Chicken Fricassee (French Chicken Stew) - Video

Chicken Fricassee aka French Chicken Stew is made with lightly seasoned chicken thighs that have been browned and then cooked in a rich creamy sauce made from carrots, celery, mushrooms, and white wine!

The result of this easy chicken recipe is a flavorful and hearty meal that is perfect for any night of the week. It’s simple for busy weeknights yet impressive enough to serve a crowd on any occasion!

I make this main dish regularly because I always seem to have chicken in my fridge! It’s budget-friendly, and my kids love it, but there comes a time when I need to find a new way to cook it. This chicken fricassee recipe is definitely a family favorite and I’m sure it’s about to become yours too.

What is Chicken Fricassee?

A fricassee is a French word that means “to fry” and that is essentially what this dish is. Chicken is fried in a skillet and then simmered in a sauce until cooked through.

The end result is a delicious and hearty meal that the whole family will love. This dish can be made with either white or dark meat chicken, so it’s perfect for everyone. Plus, it’s really easy to make so you can have dinner on the table in no time!

What Vegetables can I put in Chicken Fricassee?

The vegetables you can put in Chicken Fricassee are really up to you. I like to use carrots, celery, and potatoes, but you can also use green beans, peas, or even corn. Just make sure to chop them into bite-sized pieces so they will cook through in the same amount of time as the chicken.

Cooking Tips for Making Chicken Fricassee

• I recommend keeping the skin on your chicken pieces. Also, using bone-in pieces gives it much more flavor and helps to keep it moist!
• If you don’t want to use wine in your cooking, use more broth instead.
• If you want your sauce to be thicker, you can add a few tablespoons of flour when you are whisking in the broth.
• Make sure to season your sauce with salt and pepper to taste. I also like to add a little bit of thyme for extra flavor.
• When adding the heavy whipping cream at the end, start with less and then add more if you want it to be creamier.

Ingredients Needed

• Chicken pieces: I like to use both thighs and drumsticks because I have people in my home that favor one over the other! You can decide which type of chicken you prefer.
• Salt and pepper: To taste.
• Butter: Used to brown the chicken, giving it a beautiful golden sear.
• Diced onion: An aromatic that delivers a big flavor.
• White wine: You don’t need anything fancy here, just a cheap dry white wine will do. Sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, or chardonnay are great choices.
• Flour: Used to help thicken up the sauce. It forms a roux initially with the leftover butter and fat from cooking the chicken.
• Chicken bone broth or chicken broth: Along with the wine, it’s a flavorful liquid that turns the roux into a silky delicious sauce.
• Veggies: Shiitake mushrooms sliced, diced carrots, diced celery.
• Thyme: You can use fresh or dry here. It’s up to you. Thyme is always a welcome herb used in many cream sauces.
• Heavy whipping cream: Adds richness and a little more body to the sauce, giving it the creamy consistency that it needs.

How to Make Chicken Fricassee

Step 1: Pat dry the chicken thighs and drumsticks with a paper towel. This will help give the chicken a good sear as well as help the salt and pepper stick to it. Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.

Step 2: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Brown chicken on both sides, leaving it to cook for 5 minutes on each side. Remove the chicken pieces from the skillet and transfer them onto a plate to rest.  Next add onion and saute for 5 minutes or until golden color.

Step 3: Using the same skillet, add the flour to the remaining oils and whisk for a minute. It should start to create a roux which is a light brown paste with a bit of a nutty aroma.

Step 4: Slowly whisk in the wine and chicken broth until everything is combined then season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 5: To the sauce, toss in the mushrooms, carrots, celery, and thyme, and mix everything with a wooden spoon.

Step 6: Return the chicken you set aside back into the skillet and allow it to come back to a gentle boil. Cover with a lid and simmer on low for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.

Step 7: At the end, stir in the heavy whipping cream and allow it to thicken up a bit. Do a little taste test and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley and enjoy!

What to Serve with Chicken Fricassee Easy Recipe

You can serve it with some crusty bread like this loaf of no knead bread on the side to soak up all of the delicious sauce.

Cheesy scalloped potatoes or Instant Pot mashed potatoes would be great to sop up all of the juices as well. Then finish it off with a refreshing, crisp cucumber tomato salad.

Recipe FAQs

Serve with These Delicious Side Dishes

• Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
• Cucumber Tomato Salad
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Best Caesar Salad 
• Mashed Potatoes with Pasta and Cheese
• Loaded Potatoes with Cheese
• Cheesy Mashed Potatoes 

Happy Cooking!