The celebrity chef has shared her ‘simple but tasty’ chicken casserole recipe that’s perfect for feeding the whole family – and it only takes 55 minutes to make
Keep cosy in the biting winter weather with a quick and easy, hearty casserole.
National treasure Mary Berry has shared an ideal recipe that’s perfect for feeding the family without spending hours in the kitchen. The celebrity chef describes her ‘simple but tasty’ chicken casserole as a dish you’ll ‘come back to again and again’, and it’s not hard to see why.
If you choose chicken breast over thigh, you can shave 20 minutes off the cooking time. And yes, there is alcohol in this recipe, but rest assured – the alcohol will evaporate during cooking.
Mary Berry’s comforting chicken casserole recipe
Ingredients (Serves 4-6)
- Button mushrooms, sliced (400g)
- Chopped tomatoes (400g)
- Plain flour (25g)
- White wine (300ml)
- 8 Chicken thighs on the bone (skin removed)
- 6 smoked streaky bacon rashers, thinly sliced
- 2 onions, thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 tbsp muscovado sugar
- 1 tbsp chopped thyme leaves
- Salt and pepper to season
Method
- Preheat your oven to 160 degrees Celsius (140C Fan/ Gas Mark 3) then heat one tablespoon of oil in a large casserole dish.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper then add to pan. Brown over high heat for two to three minutes on each side (until golden) and then cover with foil and set aside.
- To the pan, add the bacon and onions and fry until the meat is crispy (should take around three to four minutes). Add the garlic and fry for a further 30 seconds.
- In a bowl, add the flour then pour in the wine little by little and whisk into a paste. Add the mixture to the pan with the tomatoes and sugar – making sure to stir well. Bring to the boil then add the chicken back in and cover with the lid.
- Cook in the oven for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in the pan and fry the mushrooms for 3-4 minutes. When the casserole is done, add the mushrooms and stir in the thyme.
A classic winter warmer that you can rustle up in less than an hour. This dish pairs wonderfully with a generous helping of mashed potato and some green vegetables.
You can even prepare the casserole up to two days in advance and simply reheat it when you’re ready to serve.