French Chicken Casserole a la Normande
French Chicken Casserole a la Normande is a warm, comforting dish that brings the essence of French cuisine to your dinner table. This delightful casserole features tender chicken braised in apple juice, smothered with fresh thyme and sweet apple wedges, creating a harmonious balance of flavors. Perfect for busy weeknights or family gatherings, this recipe is not only easy to prepare but also offers delicious leftovers that taste even better the next day. With its rich aroma and satisfying textures, you’ll find this hearty dish is sure to impress everyone around the table.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 100 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: Serves approximately 6 people 1x
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken thighs and legs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 shallots (or 1 medium onion)
- 1 rib celery
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp apple juice
- 85 ml chicken stock
- 2 apples
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Pat dry chicken and season with salt.
- In a large casserole dish, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and brown chicken until golden. Set aside.
- In the same pan, sauté diced shallots and celery until soft, then add minced garlic.
- Deglaze pan with apple juice; stir in flour to create a roux.
- Gradually add chicken stock and return browned chicken to the dish.
- Cover and bake for 30 minutes, uncovering for another 30 minutes.
- Sauté apple wedges in reserved fat until golden, then stir into casserole along with heavy cream.
- Bake uncovered for an additional 20 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 305
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 90mg