This Chicken Cassoulet with Sausage is my easy take on a French classic.
Juicy chicken thighs and tasty sausages are cooked in a tomato and bean sauce, topped with a crispy breadcrumb topping....
This delicious, no fuss meal is ready in 30 minutes and is so hearty and satisfying you can serve it straight from the pan on its own.
What is a Cassoulet?
Cassoulet is a French dish based on white beans, which are very popular in the French diet.
It is not uncommon to see vast sacks for sale in supermarkets and markets where the beans are still in their shell. In my region, on the Vendée border, 'mogettes' were a favourite local variety, but I often bought the more economical 'haricot blanc' or 'coco' beans.
The English name is navy bean, which is smaller than a cannellini bean, and native to America.
For a traditional Cassoulet, named for the dish it is cooked in, haricot blancs are favoured. The dish originated in Southern France, notably Toulouse, Carcasonne and Castelnaudry and each area has its particular version which they claim to be the best.
It is normally a slow cooked dish which could include goose, duck, belly pork, lamb and thick sausages cooked in a rich tomato sauce with the beans. It was finished off with a layer of breadcrumbs, presumably to soak up the huge amount of fat the dish generates. The crusty layer is then pushed into the sauce and left to cook further before repeating the process up to six times in some recipes!
Here is my version, with a few changes along the way. The changes mean that you can still enjoy this dish with minimal time cooking and using everyday ingredients.
What are the ingredients?
I've used chicken thighs as they are readily available, economical and have great taste.
For the sausages I do prefer to use a Toulouse style sausage. These sausages are substantial, chunky and full of garlic and herbs. However, any good quality pork sausage will work well.
For the beans you can use any tinned white bean that is available. I often used to buy dried beans to save money but these do require soaking in water overnight before boiling for at least 40 minutes, so be sure to follow the pack instructions.
How to make Chicken Cassoulet with Sausage
Start by trimming the chicken thighs of any excess fat and place skin side down in a large frying pan or skillet with the onions.
Brown the chicken over a medium heat for about 7 minutes before turning over. This gives the skin a good colour and allows the chicken fat to render down and cook the onions.
Turn over the chicken and cook for a few minutes with the garlic then turn the chicken over.
If you have space in the pan brown the sausages in the same pan. I often cook them in a separate pan and discard the fat as some sausages are very greasy.
At this point tip in a can of chopped tomatoes and 2 tins of drained cannellini beans around the chicken.
Put a lid on the dish and cook for another 10 minutes. Remove the lid and scatter on the breadcrumbs. I just blitz a few slices of bread for this.
Place the dish under the grill for 5-10 minutes until golden and crispy.
It's time to grab a spoon and dive right under that crust!
I'd love to know if you make this dish. Please let me know what you think in the comments.
What do you serve with this dish?
In my version there is still a high amount of protein and carbohydrate in this dish. You could serve it on its own or with some steamed vegetables. Traditionally it was eaten with bread to mop up the juices but today a green salad will make it more of a balanced meal.
How do I lower the calories in this dish?
It's easy to remove the skin from chicken thighs simply by pulling it off. You could also use chicken breast but I would suggest cutting the breast into strips to make cooking easier. Leave out the sausages or use a low-fat version.
How can I make this dish suitable for vegans or vegetarians?
Simply skip the meat and start by frying the onion before adding leftover roasted vegetables or a selection of raw vegetables such as carrots, mushrooms, peppers or courgettes. Just make sure that harder vegetables are cut smaller or added first to ensure they are cooked.
How can I customise this dish?
You can use chicken breast instead but I normally cut in 3 lengthways to ensure even cooking. You may need to add a little oil.
Why not try some Chorizo or other spicy sausage too? Slices of belly pork or shoulder chops would also work.
More importantly, this is the perfect dish when you have leftover roast meat or barbecue meat.
If you really want to make it easy just use a couple of cans of baked beans!
More sausage and chicken ideas
📋 Recipe
Chicken Cassoulet with Sausage
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs skin on, trimmed
- 6 Toulouse sausages
- 2 400g tins cannellini beans
- 1 onion sliced
- 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
- seasoning
- 4 slices bread blitzed into breadcrumbs
Instructions
- In a large frying pan place the chicken (skin side down), sausages and onions. Cook over a medium heat for around 10 minutes so that the skin is golden and the sausages are browned.
