Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (2024)

Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (1)

Free: Healthy 5-Ingredient Meals Ebook

Get It Now

Table Of Contents hide

  • What Is Pate?
  • Why You’ll Love This Chicken Liver Pate Recipe
  • How To Make Pate
  • Storage Instructions
  • How To Eat Pate
  • Tools To Make The Best French Pate

My husband and I honeymooned in Paris. It was every bit as romantic and inspiring as you imagine it would be — and one of the things it inspired me to do was learn how to make pate. While I can’t deliver the Eiffel Tower to your backyard, you can make this chicken liver pate recipe at home and enjoy a decadent and delicious evening with the flavors of Paris right at your kitchen table. It’s deliciously smooth, creamy, and so versatile, yet often underrated as an appetizer or lunchtime companion. And it brings me back to Paris every time.

What Is Pate?

Pate is a type of luxurious and lavish spread usually made from livers of duck, chicken, goose, pork, or veal. It is a classic French recipe that has become increasingly popular worldwide due to its distinctive flavors and textures.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Liver Pate Recipe

  • Slightly sweet, earthy flavor
  • Silky smooth, creamy, and luxurious
  • Simple ingredients
  • Surprisingly easy to make
  • Packed with all the nutrients of organ meat, including vitamin A, vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, riboflavin, folate, iron, zinc, phosphorus, and protein
Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (2)

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for chicken pate, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

  • Chicken Livers – Traditional French pate recipes often use duck or goose liver, which you can do if you can find it. But since fresh chicken liver is much more accessible and less expensive, I went that route.
  • Unsalted Butter– I used grass-fed butter here, but ghee, schmaltz, chicken fat, or duck fat are totally fine to use instead if you choose.
  • Heavy Cream – When I tried pate in France, I realized just how creamy, smooth, and decadent it can be. The secret in this chicken liver pate recipe is heavy cream. You could also use coconut cream if you prefer.
  • Water – While this chicken liver pate recipe uses water to simmer, you can certainly swap out the water for Cognac (or any brandy) if you’d prefer a more traditional flavor.
  • Shallot– Similar to an onion, the shallot gives this chicken liver pate recipe a mild sweetness with just a hint of garlic flavor.
  • Garlic– I used fresh garlic for the best flavor, but you could use 2 teaspoons jarred minced garlic for convenience.
  • Seasoning – For the best chicken liver pate recipe, you’ll use fresh thyme leaves, sea salt and black pepper. If needed, you can also substitute 1 teaspoon dried thyme in place of the tablespoon of fresh thyme, or use other fresh herbs if you prefer.
Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (3)

How To Make Pate

This section shows how to make chicken liver pate, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

  1. Trim the livers. Cut the white connective tissue from the chicken livers.
  2. Saute the aromatics. Melt a tablespoon of butter in askilletover medium heat. Add garlic and shallots. Cook until fragrant.
Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (4)
Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (5)
  1. Simmer. Add chicken livers, sea salt, black pepper, thyme leaves, and water to the pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover with a lid. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until livers are light brown on the outside and barely pink inside.
  2. Drain. Turn off the heat. Leave livers covered in the pan fora few minutes, then drain liquid from the pan.
  3. Puree. Transfer everything from the pan to ablenderorfood processor. Puree, gradually adding the cream and remaining butter, until smooth.

Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (6)

TIP: Want it creamier?

Simply add additional cream for more body and smoothness in the pate.

  1. Cover. Transfer liver pate to ramekins (or a bowl also works). Cover tightly withplastic wrap, with plastic touching the top of the pate (this prevents a film from forming), and secure with rubber bands.
  2. Chill. Refrigerate the pate until firm. I like to garnish with more fresh thyme.
Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (9)
Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (10)

Storage Instructions

Storing chicken liver pate properly is key for keeping it safe to eat. Like with many other cooked dishes, the best place to store chicken liver pate is in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for approximately 3-4 days after preparation and should never be left at room temperature. Chilling not only lets it set, but also lets the flavors develop.

Can You Freeze Pate?

Yes, you can freeze pate, though the texture can change slightly. Thaw overnight in the fridge before enjoying.

Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (11)

How To Eat Pate

Liver pate is creamy and smooth in texture, savory and spreadable like a fine paste – the perfect canvas for crudité sticks or toasted breads. Here are some of my favorite ways to take this spread to the next level.

