Description
Hearty french chicken casserole a la normande delights with creamy apple and calvados-infused flavors from Normandy’s culinary traditions. Rich ingredients blend seamlessly, promising a comforting meal you will savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 8 oz (225 g) mushrooms, sliced
- 2 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps butter
- ½ cup (120 ml) dry apple cider
- 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsps fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Calibrate oven to 375F (190C), preparing a perfect culinary environment for a delectable French-inspired casserole.
- Chicken Preparation: Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper, searing in a hot oven-safe skillet to develop a mahogany-colored crust that seals in robust flavors, creating a golden exterior with deep caramelization.
- Vegetable Foundation: Sauté onions in butter until translucent, then introduce apples and mushrooms, coaxing out their natural sweetness through careful browning, building a rich aromatic base for the casserole.
- Sauce Creation: Deglaze the skillet with apple cider, capturing the pan’s flavorful remnants. Whisk in chicken broth, heavy cream, Dijon mustard, and thyme, transforming these ingredients into a velvety, harmonious sauce that will marry the dish’s components.
- Baking Process: Nestle seared chicken thighs into the vegetable-laden liquid, transferring the skillet to the preheated oven. Allow the gentle heat to meld flavors and tenderize the meat, creating a cohesive and luxurious casserole.
- Finishing Touch: After 25-30 minutes, confirm chicken reaches 165F internal temperature. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, signaling the dish is ready to be served alongside crusty bread or creamy accompaniments.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Browning: Ensure chicken skin is patted completely dry before searing to achieve maximum crispiness and golden-brown color, preventing soggy or steamed texture.
- Control Moisture Levels: Use high-heat cooking techniques like cast-iron skillet searing to caramelize chicken without releasing excess liquid, maintaining intense flavor concentration.
- Balance Acid and Cream: Add apple cider gradually and taste sauce before final mixture to prevent overpowering sweetness, creating harmonious flavor profile that complements chicken’s richness.
- Accommodate Dietary Restrictions: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk for dairy-free version or use skinless chicken breasts for lower-fat alternative without compromising overall dish integrity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg