Nothing beats a one-pot meal to satisfy your comfort food cravings easily, and a chicken casserole certainly hits the mark.

Phil Bianchi, food and flavour expert and founder of The Gift of Oil, has a recipe he’s certain will please the whole family and nourish them, too.

Describing his dish as “a comforting and a great alternative to a roast dinner”, Phil assured fans of traditional Sunday lunch that it has “lots of the same ingredients and flavour” – perfect for when the temperature drops.

The flavour expert said: “If you have a slow cooker, it’s even better and easier to pop all the ingredients in and let it simmer away while you get on with the day. It’s a simple recipe full of flavour and healthy vegetables, but using extra virgin olive oil, packed with polyphenols, makes the dish even healthier.”

He added: “By adding a drizzle of the infused rosemary and garlic olive oil with the caramelised onion balsamic, it gives the dish an extra twist and enhances the flavours, creating a chef-approved dish from the comfort of your home.”

Method

Phil’s use of infused oils and balsamic vinegar is a speedy “cheat” to unlock this casserole’s maximum flavour potential in an otherwise simple dish.

In a large pan, warm the Sicilian olive oil on medium heat. In batches, add the chicken and cook for three to four minutes or until browned, turning once. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

“Add the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic to the pan. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring, for eight to 10 minutes or until the vegetables are softened.

Add the Caramelised onion balsamic and stir with a wooden spoon to release the browned bits from the pan. Add the wine and cook until the liquid has almost evaporated. Stir in flour and cook for two minutes.

Pour in the chicken stock, add the potatoes, tomato, oregano, salt, and pepper, and stir well. Return the chicken to the pan. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked and the potatoes and vegetables are tender.

Phil said, “Divide the casserole into serving bowls and dress each one with a generous drizzle of Rosemary and garlic olive oil and Caramelised onion balsamic. Serve with crusty bread!”

Follow with this hearty Bramley apple pie recipe for a truly British meal.