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This French Chicken Casserole is going to be your new seasonal favourite. Chicken thighs and legs slowly braised in apple cider and served with fried apple wedges are as scrumptious as it sounds.
Serve this casserole with our Herb and Garlic Mashed Potatoes and classic Sourdough Bread.
Are you looking for another recipe for chicken? Because if you are, you are in luck! This recipe has a very autumnal feel, but truth is that it’s a winner any time of the year.
And what is even better, this chicken casserole is so beautifully seasonal, it will make you want to cheer for the arrival of the autumn with three loud hurrahs.
There’s something about a creamy chicken casserole that makes colder seasons far more tolerable. This one fits that bill perfectly, with a bonus tart and sweet hit of apple.
Looking for another reason to try it? I can also confirm that this chicken casserole has been tested and tasted by both kids and adults and was wholeheartedly approved by all.
Ingredients
As you can imagine, chicken casserole is an incredibly general term and basically means chicken cooked slowly in the oven until tender.
What you add to that chicken will make all the difference, and in my case I went with a French recipe for Chicken a la Normande or Chicken Normandy.
In this recipe chicken thighs and legs are slowly braised in a dry apple cider. Can you just imagine the aroma that is going to fill your house?!
To make things even more interesting aka luxurious I’ve added bacon to the mix. You know how it is with bacon. Just a small amount can impart incredible flavour and this is exactly what happens here.
(If you love this, you should take a look at its British cousin: Somerset Chicken in Apple Cider!)
Sautéed shallots and celery plus a bit of fresh thyme add unmistakingly earthy tones to this cozy French chicken dish. Just before it’s done in the oven, you hit it with a splash of cream.
The last bit is not necessary but highly recommended. You can certainly skip the cream if you stay away from dairy.
The final ingredient that I wanted to mention is apples. You will add fried apple wedges to your chicken casserole, and to me they are a must!
They add such welcome tangy sweetness that cuts right through the richness of this chicken bake and compliments it in a surprising and exciting way.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Use skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs and legs. The bones contribute to a complex and rich flavour.
- Always brown the chicken before braising it. This step improves flavour and texture. (Use a splatter guard to protect yourself from hot oil.)
- The hard apple cider is a big part of this sauce and works very well with chicken. If you prefer not to use alcohol, substitute with non alcoholic cider or apple juice for flavour and a tablespoon of white wine vinegar for acidity.
- Deglazing with whiskey or brandy is an important step to get as much flavour as possible from the pan and into the sauce. Sherry will also work well if you don’t have brandy available. You can also use chicken stock if you prefer to avoid alcohol.
- Use woodsy herbs like thyme, rosemary and/or bay leaf.
- Base vegetables like onions/shallots, carrots, celery add another layer of complexity to your chicken casserole.
- Season the dish carefully with salt. Always taste the final product before serving it.
- Braise in the oven for at least 1 hour for your sauce to reduce and thicken and for tender, melt in your mouth chicken.
- Finally be adventurous with flavours. Braising is a very forgiving cooking technique and is almost impossible to mess up!
Serving Suggestions
I’ve already mentioned that this casserole is delicious when paired with mashed potatoes. However if you feel a bit more adventurous, why not enjoy it with our Sweet Potato and Swede Mash. Serving over a bed of fluffy rice is another great way to enjoy it.
The sauce contains an unbelievable amount of flavour, and you won’t want any of it to go to waste. I suggest serving with hearty slices of bread, either Sourdough or, if you want something a bit quicker and easier, No Knead Farmhouse Bread.
Storage and leftovers
Leftovers can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days in an This is an affiliate link.airtight container. The microwave will work for reheating, but I prefer to use my stovetop.
Add leftovers to a pan over medium heat, adding a splash of water if the sauce is looking too thick. Cover with a lid or foil so the casserole doesn’t dry out and let it heat for around 15 minutes or until it is hot throughout.
More French recipes
- Classic Coq au Vin
- Chicken Provencal
- Chicken in Wine and Mustard Sauce
- Duck Confit
- Creamy Tarragon Chicken and Potatoes
French Chicken Casserole a la Normande
Equipment
- This is an affiliate link.Cast iron casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp This is an affiliate link.olive oil
- 2 lbs chicken thighs and legs
- salt
- 4 shallots, diced or one medium onion
- 1 rib celery, diced
- 4-5 thyme sprigs
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 125g/4 oz bacon lardons, or 6 strips of bacon, chopped
- 2 tbsp brandy or whiskey
- 2 tbsp flour
- 85 ml/1/3 cup This is an affiliate link.chicken stock
- 400ml/1 1/2 cups hard dry apple cider, such as Strongbow
- 2 apples, peeled, cored and cut into wedges
- 125ml/1/2cup double cream/heavy cream
Instructions
- Turn the oven on to 180C/350F. Pat dry chicken legs and thighs with a paper towel and salt all over.
