Description
Chicken Normandy is a cozy, French-inspired fall dinner featuring golden-browned chicken thighs simmered in apple cider, cream, and sautéed apples. The result is a sweet-savory masterpiece that captures the warmth of autumn in every bite — perfect for family dinners, holiday gatherings, or elegant weeknight meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.7 lbs / 800g)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 apples, peeled and sliced (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn)
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 200g (7 oz) mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup (250ml) apple cider (non-alcoholic)
- 1/3 cup (100ml) chicken stock
- 1/3 cup (100ml) heavy cream
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Season & Sear Chicken: Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat butter and olive oil. Sear chicken skin-side down until golden, about 6–7 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same pan, cook onions until soft. Add garlic and mushrooms, sauté for 4 minutes. Add apple slices and cook lightly until caramelized.
- Deglaze & Simmer: Pour in apple cider, scraping the bottom. Add chicken stock and thyme. Return chicken to the pan, cover, and simmer 25–30 minutes.
- Add Cream: Stir in heavy cream and simmer uncovered for 5–7 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley and serve warm with mashed potatoes, rice, or roasted vegetables.
Notes
- Use firm apples: Avoid soft varieties like Red Delicious — Granny Smith or Honeycrisp hold shape best.
- Don’t skip searing: It creates a deep, flavorful base for the sauce.
- Use dry apple cider: Balances the sweetness of apples and cream.
- Add cream last: To prevent curdling and keep the sauce silky.
- Perfect pairings: Mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, or crusty bread.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Stovetop, Braised
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 160mg
Keywords: Chicken Normandy, Cider Chicken, French Chicken Recipe, Apple Cider Chicken, Fall Dinner, Creamy Chicken Recipe, Chicken and Apples, Comfort Food, Cozy Dinner, Autumn Recipes