Smells Like Sunday Chicken Fricassee with Meatballs

There's nothing quite like the smell of a home-cooked meal wafting through the air on a Sunday afternoon. And if that meal happens to be chicken fricassee with meatballs, then you're in for a real treat.

Chicken fricassee is a classic dish that has been enjoyed for generations. It's a hearty and comforting meal that is perfect for a cold winter day. The chicken is cooked in a rich and flavorful sauce, and the meatballs add a bit of extra protein and flavor.

This recipe is easy to follow and can be made in just a few simple steps. The hardest part is waiting for the chicken to cook!

Ingredients

• 1 (3-pound) chicken, cut into 8 pieces

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 carrots, chopped

• 2 celery stalks, chopped

• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained

• 1 (10.75 ounce) can tomato soup

• 1 cup chicken broth

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 pound ground beef

• 1/2 cup bread crumbs

• 1 egg, beaten

• 1/4 cup milk

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned on all sides. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside.

2. Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato soup, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.

3. While the sauce is simmering, make the meatballs. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, milk, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine. Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs.

4. Add the meatballs to the simmering sauce and cook for an additional 30 minutes, or until the chicken and meatballs are cooked through.

5. Serve hot over rice or noodles.

Tips

• For a richer flavor, use homemade chicken broth instead of store-bought.

• If you don't have thyme, you can substitute another herb like rosemary or oregano.

• If you don't have bread crumbs, you can use cracker crumbs or even oats.

• To make the meatballs even more flavorful, you can add some grated Parmesan cheese or chopped parsley to the mixture.

Enjoy!

Chicken fricassee with meatballs is a delicious and comforting dish that is perfect for a cold winter day. It's easy to make and can be customized to your liking. So gather your ingredients and get cooking!