  • Crackers – The easiest way to eat liver pate is to simply spread it on some crackers. Choose your favorite kind. I like almond flour crackers (shown in the photo above), homemade cheese crackers, or flax seed crackers.
  • Charcuterie Board – Serve this luxurious liver pate as part of your charcuterie board. Since it’s keto-friendly, you could even place it on a low carb charcuterie board.
  • Bread – Spread thepateon bread or toast. For healthier options, try coconut flour bread, chewy almond flour bread, or toast some flaxseed bread.
  • Veggies – Pair pate with regular or pickled cucumbers, celery, or caramelized onions. Pate would also taste great in a cucumber sub.
  • Skillet– I like this skillet because it is oven safe, so you can use it for a variety of different recipes.
  • Food Processor– I recommend using a food processor to make the pate extra smooth, but a high-powered blenderwould work as well.
  • Ramekins – This size is perfect for this pate recipe.

RECIPE SAVED! The recipe was sent to your email. I also sent you your free login info. You can use that to access your saved recipes at My Favorites.

Recipe Card

Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (13)

4.96 from 24 votes☝️ Click stars to rate or click here to leave a review!

Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!)

This simple chicken liver pate recipe is silky smooth and creamy, thanks to a secret ingredient. It's surprisingly easy to make!

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 25 minutes

Total: 40 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 4 (adjust to scale recipe)

Un-save RecipeSave Recipe Remove Ads

Recipe Video

Like this video? Subscribe to my YouTube cooking channel for healthy recipes!

ReviewPrint

US CustomaryMetric

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

  1. Trim the white connective tissue from the chicken livers.

  2. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and shallots. Cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.

  3. Add the chicken livers, thyme, sea salt, black pepper, and water to the pan. Turn up the heat and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cover with a lid. Simmer for 4-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the livers are light brown on the outside and barely pink inside.

  4. Turn off the heat. Leave the livers covered in the pan for 5 minutes, then drain the liquid from the pan.

  5. Transfer the liver mixture to a blender or food processor. Puree, gradually adding the cream and remaining butter, until smooth. (Feel free to add additional cream to make it creamier.) Blend in additional sea salt and black pepper to taste.

  6. Transfer the pate to ramekins. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, with the plastic touching the top of the pate (try to avoid having air in direct contact with the top). Secure the plastic wrap around the ramekins with rubber bands to keep air out. Refrigerate for 4-6 hours, or overnight, until firm.

Did You Like It?

Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.

Rate recipe

Save Recipe

Related Easy Recipes

  • French Carrot Salad

  • French Onion Chicken

  • Green Beans Almondine

  • Almond Flour Cake

Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/4 cup

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories253

Fat22.5g

Protein10.3g

Total Carbs2.8g

Net Carbs2.2g

Fiber0.6g

Sugar0.7g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course:Appetizer

Cuisine:French

Keywords:chicken liver pate, chicken liver pate recipe, chicken pate, french pate, liver pate

Calories: 253 kcal

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂

Chicken Liver Pate Recipe

Pin It For Later!

Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (21)
Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (2024)

FAQs

Chicken Liver Pate Recipe (Creamy & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum? ›

Liver and liver products, such as liver pâté and liver sausage, are a good source of iron, as well as being a rich source of vitamin A. However, because they are such a rich source of vitamin A, we should be careful not to eat too much liver and liver product foods.

Can you eat too much chicken liver pate? ›

Liver and liver products, such as liver pâté and liver sausage, are a good source of iron, as well as being a rich source of vitamin A. However, because they are such a rich source of vitamin A, we should be careful not to eat too much liver and liver product foods.

How long will chicken liver pate keep in the fridge? ›

Refrigerator: Refrigerate chicken liver pâté tightly covered for up to 1 week. To refrigerate it longer than 1 week but no longer than 1 month, pour a little melted lard or clarified butter on top to seal. Each time you dip into the pâté, you will need to reseal the top to preserve it.

Is chicken liver pate healthy? ›

Whilst chicken livers won't exactly be making it on to your next breakfast shot on the gram, they are exceptionally nutritious, with one of the main benefits being they're full of iron. Iron is needed to produce haemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen in the blood.

What is the best bread for pâté? ›

Toasts are also a great partner with Pate. A grilled, properly spiky sourdough bread would be the ideal here, but any decent, thick-cut real white or granary bread will do. But also any type of fresh baguette, sliced toasted baguette, or crackers works very well.

Who should not eat chicken liver? ›

Liver is low in calories and rich in high quality protein, all while providing an incredible amount of vital nutrients. For most people, liver can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. However, it should be eaten in limited amounts if you are pregnant and avoided if you have gout.

