Description
Delicious Apple Cider Braised Chicken Thighs featuring tender chicken braised in a flavorful apple cider and herb sauce with caramelized onions and fresh apple wedges for a perfect balance of savory and sweet.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs fat trimmed
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried sage
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Cooking and Sauce
- 1 tbsp oil
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 yellow onion thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp flour or corn starch
- 1 apple cut into wedges
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Season Chicken: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Season chicken thighs evenly with thyme, sage, salt, and black pepper to prepare them for searing.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and sear for 5-7 minutes on one side, then flip and sear for another 5 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside; it will finish cooking in the oven.
- Caramelize Onions: Add butter and sliced onions to the same pan. Sauté, stirring every 1-2 minutes, until onions are soft and caramelized, about 15-20 minutes. Add a splash of chicken broth if onions start to dry out or burn.
- Add Garlic and Liquids: Stir in minced garlic and sauté for one minute. Pour in apple cider and chicken broth, bringing the mixture to a simmer.
- Thicken Sauce: Create a slurry by whisking flour or corn starch with two tablespoons of water until smooth. Whisk the slurry into the simmering sauce and stir until the sauce thickens.
- Braise Chicken with Apples: Return the chicken to the pan along with apple wedges. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes until apples are tender and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 185°F.
Notes
- Use an oven-safe skillet to easily transfer from stovetop to oven.
- Adjust apple variety based on desired sweetness; Granny Smith works well for tartness.
- To keep the onions from burning, deglaze the pan occasionally with extra chicken broth or a splash of white wine.
- Make sure chicken is cooked through by checking an internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
- Flour or corn starch can be substituted depending on dietary preferences.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
