Chicken and sausage casserole is a wonderful dish for your dinner table. Combining chicken, sausage, and beans with vegetables and a little wine. This takes a little preparation, but it is so worth it. This is an Americanized version of cassoulet. This dish reheats well for the next few days. Served with a salad and some fresh bread or rolls is a great way to enjoy dinner when the weather turns chilly. This recipe substitutes chicken for duck. Most of the ducks that I find are frozen. You will appreciate the lower fat content in the dish.

History

Cassoulet is a hearty stew of white beans, pork, sausage, and preserved duck or goose that originated in the Languedoc region of southwestern France, most famously in the town of Castelnaudary. The towns of Carcassonne and Toulouse each maintain rival versions. According to a well-known legend, the dish was invented in 1355 during the Hundred Years’ War, when the besieged people of Castelnaudary pooled their remaining provisions into a single pot to feed their soldiers. These well-fed soldiers were able to drive out the English. In medieval times, the dish was known as an estouffat or estofat, a slow-cooked stew of mutton and broad beans possibly influenced by Middle Eastern cooking; the New World white bean only became the principal ingredient after it arrived in France in the 16th century. The name “cassoulet,” dating from no earlier than the 19th century, is a diminutive of the Languedoc cassole; the conical glazed earthenware pot traditionally made in Issel near Castelnaudary, from which the dish took its name.

Beans

For this recipe I use great northern beans. These beans mash well. I prefer to canned beans, if you prefer fresh, no problem.

Sausage

I prefer mild Italian sausage, which is what is in this recipe. Many enjoy using a spicy French sausage called: Andouille sausage. Feel free to use your favorite sausage.

What can I serve with cassoulet?

I have a bread recipe you can make here:

I have a biscuit recipe here:

Chicken and Sausage Casserole

A casserole with sautéed chicken and sausage with beans. French: Cassoulet

Print Recipe

Prep Time 40

Cook Time 30

Total Time 1 10

Servings: 4 people

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: French

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts
1 pound Italian sausage, mild
2 slices of bread
1 Tablespoon butter for bread
1 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup onion/ shallot diced
1 cup carrot, diced
1 cup diced bell pepper
1 can of great northern beans, 15 ounce
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 ounces dry white wine
1/4 cup juices from boiling the sausage
1 plumb tomato, diced
1 1/2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
2 tsp tomato paste
3 Tablespoon olive oil
2-3 ounces grated cheese

Equipment

1 1- 1 1/2 quart pot with lid
1 Set of measuring spoons
1 set of measuring cups
1 Cutting board
1 casserole baking dish
1 Kitchen knife
2 Small Bowl
1 frypan, 12 inch
1 spatula for frypan

Method

Boil sausage for 15 minutes, set aside to cool.
Cut up sausage into rounds. Set aside.
Dice up vegetables. Set aside.
Dice up the tomatoes. Set aside.
Cut up chicken. Set aside.
In a 12 inch frypan, sauté chicken in olive oil until golden brown. Set aside.
Deglaze frypan with, carrots, celery, bell pepper and shallots.
Reintroduce the cooked chicken and sausage into frypan. Add wine, 1/2 cup of sausage juice from pot, rosemary, tomato paste, tomatoes, garlic and chicken bouillon. Mix well. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Open can of great northern beans and reserve 1/4 of the can. Mash the remaining beans in a bowl.
Add mashed beans to frypan and mix well.
Butter two slices of bread.
Add 1/2 the pieces of buttered bread to the bottom of the baking dish.
Pour chicken, sausage, bean mixture on top of bread in baking dish.
Add bread pieces to top of chicken sausage mixture.
Add reserved beans and grated cheese to top of chicken and sausage mixture.

For a double recipe, use a 13 x 9 inch baking dish. This is what I used for this example.

AMAZON Disclosure= As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There may be posts which contain affiliate links and I may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.