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French Chicken Casserole with Apples and Cider Recipe

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4.1 from 41 reviews

This French Chicken Casserole with Apples Delight is a comforting and flavorful dish combining tender chicken thighs and legs with aromatic shallots, celery, and thyme, simmered in a rich sauce of apple cider and cream. The addition of apples adds a subtle sweetness and a cozy autumnal touch, perfect for warming up on chilly evenings.

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Protein & Vegetables

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 lbs chicken thighs and legs
  • Salt, to taste
  • 4 shallots, diced or 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 rib celery, diced
  • 4-5 thyme sprigs
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

For the Sauce

  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 85 ml (1/3 cup) chicken stock
  • 400 ml (1 1/2 cups) hard dry apple cider, such as Strongbow
  • 2 apples, peeled, cored and cut into wedges
  • 125 ml (1/2 cup) double cream/heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or casserole dish over medium-high heat. Season the chicken thighs and legs generously with salt. Add the chicken to the pan and brown on all sides until golden. Remove the chicken and set aside.
  2. Sauté vegetables: In the same pan, add the diced shallots (or onion), celery, and thyme sprigs. Cook until the shallots are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
  3. Create the roux and deglaze: Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir well to coat. Cook for 1-2 minutes to form a roux. Slowly pour in the chicken stock, stirring constantly to avoid lumps, then add the hard dry apple cider, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze and lift any browned bits for enhanced flavor.
  4. Add apples and chicken: Add the peeled and wedged apples to the pan and return the browned chicken thighs and legs to the sauce. Ensure the chicken is partially submerged.
  5. Simmer: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let everything simmer gently for 30-40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender, and the apples have softened.
  6. Finish with cream: Remove the thyme sprigs, then stir in the double cream to enrich the sauce. Adjust seasoning with additional salt if needed. Allow it to heat through for another 2-3 minutes, without boiling, to integrate the cream completely.
  7. Serve: Serve the chicken casserole hot, spooning the creamy apple sauce over the meat along with tender apples for a cozy meal.

Notes

  • For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free flour or cornstarch to thicken the sauce.
  • Add carrots or mushrooms with the shallots for additional vegetable flavors.
  • Use a good quality dry apple cider to ensure the best flavor in the sauce.
  • Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be gently reheated on the stovetop.
  • Pair with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or a green salad to complete the meal.
  • Author: Madelynn
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Casserole
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: French

Find it online: https://allyumcooks.com/french-chicken-casserole-with-apples-and-cider-recipe/