Description
This French Chicken Casserole a la Normande is pure comfort in a pot. Juicy chicken, crispy bacon, apples, and a creamy cider sauce come together for a cozy, rustic meal with incredible depth of flavor—perfect for chilly nights or impressing dinner guests.
Ingredients
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1 tbsp olive oil
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2 lbs chicken thighs and legs
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Salt, to taste
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4 shallots, diced (or 1 medium onion)
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1 rib celery, diced
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4–5 sprigs thyme
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2 garlic cloves, minced
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125g/4 oz bacon lardons (or 6 strips of bacon, chopped)
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2 tbsp brandy or whiskey
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2 tbsp flour
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1/3 cup (85 ml) chicken stock
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1 1/2 cups (400 ml) hard dry apple cider (like Strongbow)
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2 apples, peeled, cored, and cut into wedges
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1/2 cup (125 ml) double cream or heavy cream
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
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Pat chicken dry, season with salt, and brown in olive oil over medium-high heat. Set aside.
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In the same pan, cook bacon until crisp. Remove and set aside.
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Sauté shallots, celery, and 2 sprigs of thyme over low heat until soft. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
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Deglaze with brandy, scraping the pan. Let the alcohol cook off.
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Stir in flour to form a paste. Slowly add chicken stock while stirring, then pour in apple cider.
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Return chicken and bacon to the pan with remaining thyme. Bring to a boil.
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Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 30 minutes more.
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Meanwhile, fry apple wedges in reserved chicken fat or butter until golden.
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Stir cream into casserole and cook uncovered for 20 more minutes.
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Add cooked apples, stir, and serve with mashed potatoes or rice.
Notes
Bone-in, skin-on chicken delivers the best flavor.
For a non-alcoholic version, substitute apple juice for cider and omit the brandy.
Leftovers taste even better the next day—refrigerate in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Braising, Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 540 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg