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Hearty French Chicken Casserole

Hearty French Chicken Casserole: Comfort on a Cozy Night

A comforting Hearty French Chicken Casserole featuring flavorful chicken thighs in a creamy apple cider sauce, perfect for chilly evenings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: French
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken and Sauce
  • 4 pieces Chicken Thighs and Legs Skin-on and bone-in for richness
  • 1 teaspoon Salt Adjust according to taste
  • 2 medium Shallots Can substitute with one medium onion
  • 2 stalks Celery Optional for texture
  • 1 teaspoon Thyme Dried thyme can be used
  • 4 cloves Garlic Minced or finely chopped
  • 150 grams Bacon Lardons Can be replaced with pancetta or omitted
  • 100 ml Brandy or Whiskey Substitute with apple juice or chicken stock if avoiding alcohol
  • 2 tablespoons Flour Can replace with cornstarch for gluten-free options
  • 500 ml Chicken Stock Homemade or store-bought
  • 250 ml Hard Dry Apple Cider Substitute with non-alcoholic cider if preferred
For the Apples and Cream
  • 3 medium Apples Firm varieties preferred
  • 200 ml Double Cream/Heavy Cream Can be omitted for a dairy-free version

Equipment

  • oven-safe skillet
  • Wooden Spoon

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
  2. Pat the chicken thighs and legs dry, then season generously with salt.
  3. In a large oven-safe skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat and brown chicken pieces for 6–8 minutes skin-side down.
  4. Remove browned chicken and set aside.
  5. In the same skillet, cook bacon until crispy, then remove and leave the bacon fat.
  6. Sauté shallots and optional celery in bacon fat for 3–4 minutes, then add thyme and garlic.
  7. Deglaze the pan with brandy or whiskey, scraping up browned bits.
  8. Sprinkle flour over the mixture, stir, and whisk in chicken stock and apple cider until thickened.
  9. Return chicken and bacon to skillet, bring to a boil, cover and bake for 30 minutes.
  10. Uncover and bake for another 30 minutes to deepen flavors.
  11. Slice apples into wedges and fry in butter until caramelized.
  12. Stir in cream, return to oven uncovered, and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
  13. Fold in fried apple wedges before serving warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 650kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 45gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 150mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 700mgFiber: 4gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 750IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 3mg

Notes

Serve with fluffy mashed potatoes or a zesty salad for a complete meal. This dish makes impressive leftovers that develop richer flavors overnight.

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