- Add the garlic to the pan for a minutes then stir in the tomatoes, beans, herbs and seasoning. Cook for another 10 minutes with the lid on.
- Remove the lid and sprinkle on the breadcrumbs. Bake in the oven at 180 C for 10 minutes until crisp and golden on the top.
Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
Detailed instructions for this recipe, including step by step photographs, hints and tips, can be found in the main article.
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Amanda
Hi Steve. That food challenge sounds like great fun and I'm really delighted that you picked French food and my recipes! I really appreciate your lovely comments. Cassoulet is a very filling dish but perfect for the cold weather and it's freezing here. Thanks again, Amanda
Steve
So, in these strange lock-down times we have a family challenge going on. Each week one of us are allocated a continent and have to prepare a meal from somewhere in that area. This week I got Europe and choose French food.
I made a starter of Onion Soup, followed by chicken and sausage casolette. The instructions were brilliant and my family loved the food.
We were too stuffed for the afters (cherry clafoutis), which will now be tomorrow's desert.
Awesome site Amanda, thank you so much!
Steve
Amanda
Thanks Sheryl. It's so good on a weeknight.
Sheryl
This sounds like a perfect dish - tasty and easy to make.
Amanda
Thanks Corina. It's a firm favourite in our house.
Corina Blum
I think cassoulets are the perfect comfort food and I especially love the the slightly crunchy topping. I'd love to try your recipe.
Amanda
Thanks Adrianne. The crunchy topping adds a great texture to the dish.
Amanda
Thanks Beth. It's a proper hearty filling dish and great for feeding hungry people!
Amanda
Thanks Brian. I think white beans are very underused and perfect for comfort food.
Amanda
Thanks Julie. It's great for feeding hungry families.
Amanda
Thanks June. That's really kind of you! I'll look forward to your post.
June de Silva
Me again! Just to say I am nominating you for a Sunshine Blogger Award - unless you have received it already. All details in my next post.
Julie
What a tasty casserole! I love all the flavors in this for a cozy meal at home.
Brian Jones
That looks so very good, I love cassoulet, comfort food classics are always my favourites!
Adrianne
This looks like comfort food at its finest!! What a great dish for the whole family and I love the crunchy topping. Yum, will have to give it a go, cheers!
Beth Neels
I have never had a cassoulet before but this looks so delicious, I want to make it right now! Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!
Amanda
Thanks Beth. It's proper comfort food.
Beth
This looks so tasty and with your step by step instructions I'm confident I can pull this off! Delish!
Amanda
Thanks Ashley. The original version is delicious but heavy on the cooking time so this is a great compromise.
Amanda
Thanks Kathi. Some French food needs to be simple!
Ashley @ Sweetpea Lifestyle
Thank you for sharing this easy to make on a busy week night version of cassoulet! Yum!!
Kathi
Loving the simple ingredients and easy prep for this Cassoulet! I think I can do this!
Amanda
Thanks Nicolas. It's very much a comfort food that feeds a crowd and as it's not very springlike here in Lincolnshire right now it's a good dish to have!
Nicolas Hortense
Omg I don't think I have ever tried making Cassoulet so this is very inspiring!!! This is comfort food at it's finest! (:
Amanda
Thanks Kim. These easier version is great for weeknights.
Amanda
Thanks Megala. We eat a lot of vegetarian food too. Next recipe up is Hollandaise sauce with asparagus.
Amanda
Thanks Karen. I love the original version but not so economical or easy to do during the week as this one and less fat too.
Amanda
Thanks June. I know it's such a sensitive recipe but I had to revamp it for a weeknight dinner!
kim
Such a delicious recipe! So easy and tasty!
Megala
Great post! I need to learn the art of writing recipes from you. 🙂 Being a vegetarian I would like to try with vegetables as suggested by you.
Karen (Back Road Journal)
I do like your shortened and easier version of cassoulet, it is very approachable. I've had this dish in Carcassonne and Rocamadour made with duck and sausage that were both very rich and heavy. I think I would prefer your cassoulet. 🙂
June de Silva
Having a home in Castelnaudary, I like to think I'm a cassoulet expert. Expert at eating it, that is! I love your version which I will definitely try.