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French Chicken Casserole a la Normande

Cozy Up with French Chicken Casserole a la Normande

Enjoy this delightful French Chicken Casserole a la Normande, featuring tender chicken thighs in a creamy apple cider sauce.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Chicken
Cuisine: French
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 4 pieces Chicken Thighs and Legs bone-in for flavor
  • 150 grams Bacon Lardons high-quality for richness
For the Aromatics
  • 2 pieces Shallots substitutable with one onion
  • 2 stalks Celery
  • 1 teaspoon Thyme fresh, substitutable with rosemary or sage
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
For the Sauce
  • 100 ml Brandy or Whiskey for deglazing
  • 500 ml Chicken Stock homemade preferred
  • 200 ml Apple Cider Strongbow or similar recommended
  • 200 ml Heavy Cream substitutable with coconut cream
For the Apples
  • 3 pieces Apples Granny Smith or Honeycrisp
For Cooking
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil can substitute with butter
  • 1 teaspoon Salt for seasoning

Equipment

  • oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
  2. Pat the chicken thighs and legs dry with paper towels and season with salt.
  3. In a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil and sear the chicken for 5–7 minutes on each side.
  4. Cook bacon lardons in the same skillet for about 5 minutes until crispy, then set aside.
  5. Sauté chopped shallots and celery for 4–5 minutes, then add thyme and garlic.
  6. Deglaze the pan with brandy or whiskey, cooking out the alcohol for about 2 minutes.
  7. Sprinkle flour over the mixture, stir for about a minute, and gradually add chicken stock while whisking.
  8. Stir in the apple cider and bring to a gentle boil, then simmer for a few minutes.
  9. Return the chicken and bacon to the skillet, ensuring they are well-coated with sauce. Cover tightly.
  10. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 30 minutes.
  11. While baking, sauté apple wedges in olive oil for 5 minutes until golden.
  12. Gently stir in the heavy cream after the second baking phase and return to the oven for 20 minutes.
  13. Fold in the sautéed apple wedges and serve hot.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 30gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 120mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg

Notes

This casserole is best enjoyed warm and can be customized for dietary preferences.

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