Description
Chicken Fricassee is a classic French comfort dish featuring tender chicken simmered in a creamy white sauce with vegetables. This one-pot meal is rich, hearty, and perfect for a cozy dinner. Serve it with mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 2 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks (or boneless if preferred)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
For the Vegetables & Sauce:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (or chicken broth for a non-alcoholic version)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 tsp dried thyme)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
-
Prepare the Chicken:
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
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Brown the Chicken:
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Sear the chicken for 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
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Sauté the Vegetables:
- In the same pan, add onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Add mushrooms and cook for another 3 minutes.
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Make the Sauce:
- Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir for 1 minute.
- Pour in the white wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it reduce for 2 minutes.
- Add chicken broth, thyme, and the bay leaf. Stir well.
-
Simmer the Chicken:
- Return the chicken to the pan, nestling it into the sauce.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30–35 minutes until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
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Add the Cream:
- Stir in the heavy cream and let simmer for another 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
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Serve & Enjoy:
- Remove the bay leaf and sprinkle with fresh parsley.
- Serve warm with mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread.
Notes
- For extra richness, add a splash of lemon juice for brightness.
- Swap heavy cream with coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
Nutrition
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 130mg