My mother made croquettes as I was growing up, and I learned how to make them from watching and helping her in the kitchen.

Old-Fashioned Food With Flair

Croquettes are small, round foods usually made of minced meat, fish, or vegetables coated with egg and breadcrumbs and then deep-fried. They are commonly served with a cream or tomato sauce, but they are equally good plain.

Do you know how to say "croquette"?

My mother made these as I was growing up, and I learned how to make them from watching and helping her in the kitchen.

My favorite type of croquette is a chicken one, and here I'll show you how to make them. Made from ordinary ingredients you normally have on hand, these tasty morsels will get rave reviews from your family!

If you have kids who aren't fond of vegetables, croquettes are good for being sneaky. You can finely chop almost any vegetable and hide it inside—carrots, mushrooms, or peppers, for example. Use about a half a cup. You can see I put celery into my recipe!

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 1/2 cup celery, chopped
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1 cup (or can) cream of mushroom soup (or try the homemade recipe below if you have the time!)
• 2 1/2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs

For the coating:

• 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs:
• 2 eggs, beaten

For frying:

• Cooking oil

Instructions

1. Sauté the onion and celery with a bit of water to soften.
2. Mix all of the filling ingredients (I use my hands). It should cling together but not be too sticky.
3. Form meatball-sized balls or logs.
4. Dip each croquette into the beaten egg; then roll it in bread crumbs.
5. Fry the croquettes in hot oil. For a healthier version you can bake the croquettes for 20 minutes. Of course, the traditional way of making croquettes is to fry them and they are so very satisfying fried!

If baking:
If I bake them, I make a gravy or use more mushroom soup to top them off. If you're frying, then they usually don't need any sauce.

Breadcrumb Tip

This is a great recipe for using up breadcrumbs since it takes several cups worth. Whenever your bread is stale, just crumble it by hand or in a food processor and store it in the freezer in a plastic bag until you want to make croquettes.

Croquette: Why the Strange Name?

"Croquette" comes from the French word croquer, meaning to crunch. Say it out loud. Doesn't it sound a bit like the sound of biting into something crispy?

Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup

I make homemade cream of mushroom soup. It's not as difficult as you might think, and I love that it's free from all the chemicals used in processed soups. Once you taste the flavor of homemade, you will become a convert and never go back to canned again. Homemade soup tastes rich and slightly sweet. Canned soup only tastes salty in comparison.

This recipe will make two cups, enough for the croquettes and some leftover for sauce.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons finely minced onion
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 6 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup chicken stock

Instructions

1. Sauté the onions and mushrooms until soft and set aside.
2. Melt the butter in a pan and add flour and salt, whisking constantly. When mixed and bubbly, slowly pour in the milk and stock and continue whisking.
3. Simmer until thick, then add the mushrooms and onions.

More With Less

The recipe for cream of mushroom soup is actually "basic white sauce" (plus mushrooms) from the More-With-Less Cookbook. This particular recipe features four variations, depending on the thickness you desire: thin, medium, medium-thick, or thick. What I shared with you is a double portion of the medium-thick to resemble canned, condensed soup. (But oh, so much better!)

Chicken Croquettes Guestbook

Robin Watkin on June 05, 2020:

Very delicious....thank you for the great recipe never made any croquettes before can't wait to eat them again

Carmen on January 30, 2019:

Can I print recipe

Lisa Diliberto on October 27, 2017:

Can you freeze chicken croquettes before they are fried?

Charito Maranan-Montecillo from Manila, Philippines on September 20, 2014:

I love potato croquettes, but your recipe looks yummy! I'd like to try it some time.

Angela Hobbs from The TARDIS on September 23, 2013:

yum, I just found these tasty things last month, sounds good

Meganhere on August 04, 2013:

I've never tried chicken croquettes. I always make salmon. Will try this.

James Jordan from Burbank, CA on May 18, 2013:

ooooo I want to make some now!

Alana-r on October 20, 2012:

Really nice recipes, must give the mushroom soup a try, thanks for sharing.

kevkev227 lm on July 12, 2012:

I had a Spanish friend that used to make these all the time for parties and everyone loved them. His recipe called for making a bechamel...the mushroom soup idea sounds great too. I may have to attempt this :)

mindlessnin on June 30, 2012:

i have to try this soon!it's making me hungry just by looking at them...

