Description

This Homemade Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender chicken thighs slow-cooked with vegetables, bacon, and a creamy, flavorful sauce enriched with mustard, thyme, and creme fraiche. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or meal prep, it combines rustic ingredients for a satisfying casserole that requires minimal hands-on time.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Protein

2.2 lb chicken thighs
7 oz bacon

Vegetables

2 onions
3 celery stalks
1.1 lb carrots

Dry Ingredients

2.5 oz flour
2 tsp thyme
1 tsp garlic powder
salt to taste
black pepper to taste

Liquids and Condiments

1.5 cups chicken stock
2 tbsp mustard
4 tbsp creme fraiche

Herbs

3 tbsp parsley

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Instructions

Prepare ingredients: Peel and chop the onions, celery stalks, and carrots into bite-sized pieces. Cut the bacon into small strips. Trim any excess fat from the chicken thighs if desired.
Brown the bacon (optional): For added flavor, you can quickly fry the bacon in a pan until crispy and then set aside. This step can be skipped if you prefer to cook everything in the slow cooker directly.
Add ingredients to the slow cooker: Place the chicken thighs at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the chopped onions, celery, carrots, and bacon on top. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the ingredients to help thicken the sauce.
Mix seasonings and liquids: In a separate bowl, combine the chicken stock, mustard, thyme, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Whisk well until smooth.
Pour sauce over the ingredients: Pour the seasoned chicken stock mixture evenly over the chicken and vegetables in the slow cooker.
Cook the casserole: Cover and cook on low heat for 4 hours, or until the chicken is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
Finish with creme fraiche and parsley: About 10 minutes before serving, stir in the creme fraiche until fully blended for a creamy finish. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve the casserole hot as a hearty main dish, optionally paired with bread or rice.

Notes

You can substitute chicken thighs with bone-in or boneless chicken breasts if preferred; cooking time may vary.
For a richer flavor, brown the chicken thighs in a skillet before adding them to the slow cooker.
If you want a thicker sauce, you can stir in an additional tablespoon of flour near the end of cooking and cook uncovered for 15 minutes.
Adding mushrooms or peas can add extra vegetables and texture to this casserole.
If creme fraiche is unavailable, sour cream or Greek yogurt can be used as alternatives.