- In a large casserole dish brown the chicken parts in 1 tbsp of oil over medium- high heat until golden. Remove to a separate platter and set aside. Discard the chicken fat or reserve it for another use if desired.
- Fry the bacon lardons over medium heat until the fat is rendered. (If the bacon is very fatty, discard most of the fat.) Remove the bacon to the same platter as browned chicken.
- To the same pan add the shallots and celery with 2 sprigs of thyme and cook over low heat until soft but not coloured for 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds longer while stirring. Then hit the pan with some brandy and stir while scraping the bottom of the pan with a spatula, continue cooking until the alcohol burns out.
- Then add the flour and stir until it’s combined with the fat and turns into a paste, then slowly add the chicken stock and stir until the mixture resembles a thick gravy, then pour in the apple cider and stir to combine.Return the chicken and bacon to the casserole dish with 2-3 sprigs of thyme and bring to a boil.
- Then put the casserole into the preheated oven and cook with a lid on for 30 minutes, then uncover and cook for 30 minutes longer. While the chicken is in the oven fry the apple wedges in 2 tbsp of the reserved chicken fat or butter. Watch them carefully as they burn quickly.
- Take the casserole out of the oven and stir in the heavy cream and cook for 20 minutes longer uncovered. Take out of the oven, stir in the cooked apple wedges and serve with potatoes or rice.
Video
Notes
- Use skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs and legs. The dish will have a much more complex and rich flavour by using chicken with bones.
- You can give the dish better flavour and texture by browning the chicken before braising. Using a splatter guard will help keep the hot oil from getting on you.
- Hard cider works very well with chicken and adds a lot of flavour to the sauce. If you want to avoid using alcohol, substitute it with non-alcoholic cider or apple juice for flavour and a tablespoon of white wine vinegar for acidity.
- Deglazing with whiskey or brandy is important to get as much flavour as possible from the pan and into the sauce. Sherry will also work well. To avoid alcohol, you can also use chicken stock.
- Be sure to season the dish carefully with salt, and taste before serving to be sure it has enough.
- The chicken should be braised for at least one hour for the sauce to reduce and thicken, and for the chicken to be as tender as possible.
- Braising is a very forgiving cooking technique so there is lots of space to adapt or vary this recipe!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The sauce is amazing! I’m eating very low carb and did use a little rice but next time I will have to find a good low carb biscuit to help soak up the sauce… Although eating it with a spoon works just fine LOL! This recipe has definitely made it it into my fiance and my recipe repertoire!
So pleased to hear it, Stephanie. When we try to make out meals low carb, we often roast butternut squash on the side. Delicious and satisfying!
My 10 year olds new favorite dish. She is obsessed with apples and thinks this is the best thing ever. I substitute bacon grease for the oil, as it is apple wood smoked and then skip frying the actual bacon if it’s been a long day. I am glad I found such a great chicken thigh recipe!
Love your substitutions, Melissa. No wonder your 10 year old is obsessed with it!
Really delicious winter comforter I added some quartered chestnut mushrooms at the shallot stage, some Sliced leeks with the cream and a heaped teaspoon of Dijon mustard. Thanks for the recipe!
Sounds delicious, Jonny! Thanks so much for the review!
Hi. I was wondering what kind of apples work best for this recipe? Thanks!
I would recommend firm, tart apples like Granny Smith but any apples will be a nice touch, Jessica. I just used what I had in my fruit bowl at the moment.
Just cameback from Normandy, looking for that same feeling back home. This delivered! My family is already asking for it again! Awesome recipe
Very happy to hear it, Alisha! It’s definitely one of those “feel good” recipes! 🙂
Looks delicious! Can I make it the day before and reheat? Thanks!
You absolutely can do, Cathy.
I have this in the oven right now. The smells are AMAZING!
So exciting, Melissa! It does fill your house with the most enticing smell, doesn’t it?
This was so delicious, I literally was eating the sauce with a spoon! I made it exactly as the recipe said, and it was perfect. I just returned from vacation in France.This took me back.
I am so happy that cooking and eating this dish reminded you of your vacation in France, JoAnn! Thank you for your comment.
I just returned from Normandy, found this recipe and am longing for the feeling if being back. Loved the process, smell, ingredients…etc. It’s in the oven, but I can already tell this is going to be amazing!!
Absolutely an amazing dish! The directions were very clear and easy to follow. I added some golden chanterelle mushrooms that I had on hand and served the dinner with potatoes au gratin. It was out of the park delicious. This a perfect dinner that’s sure to impress any type of company.
I adore chanterelles and I can only imagine how delicious they were in this recipe. So happy to hear you enjoyed it, Kristin!
Delicious chicken dish,
Thank you very much, Pat.