Is eating liver bad for cholesterol? ›

Liver is a lean meat which is high in cholesterol. It's low in saturated fat and high in vitamins and minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, and vitamins A, B and D. It's generally a very healthy food to eat, but it's so high in vitamin A that it's best not to eat too much of it.

Why is my chicken liver pate bitter? ›

Blood can give the pâté a bitter taste. (Step 2) Livers soaking in milk under refrigeration. Using a sieve, separate the milk from the livers and allow the livers to drain for two minutes before rinsing them under a running tap to remove the last traces of milk.

Can I freeze home made chicken liver pate? ›

Yes you can freeze chicken liver pate. Wrap the dishes well and freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge and remove from the fridge an hour (less if its very hot) before serving to take off the chill off. Thank you so much!

Do you eat the butter on top of pâté? ›

Homemade pâté recipes, for example, often suggest pouring a layer of melted butter on top of the finished product to extend its shelf life, even though pâté keeps well in the refrigerator. If the extra fat bothers you, you can take it off the part of the pâté you'll be consuming at the moment, but it's not necessary.

Is chicken liver pate bad for cholesterol? ›

Liver, gizzards and other organ meats are very high in cholesterol (each chicken liver has about 250 mg cholesterol), and don't really provide a lot of nutritional value,” Thayer said. “Unless you really love liver, limiting your intake is a good idea.”

Does the liver heal the gut? ›

Liver deserves its status as a superfood because it is the most nutrient dense part of an animal. It is ideal for those with inflammatory or autoimmune conditions to support gut healing. It is also supportive for your immune system, skin, gut and may help prevent bleeding gums.

What is the healthiest way to eat chicken liver? ›

Preparing chicken livers with little or no added fat and with a little salt is the healthiest way to have them. You can pair them with boiled, blanched or fresh greens to make a wholesome meal.

Why is pâté so expensive? ›

Pate Foie Gras is French for fat liver paste. It is a luxury item because few countries allow it to be made, due to the extreme cruelty involved. It is the cancerous liver of a duck or goose fattened by force in a process known as gavage.

What is pâté called in america? ›

According to Larousse Gastronomique, when there is a pastry case the dish is pâté en croute and when there is not, and the mixture is cooked in a dish (called a terrine), it is pâté en terrine, often abbreviated to terrine or pâté, terms used interchangeably in both French and English usage.

What is the best thing to put pâté on? ›

Pâté Rendezvous: 10 ways to relish pâté
  • • French bread spread. For an elegant and tasty appetizer, serve any type of pâté with a fresh baguette, sliced toasted bread. ...
  • • Eggs. ...
  • • Sandwiches. ...
  • • With cheese and fruits. ...
  • • Stuffed into veggies. ...
  • • As dip. ...
  • • Tartines. ...
  • • On meats.

Can you eat liver pate every day? ›

It's possible, and dangerous, to get too much vitamin A. Eating large amounts of liver can lead to symptoms of vitamin A toxicity, which happens when your own liver can't process the excess vitamin A quickly enough. Most doctors recommend that people without vitamin deficiencies eat just one serving of liver per week.

How much pâté is safe to eat? ›

Liver is a very rich source of vitamin A. Do not eat liver or liver products, such as pâté, more than once a week. You should also be aware of how much vitamin A there is in any supplements you take.

How much chicken liver is too much? ›

Warning. Chicken liver has exceedingly high levels of vitamin A—an essential nutrient that can be toxic when consumed in excess. For this reason, take care to limit the serving size and frequency; 1 to 2 tablespoons of chicken liver once a week is plenty.

What are the symptoms of chicken liver pate food poisoning? ›

Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach pains and cramps, fever, and generally feeling unwell, though vomiting is uncommon. Illness suffered by most cases start to clear up after two to three days of diarrhoea and 80 to 90% recover within one week. Severe long-term after-effects following infections are rare but do occur.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Eusebia Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 5806

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Eusebia Nader

Birthday: 1994-11-11

Address: Apt. 721 977 Ebert Meadows, Jereville, GA 73618-6603

Phone: +2316203969400

Job: International Farming Consultant

Hobby: Reading, Photography, Shooting, Singing, Magic, Kayaking, Mushroom hunting

Introduction: My name is Eusebia Nader, I am a encouraging, brainy, lively, nice, famous, healthy, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.