Quick Chicken Casssoulet

This is an easy to assemble recipe that makes enough hearty cassoulet to feed a crowd -- or to freeze half. It came from a grocery store website that credits "Christmas 101" by Rick Rodgers. Use turkey italian sausage to keep it lean. I save a step by using seasoned breadcrumbs and eliminating the parsley.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• 3  lbs chicken thighs, boneless and skinless, well-trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2  tablespoons canola oil, divided
• 1  tablespoon  Italian herb seasoning
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1  cup white wine
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juices
• 1 1⁄2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1  bay leaf
• 1 1⁄2 lbs italian sweet sausage, casings removed
• 2  onions, chopped
• 1  red bell pepper, chopped
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 4 (15 ounce) cans white kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1⁄2 cup  dried breadcrumbs
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped parsley

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. In very large skillet or Dutch oven, warm 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. In batches without crowding, cook chicken thigh pieces, turning, until browned lightly on all sides, about 15 minutes total.
3. Sprinkle chicken with Italian herbs, salt and pepper.
4. Add wine; bring to a boil, scraping up browned bits on the bottom of pan with a wooden spoon.
5. Add tomatoes with their juices, broth and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer.
6. In another large skillet, heat remaining tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking up pieces with side of large spoon, about 8 minutes. Add onions, pepper and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, about 6 minutes.
7. Stir into chicken mixture, along with beans.
8. In small bowl, combine bread crumbs and parsley. Sprinkle over top of cassoulet.
9. Bake in preheated oven 30 minutes. Using large spoon, gently press the thin crust that has formed on the cassoulet just under the surface.
10. Return to oven and continue baking until cassoulet is simmering and another crust has formed, about 30 minutes.
11. Let stand 15 minutes before serving hot.