Golden Chicken Fricassee Recipe: Hearty French Comfort in a Pan

My grandma’s treasured chicken fricassee recipe whispers stories of cozy family dinners and culinary heritage.

Memories of her kitchen flood back with each tender, succulent bite.

Generations have savored this classic French comfort dish, passed down through whispered secrets and loving techniques.

Fragrant herbs and creamy sauce dance together, creating magic in a single skillet.

Delicate chicken pieces nestle in a rich, velvety embrace that promises warmth and satisfaction.

Humble ingredients combine to create something truly extraordinary, turning a simple meal into an unforgettable experience.

You’ll want to gather around the table and celebrate this delicious tradition.

Chicken Fricassee That Feels Classic and Cozy

• Minimal Cooking Skills Required: Beginner-friendly recipe with straightforward steps, allowing even novice cooks to create a restaurant-quality dish without complicated techniques.
• Versatile Meal Preparation: Adaptable to various side dishes like mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread, making it an ideal solution for flexible meal planning and satisfying different taste preferences.
• Time-Efficient Cooking: Prepared in under an hour, with most time spent simmering, enabling home cooks to achieve a delicious, creamy meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

Chicken Fricassee Ingredients

• Chicken: Tender meat as the main star of the dish, bone-in pieces recommended for better flavor, skinless or skin-on work well.

• Butter, Heavy Cream: Adds richness and creates smooth, luxurious sauce texture, use full-fat versions for best results.

• Onions, Carrots, Celery, Garlic, Mushrooms: Create deep base flavor and add vegetable complexity, fresh ingredients preferred.

• Salt, Black Pepper, Paprika, Thyme, Bay Leaf, Fresh Parsley: Provide layers of seasoning and aromatic notes, use freshly ground pepper for best taste.

• White Wine, Chicken Broth, All-Purpose Flour: Help create silky sauce, develop depth of flavor, and thicken the dish, use dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc.

• Olive Oil: Helps prevent sticking and adds subtle flavor during browning process, extra virgin recommended.

Chicken Fricassee Comfort Food Directions

Step 1: Prep the Star of the Show

Clean chicken pieces thoroughly using paper towels.

Season generously with salt, pepper, and paprika, ensuring every surface gets delicious flavor.

Step 2: Create Golden Goodness

Heat a blend of olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Carefully place chicken pieces to develop a beautiful golden-brown crust.

Cook each side until rich color emerges, then transfer to a temporary plate.

Step 3: Awaken Vegetable Flavors

• Chopped onions
• Diced carrots
• Sliced celery
• Minced garlic

Sauté until vegetables become soft and fragrant.

Add mushrooms and continue cooking until they release their delightful earthy essence.

Step 4: Craft the Magical Sauce

Sprinkle flour over vegetables, stirring constantly to create a smooth base.

Pour white wine, scraping pan bottom to capture all those delicious browned bits.

Let liquid reduce slightly.

• Chicken broth
• Fresh thyme
• Bay leaf

Stir everything together seamlessly.

Step 5: Reunite Chicken with Sauce

Gently return chicken pieces back into the pan, nestling them into the bubbling sauce.

Lower heat, cover, and let simmer until chicken becomes incredibly tender and fully cooked.

Step 6: Transform Sauce to Creamy Perfection

Swirl heavy cream into the pan, allowing sauce to thicken and become luxuriously smooth.

Continue simmering for a few more minutes.

Step 7: Plate and Celebrate

Remove bay leaf.

Scatter fresh parsley on top for a burst of color and freshness.

Serve alongside mashed potatoes, fluffy rice, or crusty bread for a complete meal that warms the soul.

Creamy Comfort Tips For Chicken Fricassee

• Pat chicken with paper towels to ensure a crispy, golden-brown exterior when searing, preventing steaming and promoting better caramelization.
• Sauté vegetables in the same pan used for chicken to capture and build deep, rich flavor profiles from the browned bits.
• Sprinkle flour gradually and stir continuously to prevent lumps and create a smooth, velvety sauce without clumping.
• Simmer chicken on low heat to keep meat tender and prevent overcooking, which can make it tough and dry.
• Swap heavy cream with coconut milk for a dairy-free version or use gluten-free flour to accommodate different dietary restrictions.

Enjoying Chicken Fricassee Again

• Store leftover chicken fricassee in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Allow the dish to reach room temperature before sealing to prevent condensation and maintain sauce consistency.
• Warm portions in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth to restore moisture and prevent sauce separation.
• Pack cooled fricassee in freezer-safe containers, where it can stay good for up to 2 months, ensuring you enjoy this comforting meal later.

Easy Sides for Chicken Fricassee

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Select a dry Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay to complement the creamy sauce and cut through the richness of the chicken dish.
• Match with Buttery Side Dish: Serve alongside creamy mashed potatoes or soft polenta to soak up the delicious sauce and enhance the meal's comfort food appeal.
• Brighten with Fresh Herb Salad: Create a light green salad with mixed herbs like parsley, chives, and tarragon to provide a fresh contrast to the rich, creamy chicken.
• Enhance with Crusty Bread: Offer a rustic French baguette or sourdough to help diners mop up every last bit of the flavorful sauce and add a satisfying textural element.

Chicken Fricassee Traditional and New Twists

• Gluten-Free Fricassee: Replace wheat flour with cornstarch or rice flour for thickening the sauce, ensuring a celiac-friendly version without compromising flavor.
• Dairy-Free Delight: Swap heavy cream with coconut milk or unsweetened almond cream to create a rich, velvety sauce suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals.
• Mediterranean Herb Variation: Incorporate oregano, rosemary, and lemon zest instead of traditional thyme for a bright, zesty Mediterranean-inspired chicken fricassee.
• Low-Carb Option: Substitute vegetables with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles, and use almond flour as a thickening agent to reduce overall carbohydrate content.

FAQs

• What is the origin of Chicken Fricassee?

Chicken Fricassee is a traditional French dish that originated in Normandy, dating back to the Middle Ages. It was a popular way for home cooks to create a delicious meal using available ingredients, combining tender chicken with a creamy white sauce.

• Can I use different types of chicken for this recipe?

Yes, you can use various chicken cuts like thighs, drumsticks, or a whole cut-up chicken. Bone-in, skin-on pieces work best as they provide more flavor and remain juicy during cooking. Just ensure the chicken is cooked to the proper internal temperature.

• How do I know when the chicken is fully cooked?

Use a meat thermometer to check that the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The meat should be white throughout with no pink areas, and the juices should run clear when pierced.

• Is it possible to make this recipe gluten-free?

Absolutely! Replace the all-purpose flour with cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend when thickening the sauce. Ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free to create a safe version of this classic dish.

Chicken Fricassee Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Chicken fricassee whisks French culinary tradition into a heartwarming dish blending tender chicken with silky sauce. Simmered with herbs and white wine, this elegant meal promises comfort that draws you closer with each delicious spoonful.

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Ingredients

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Proteins:

• 2 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks
• 2 cups chicken broth

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 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

Seasonings, Herbs, and Other Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup dry white wine (or chicken broth for a non-alcoholic version)
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Gently blot chicken pieces with paper towels, ensuring surface is moisture-free. Liberally season with salt, freshly ground pepper, and smoky paprika for deep flavor complexity.
2. Select a robust skillet or enameled Dutch oven. Melt olive oil and butter together over medium-high heat until shimmering. Carefully arrange chicken pieces to develop a rich, golden-brown exterior, approximately 4-5 minutes per side. Transfer browned chicken to a holding plate.
3. Within the same pan, introduce diced onions, sliced carrots, chopped celery, and minced garlic. Sauté until vegetables soften and release their aromatic essences, roughly 3-4 minutes. Incorporate sliced mushrooms, continuing to cook until they release their moisture and caramelize slightly.
4. Dust vegetables with flour, stirring continuously to create a light roux. Deglaze the pan with crisp white wine, scraping accumulated flavor fragments from the bottom. Allow liquid to reduce and concentrate, approximately 2 minutes. Pour in robust chicken broth, introducing fragrant thyme and a singular bay leaf.
5. Gently nestle seared chicken pieces back into the developing sauce. Reduce heat, cover, and allow gentle simmering for 30-35 minutes, ensuring chicken reaches perfect tenderness and absorbs surrounding flavors.
6. Swirl in luxurious heavy cream, letting the sauce develop a silky, slightly thickened consistency over an additional 5-minute simmer.
7. Extract bay leaf and garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Present this comforting dish alongside creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy rice, or a rustic crusty bread to capture every delectable droplet of sauce.

Notes

• Moisture Matters: Pat chicken completely dry before seasoning to ensure a crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in delicious flavors.
• Flour Power: Use room temperature flour when thickening the sauce to prevent lumps and create a smooth, silky texture.
• Cream Control: Add heavy cream at the very end and avoid boiling to prevent separation and maintain a luxurious, velvety sauce consistency.
• Dietary Flexibility: Swap heavy cream with coconut milk for a dairy-free version or use Greek yogurt for a lighter, tangy alternative that keeps the dish creamy.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 470
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 13 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 18 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 33 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg