Recipe at a Glance

⏲️ Prep time: 15 min • 🔥 Cook time: 40 min • 🍽️ Yield: 4 servings
🥄 Calories: Approximately 610 kcal per serving (estimated)
⭐ Difficulty: Easy
🥘 Main ingredients: Chicken breasts or thighs, butter, onion, garlic, thyme, dry white wine, chicken stock, heavy cream, fresh parsley
⚠️ Allergens: Contains gluten (wheat flour), milk (butter, cream), and sulfites (from white wine). Does not contain egg, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, or fish.

Indulge in Comfort: Creamy Chicken Fricassee with Thyme

This creamy chicken fricassee with thyme is my go-to recipe for a relaxing Sunday meal. After a hectic week filled with daily routines and professional demands, Sunday offers a welcome respite, a chance to unwind and reconnect with simple pleasures. For me, that often means heading to the kitchen and creating something delicious.

The aroma of chicken, butter, and onions slowly simmering on the stove creates a comforting and inviting atmosphere. Add a splash of dry white wine to the pan (and perhaps a glass for yourself!), and suddenly, you’re transported to a cozy French bistro, even on the coldest, grayest of days.

Preparing this dish is often a shared activity with my husband. He takes care of chopping the onions while I carefully tend to the sauce. As the chicken simmers, we engage in conversations, sharing our thoughts and experiences of the week. The gentle bubbling of the pan, the transformation of the sauce from a pale liquid to a glossy cream, and the warm, inviting aroma all contribute to a sense of peace and well-being in the kitchen. It truly feels like a special culinary experience.

While Chicken Fricassee may seem like a special occasion dinner, it’s surprisingly easy to prepare, making it a perfect choice for a weeknight meal. It’s also an excellent option for the holidays when you want a classic, comforting dish without spending hours in the kitchen. This recipe is designed to be both accessible and satisfying, ensuring a delicious and memorable dining experience.

Why This Chicken Fricassee Recipe Works

• Slow-simmered chicken: Gently cooking the chicken in the flavorful sauce results in incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful meat. This slow cooking process allows the chicken to absorb all the delicious flavors of the sauce, creating a truly satisfying dish.
• Pan-searing for flavor: Browning the chicken in butter and olive oil before simmering creates a beautiful golden crust and adds a depth of savory flavor to the sauce. The browned bits that stick to the pan become the foundation for the rich and complex taste of the fricassee.
• Wine and stock base: Using dry white wine and high-quality chicken stock as the base of the sauce builds a complex, restaurant-style flavor that elevates this dish beyond the ordinary. The wine adds acidity and depth, while the stock provides body and savory notes.
• Roux for creamy texture: Cooking flour with the onions and butter creates a roux, which thickens the sauce and gives it a velvety, luxurious texture. This ensures that the sauce coats every piece of chicken perfectly.
• Finishing with cream: A swirl of heavy cream at the end softens the edges of the flavors and adds a touch of richness and shine, resulting in a truly decadent and unforgettable sauce.

Chicken Fricassee Ingredients: What You’ll Need

See the recipe card below for exact quantities.

• Chicken breasts or thighs: Choose 4 fillets. Chicken thighs offer extra juiciness, while breasts remain lean and tender. Both options work well in this recipe.
• Unsalted butter: Used for browning the chicken and building the foundation of the flavorful sauce. Unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content of the dish.
• Olive oil: Helps prevent the butter from burning and contributes to a beautiful golden crust on the chicken.
• Onions: Two medium onions, sliced into half-rings, provide a sweet and savory flavor base for the sauce.
• Fresh garlic: Finely chopped garlic cloves add a gentle, aromatic note to the fricassee.
• Bay leaf: Adds depth and a subtle herbal flavor to the sauce during the simmering process.
• Fresh thyme: Fresh thyme sprigs are ideal, but dried thyme can be used in a pinch. Thyme provides a classic, earthy flavor that complements the chicken and white wine sauce.
• All-purpose flour: Used to thicken the sauce and create a silky, rich texture.
• Dry white wine: Select a dry white wine that you enjoy drinking, such as Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Avoid sweet wines, as they will alter the flavor profile of the dish.
• Chicken stock: High-quality chicken stock is essential for a rich and savory sauce.
• Salt and pepper: Seasoning in layers is key to achieving a balanced and flavorful dish.
• Heavy cream: A swirl of heavy cream at the end adds a luxurious touch and creates a smooth, velvety sauce.
• Fresh parsley: Finely chopped fresh parsley adds a bright, vibrant finish to the dish.

How to Make Chicken Fricassee: Step-by-Step Instructions

You’ll find the complete, step-by-step recipe card below.

1. Step 1: Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels, season generously with salt and pepper, and sear in a mixture of butter and olive oil until golden brown on both sides. Set aside.

2. Step 2: In the same pan, soften the sliced onions with a bay leaf and fresh thyme sprigs until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, then stir in all-purpose flour to create a light roux.

3. Step 3: Pour in dry white wine and allow it to simmer briefly, then add chicken stock, salt, and pepper. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan to incorporate their flavorful goodness into the sauce.

4. Step 4: Return the seared chicken to the pan and let it gently simmer in the sauce until tender. Finish the sauce with a swirl of heavy cream and a sprinkle of fresh parsley before serving.

Essential Tips for Perfect Chicken Fricassee

• Dry the chicken: Pat the chicken thoroughly dry with paper towels before searing to ensure a deep golden crust, rather than steaming it.
• Don’t rush the onions: Allow the onions to cook slowly over low heat until they become soft, translucent, and sweet. This will create a more flavorful sauce.
• Scrape the pan: Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan when you add the white wine and chicken stock. These flavorful morsels will enhance the depth of the sauce.
• Gentle simmer: Maintain a gentle simmer, with just small bubbles, to ensure the chicken becomes tender rather than tough.
• Taste and adjust: Always taste the sauce before adding the cream and again after. Adjust the salt and pepper to your liking at the very end.
• Thicken the sauce: If the sauce appears too thin, simmer it uncovered for a few minutes to allow it to reduce and thicken before adding the cream.
• Presentation matters: For a restaurant-style presentation, slice the chicken before serving and spoon the creamy sauce generously over the top.
• Serve with sides: Serve Chicken Fricassee with mashed potatoes, buttered pasta, or rice to soak up every last drop of the delectable white wine cream sauce.

Did you make this delicious recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen on Instagram! I love seeing your culinary creations and regularly share the most beautiful photos. Did you enjoy this recipe? Please leave a rating on the recipe card! Your feedback is invaluable to other home cooks and me.

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Chicken Fricassee With White Wine Cream

Andréa