Crockpot Chicken Fricassee Recipe

Julianne De Witt

January 28, 2024 at 11:45 AM·7 min read

Chicken fricassee on a platter - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

If chicken fricassee sounds a little old-fashioned to you, you're not wrong. It's a classic French stew that dates back to the medieval era, and it's been said that chicken fricassee was a favorite of President Abraham Lincoln. If the words "traditional" and "French" in a recipe scare you off, however, don't be alarmed! This Crockpot chicken fricassee recipe from recipe developer and chef Julianne De Witt is straightforward and does not require any advanced cooking skills. If you want a dinner recipe for a night when you need to multitask, remember that you don't need to watch the Crockpot once you've closed the lid.

If you do have some experience with French cooking, you might be surprised to see a beurre manié and not a roux in this recipe. "Beurre manié is essentially an uncooked roux," De Witt says. "Made with equal parts softened butter and flour, it's the perfect thickener for the Crockpot."

Gather Your Ingredients For Crockpot Chicken Fricassee

Chicken frickasee ingredients - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

To make this Crockpot chicken fricassee, you'll need avocado oil, diced onion, carrots, celery, garlic, assorted mushrooms, chicken stock, white wine, fresh thyme, softened butter, heavy cream, all-purpose flour, salt, fresh ground black pepper, frozen pearl onions, and bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs.

Step 1: Heat The Oil

Avocado oil in a sauté pan - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Place the avocado oil in a saute pan over high heat.

Step 2: Season The Chicken Thighs

Salt and pepper being poured over chicken thighs - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Season chicken thighs with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.

Step 3: Sear The Chicken

Chicken thighs in a sauté pan - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Working in batches, sear the chicken on both sides until browned, approximately 2 minutes per side.

Step 4: Move The Chicken

Browned chicken in a sauté pan - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Once browned, add the chicken to a Crockpot.

Step 5: Saute The Vegetables

Vegetables in a pan - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Add onions, carrots, celery, and garlic to the same pan you cooked the chicken in and saute for 2 minutes.

Step 6: Add The Mushrooms

Mushrooms being added to a pan full of other vegetables - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Add mushrooms and cook for 1 minute.

Step 7: Switch Over To The Crockpot

Vegetables and chicken in a crock pot - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Add the contents of the saute pan to the Crockpot.

Step 8: Add The Liquid

Mixture in a crockpot - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Next, pour in chicken stock and white wine.

Step 9: Add Herbs

Chicken fricassee in slow cooker - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Add thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Stir.

Step 10: Cook The Chicken Fricassee

Crock pot set to high - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Cook on high for 2 hours 30 minutes.

Step 11: Make A Beurre Manié

Butter and flour in white bowl - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

While the chicken cooks, create a beurre manié by combining the softened butter and flour together to form a paste.

Step 12: Remove The Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs being removed from a crock pot - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

After cooking, remove the chicken thighs from the Crockpot and set aside.

Step 13: Add The Beurre Manié

Chicken fricassee in slow cooker with beurre manié whisked in - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Add the beurre manié to the Crockpot and whisk.

Step 14: Add The Heavy Cream

Heavy cream being added to crock pot - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Add heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Step 15: Add The Chicken And The Pearl Onions

Chicken thighs and pearl onions in crock pot - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Return the chicken to the Crockpot and add the pearl onions.

Step 16: Cook On Low

Crock pot set to low - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Stir, cover, and cook on low for 30 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and the chicken has reached a minimum of 165 F.

Step 17: Garnish And Serve

Finished chicken fricassee garnished with parsley - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Garnish with minced parsley to serve.

What Should You Serve With This Crockpot Chicken Fricassee?

Chicken fricassee served with mashed potatoes - Julianne De Witt/Tasting Table

Chicken fricassee is a hearty, comforting dish, and De Witt recommends serving this recipe with hearty, comforting sides. "I like to serve chicken fricassee with mashed potatoes, steamed green beans, and some crusty bread for soaking up all the delicious sauce," De Witt says. She also notes that this Crockpot chicken fricassee is a great dinner option during the colder months of the year.

This Crockpot chicken fricassee should last 3–4 days in the refrigerator, and, according to De Witt, should taste even better after one day in the fridge. You can also keep this dish in the freezer for up to 3 months. As with any frozen dish that involves chicken and liquid, be mindful about how you thaw and reheat. "Reheat by thawing in the fridge and then reheating gently in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally," De Witt says.

Why Should You Use Bone-In Chicken Thighs When Making This Crockpot Chicken Fricassee?

Chicken fricassee is traditionally made with a whole chicken. In fact, this dish became popular in the South during the Great Depression because a single chicken in a stew could feed a large family. In this recipe, however, De Witt uses bone-in chicken thighs. "Traditionally, fricassee is made from a whole chicken cut into pieces, but I use chicken thighs here to save time," De Witt says. "I recommend using bone-in chicken for the flavor. You could substitute boneless chicken thighs, but watch the cooking time, as boneless meat tends to fall apart if cooked too long in the Crockpot."

De Witt uses another time-saver ingredient in this recipe: frozen pearl onions. "Fresh pearl onions can be used instead, but they'll take longer to cook," De Witt says. If you do use fresh pearl onions, add them to the Crockpot once you begin cooking and not at the end, as is written in the recipe.