French Chicken Casserole a la Normande
Experience the comforting warmth of a French Chicken Casserole a la Normande, a delightful dish that combines tender chicken with sweet apples and aromatic thyme. This recipe is not only easy to prepare but also perfect for family dinners or cozy gatherings. With its rich sauce and heartwarming flavors, this casserole will quickly become a favorite on your dinner table. Whether served with creamy mashed potatoes or crusty bread, this dish promises to bring joy and satisfaction to every bite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 lbs chicken thighs and legs
- Salt, to taste
- 4 shallots (diced) or 1 medium onion
- 1 rib celery (diced)
- 4–5 sprigs thyme
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsp apple juice or barley tea
- 2 tbsp flour
- 85 ml chicken stock
- 2 apples (peeled, cored, and cut into wedges)
- 125 ml double cream
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180C/350F. Pat the chicken dry and season with salt.
- In a large casserole dish, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and brown the chicken on both sides. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, sauté diced shallots and celery with thyme until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
- Deglaze the pan with apple juice, then whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually add chicken stock.
- Return the chicken to the casserole dish with more thyme, bring to a boil, cover, and bake for 30 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for another 30 minutes while sautéing apple wedges in reserved fat.
- Fold in cream and sautéed apples into the casserole; bake uncovered for an additional 20 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole (approximately 300g)
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 150mg