Description
Comfort meets elegance in this French chicken casserole à la Normande, where creamy apple-infused sauce embraces tender chicken. Rich Normandy flavors dance across your plate, promising a delightful culinary journey through northern France’s cherished countryside.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
Produce:
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 2 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
- ¼ cup (15 grams) chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Dairy, Cooking Fats, and Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces (225 grams) mushrooms, sliced
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) dry apple cider
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Initiate by warming the oven to a moderate temperature of 350F (175C), creating an ideal environment for the upcoming culinary adventure.
- Select a robust, oven-safe skillet and meld olive oil with butter over a medium-high flame, establishing a flavorful foundation for the dish.
- Meticulously season chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then carefully sear each side until a rich, golden crust develops, approximately 5-7 minutes per surface.
- Transfer the beautifully browned chicken to a temporary holding plate, preserving its nascent flavors.
- Within the same skillet, introduce onions and transform them into translucent, softened morsels of sweetness.
- Incorporate minced garlic and sliced mushrooms, allowing them to dance and caramelize for several minutes until achieving a delicate bronze hue.
- Gently layer apple slices into the aromatic mixture, stirring occasionally to coax out their subtle softness.
- Deglaze the skillet with Calvados or apple cider, expertly scraping accumulated flavor fragments from the pan’s bottom.
- Pour chicken stock into the bubbling medley, creating a luxurious liquid foundation.
- Nestle the previously seared chicken back into the skillet, surrounding it with apples and mushrooms.
- Cocoon the skillet with a tight-fitting lid and slide into the preheated oven, allowing gentle heat to transform the ingredients for approximately 30 minutes.
- Once chicken reaches perfect tenderness, remove from oven and fold in creme fraiche, creating a silken, creamy embrace.
- Return to stovetop, simmering briefly to harmonize flavors and slightly thicken the sauce.
- Conclude by sprinkling freshly chopped parsley, presenting a vibrant, rustic French chicken casserole ready to enchant discerning palates.
Notes
- Choose bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for maximum flavor and juiciness, ensuring tender meat that stays moist during baking.
- Opt for firm, slightly tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp to provide a balanced sweetness and maintain texture during cooking.
- Consider using apple brandy or dry white wine as alternatives to Calvados for added depth and complexity in the sauce.
- Substitute dairy-free options like coconut cream or cashew cream for a lactose-free version that maintains the creamy richness of the original recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg