Chicken Casserole Recipe

Is there anything more satisfying than a classic chicken casserole? Whether you’re looking for something to warm you up on a winter’s evening or something to look forward to at the weekend, this casserole recipe is an absolute classic and will be loved by the whole family.

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Ingredients

• 1tbsp olive oil
• 25g unsalted butter
• 8 chicken thighs, skin on, bone in
• 2tbsp plain flour
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced into 2.5cm lengths
• 3 medium leeks, washed and cut into 2.5cm lengths
• 12 baby turnips, tops trimmed
• 1tsp thyme leaves, chopped
• 200ml rich Madeira
• 500ml chicken stock
• 1tbsp flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

For the dumplings

• 100g self-raising flour
• 50g light Atora suet
• 1dsp vegetable oil
• 1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
• 50g chestnut mushrooms, chopped
• 1tsp thyme leaves, chopped

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C, 160 C fan, 300 F, gas 4. Heat the oil and butter in a casserole dish. Dust the chicken thighs with the flour and fry skin-side down until golden brown. Add the remaining ingredients (apart from the parsley), bring to the boil, place a lid on top and bake for 25 minutes.

2. To make the dumplings, sift the flour into a bowl, add the suet and season. Heat the oil in a frying pan. When hot add the onion and garlic, and fry until golden brown. Add the mushrooms and thyme, and cook until the mixture is dry. Add the mixture to the flour, stir well and add enough cold water to make an elastic dough that leaves the sides of the bowl clean. Shape into 4 balls.

3. Remove the casserole from the oven and increase the heat to 200 C, 180 C fan, 400 F, gas 6. If the gravy seems thin, then mix 1tsp cornflour with a little cold water, add to the casserole and stir. Place the dumplings on top of the casserole and return to the oven for 20 minutes. Scatter the parsley over and serve.