JohnMichael2 on December 25, 2011:

wow two recipes in one lens -- a nice surprise with the mushroom soup -- wish you'd use the recipe gadget / module so it could be printed

sulemankhan on October 27, 2011:

Ummm....Yummy....I'm so hungry right now and there's nothing in my fridge...haven't got time to do any shopping lately. Gotta try this recipe soon though. Looks very tasty.

BubblesRFun on May 18, 2011:

Can't wait to try.....Thanks for sharing:)

MarkFashionista on April 04, 2011:

Yummy! These look delicious... I need to make these pretty soon, thanks for sharing :)

Violin-Student on March 25, 2011:

I haven't made these in forever! I'm going to have to add them to my to-do list. Thanks for the inspiration.

clouda9 lm on March 17, 2011:

Back in to say...May the luck of the Irish be with you today...*blessed and featured on http://www.squidoo.com/my-angel-wings :*

anonymous on March 15, 2011:

I just may have to try this, looks good to me.

anonymous on January 14, 2011:

Yummy! Awesome lens and recipe!

Cynthia Sylvestermouse from United States on September 13, 2010:

These look delicious! They look like they would be great as an appetizer or a main dish. Most Excellent!

SpellOutloud on November 30, 2009:

Oh this looks so yummy! I also like that you posted the homemade cream of mushroom soup recipe. I'm going to try that. Lensrolled it :)

justholidays on June 17, 2009:

Croquettes, whether chicken, potato, prawns, cheese, etc. are still a starter in some family gatherings here in Western Europe and especially in Belgium where they are appreciated a lot :)

ElizabethJeanAl on June 16, 2009:

Yum! You're making me hungry.

Thanks for sharing and thanks for the blessing. I appreciate it.

Lizzy

Joan4 on June 14, 2009:

Yummy and the pdf is a great idea and super convenience! Thank you!

Sandy Mertens from Frozen Tundra on June 09, 2009:

Yummy! I will have to download the recipe. This really looks good.

Tony Payne from Southampton, UK on June 08, 2009:

Wonderful lens, I love croquettes too. 5*****

Patricia on June 05, 2009:

It looks delicious!

anonymous on June 05, 2009:

These look yummy Jimmie and including a downloadable pdf is a touch of genius. OMG (that's Oh My Gosh) - you've just been Blessed by an Angel!

Terry Boroff (flipflopnana) from FL on June 04, 2009:

I have never made these but they do sound good. Thanks for making it so easy to print the recipe, I love that feature!

julieannbrady on June 04, 2009:

OK now you're talking! Something I can truly sink my teeth into -- that would be a chicken croquette. These look mighty yummy and I'd be sneaking in plenty a chopped vegie for hubby too. Thank you for making this look so good. And like that downloadable PDF of the recipe.

Kiwisoutback from Massachusetts on June 04, 2009:

I've never had these, but I can tell by the ingredients that I'd like them. Great work! Squid Angel blessed.

KimGiancaterino on May 24, 2009:

Beautiful job... I also like to make homemade mushroom soup, and I'll try your recipe next time. Squid Angel Blessings to you.

squid-janices7 on May 17, 2009:

Love this lens! You've used so many creative tools that I hadn't thought of using on lenses like the downloadable recipe PDF and the link to the pronunciation of Croquette (I should add the pronunciation of Giverny to my Monet lens because no one knows how to say that word). Great photos and tips. I've had several different croquettes in Europe, but I've never made them at home. These sound delicious! 5*

Debbie from England on May 16, 2009:

These sound yummy! Lensrolled and featured on http://www.squidoo.com/saucepans

Deb Kingsbury from Flagstaff, Arizona on May 14, 2009:

I've heard the word "croquette" before but honestly never knew what it meant ... till now. Looks yummy! So ... what time is dinner?

Nancy Tate Hellams from Pendleton, SC on May 07, 2009:

we make Salmon Croquettes but I have never had the chicken ones. Sounds wonderful

ctavias0ffering1 on May 07, 2009:

This looks so good I must give it a try 5*

Heather Burns from Wexford, Ireland on May 06, 2009:

beautiful lens!