white sugar
¾ cup ketchup
⅔ cup prepared yellow mustard
⅓ cup white vinegar
¼ cup lemon juice
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
For the Summer Veggie Filling
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small sweet onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 medium zucchini, diced small
1 cup corn kernels, or local farmers market fresh corn
1 tablespoon chives, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
½ cup shredded NY sharp cheddar cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
For the Creamy Country Sweet Sauce
1 1/ cups chicken gravy (jarred gravy is fine – or make your own
homemade chicken gravy as follows):
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup chicken stock
½ cup heavy cream
¼ cup Country Sweet sauce (hot or mild)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
¼ teaspoon hot honey rub (or cayenne pepper), optional
Salt and black pepper, to taste
For Assembly
4 Wicks Pies individual frozen pie crusts
4 Wicks Pies lids or additional small crusts for topping
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash
Flaky sea salt, for finishing
Chopped chives, basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Grill the Chicken
Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
Pat chicken dry and rub with olive oil, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.
Grill chicken for 5–6 minutes per side, or until cooked through and lightly charred.
Brush with Country Sweet-style sauce during the final 2 minutes of cooking (bottled or homemade sauce).
Remove from grill and let rest for 5–10 minutes.
Dice into bite-size pieces and set aside.
2. Cook the Summer Vegetables
In a large skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat.
Add diced onions and peppers and cook until softened, about 3–4 minutes.
Add zucchini and corn, cook until just tender, about 3 minutes.
Stir in fresh chopped basil, chives and Italian parsley.
Remove from heat.
3. Make the Creamy Country Sweet Sauce
In a medium saucepan, add the pre-made chicken gravy and stir in the Country Sweet sauce, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and hot honey BBQ rub or cayenne if using.
Simmer 3–5 minutes, until thick and creamy.
Stir in cheddar and Parmesan cheese until melted.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
If making your own chicken gravy: melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux. Slowly whisk in chicken stock until smooth. Add heavy cream, then stir in the mustard, vinegar, hot honey bbq rub or cayenne, salt and pepper to taste, then stir it all together into a creamy sauce and add the cheese in until melted.
5. Finish the Filling
Fold the grilled chicken and summer vegetables into the creamy cheesy gravy/sauce.
Let the mixture cool for 10–15 minutes before filling the pie shells.
This helps keep the crust flaky and prevents the filling from becoming too runny.
6. Assemble the Pot Pies
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Place frozen Wicks individual pie crusts on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet.
Fill each shell generously with the Country Sweet chicken and summer veggie filling.
Top each pie with a Wicks pie lid or small top crust.
Crimp the edges with a fork to seal.
Cut small vents in the shape of Rochester’s Flower City logo in the top of each crust.
Brush the tops with egg wash.
Sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt.
7. Bake
Bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes, or until the crust is deeply golden brown and the filling is bubbling through the vents.
If the crust edges brown too quickly, loosely tent with foil during the last 10 minutes.
Let pot pies rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Note: If your Wicks package gives different baking instructions for the individual frozen pie crusts and lids, follow the package directions.
For a little extra finishing touches, brush the hot crusts lightly with:
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 teaspoon Country Sweet-style sauce
A pinch of flaky sea salt
This gives the tops a gorgeous glossy finish and a subtle sweet-spicy shine.
Another serving idea: Serve with a small ramekin of cool blue cheese sauce on the side as a nod to the classic Rochester Country Sweet experience if you desire, (but they’re absolutely delicious on their own with no extra sauce.)
Serving Ideas
Serve these pot pies with any of these sides to complete the meal and make it Summer BBQ picnic perfection:
creamy macaroni salad
crisp coleslaw
potato salad
extra Country Sweet-style sauce
blue cheese sauce
grilled corn salad
cold lemonade or iced tea
Why This Pie Tastes Like Rochester
This is not a Buffalo chicken pot pie.
This is a Rochester pot pie.
It’s sweet, spicy, saucy, summery, and nostalgic in a totally different way.
It reminds me of being in high school and college, going out with friends, ordering way too much food, dipping everything into sauce, and feeling like we had nowhere better to be.
Those are the flavors that stay with you.
And now, thanks to @wickspies, they’re baked inside a golden little crust.
This recipe was created for the @wickspies Recipe Contest as a tribute to Rochester, NY, summer farmers markets, and one of my favorite hometown flavors.
If you grew up in Rochester like I did with Country Sweet, you already know. #IYKYK
And if you didn’t, this pot pie is your invitation to taste one of Rochester’s most iconic comfort food memories — with a fresh, seasonal twist.
Follow Wicks Pies online
Website: https://www.wickspies.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wickspiesbakery
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wickspies/
Question for You
For my Rochester friends: what was your go-to Country Sweet order back in the day — wings, fried chicken, shrimp, ribs, mac salad, fries, blue cheese, or all of the above?
And what hometown restaurant instantly takes you back to high school or college summers?
Tell me in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post and made these delicious Grilled Country Sweet Chicken & Summer Veggie Pot Pies. please share it on social media and tag me @artfulgourmet and @wickspies! I’d love to hear how they came out and any special twists you make to the recipe.
Tags: #BakeWithWicks, #WicksPieCreations, #WicksRecipeChallenge #WicksPies #WicksRecipeContest #CountrySweetChicken #RochesterNY #RochesterEats #RocFoodies #UpstateNYFood #FingerLakesFood #SummerPotPie #IndividualPotPies #SavoryPie #FarmersMarketRecipes #SummerRecipes #ComfortFood #RetroRecipes #TheArtfulGourmet #FoodBlogger #FoodPhotography #LocalFlavor #TasteOfNewYork #ChickenPotPie #SweetAndSpicyChicken #PieContest #HomemadeComfortFood
