Chicken Fricassee is a classic French comfort dish where tender chicken is braised gently in a silky, creamy white sauce with vegetables. 🍗🥕🍄
It’s cozy, elegant, and perfect for when you want something hearty but refined!
🕒 Time: 1 hour
🍽 Serves: 4–6
🌟 Ingredients:
For the Chicken:
- 4–6 bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks (or a mix)
- Salt and black pepper (to taste)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the Sauce and Vegetables:
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 large carrot (sliced into rounds)
- 150g mushrooms (sliced)
- 2 tbsp flour (for thickening)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional, can substitute broth)
- 1 cup milk or light cream
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 tsp dried thyme)
- Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
- 1/2 cup peas (optional, for a sweet pop of color)
🔪 Instructions:
- Prepare the Chicken:
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- In a large deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat butter and olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Brown the chicken on all sides (about 4–5 minutes per side).
- Remove and set aside.
- Sauté the Vegetables:
- In the same pan, add onions, garlic, carrots, and mushrooms.
- Cook until softened and fragrant (about 5 minutes).
- Make the Base:
- Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and stir well to coat.
- Slowly pour in white wine and chicken broth, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
- Add milk or cream, bay leaf, and thyme. Stir again.
- Braise:
- Return the browned chicken to the pan.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for about 30–40 minutes, until the chicken is tender and the sauce is thickened and creamy.
- Finish:
- Stir in peas if using, and simmer uncovered for another 5 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaf.
- Serve:
Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.
🍽️ Best with:
- Rice pilaf 🍚
- Buttered noodles 🍜
- Crusty French bread 🥖
- Mashed potatoes 🥔
💡 Tips:
- Traditional fricassee is not highly browned — aim for a light golden color on the chicken, not deep brown.
- You can swap milk with a bit more broth if you want it lighter, or use full cream for a richer sauce.
- Add a squeeze of lemon at the end for a little brightness! 🍋
Chicken Fricassee is creamy, comforting, and quietly luxurious — a timeless dish for any season! 🕊️🍗✨
Would you also like a spring vegetable version of Chicken Fricassee (with asparagus, baby peas, and fresh herbs)? 🌱🌸
