Description
This Apple Cider Glazed Chicken recipe offers a savory and sweet combination of flavors, featuring tender chicken thighs glazed with a tangy apple cider and brown sugar mix, enhanced by fresh herbs and warm spices. Perfect for a comforting dinner, this dish balances the brightness of apple cider and honeycrisp apple with aromatic garlic, thyme, rosemary, and a hint of mustard and ginger.
Ingredients
Scale
Glaze and Marinade
- 1¼ cup Apple Cider (not apple cider vinegar)
- 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ⅓ cup Brown Sugar
- 3 cloves Garlic (grated or minced)
- 1/3 cup Yellow Onion (finely diced)
- 1 sprig Fresh Rosemary
- 1 sprig Fresh Thyme
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tsp Fresh Ginger (grated)
- ¼ tsp Nutmeg
Main Ingredients
- 1 Honeycrisp Apple (large, sliced)
- 4 Chicken Thighs (skin-on)
Seasoning and Oil
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Onion Powder
- ½ tsp Smoked Paprika
- 2 tbsp Avocado Oil
Instructions
- Prepare the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the apple cider, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, grated garlic, finely diced onion, fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs, Dijon mustard, grated fresh ginger, and nutmeg until the sugar dissolves and everything is well combined.
- Season the chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, mix together salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Rub this spice mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken thighs.
- Sear the chicken: Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for about 4-5 minutes or until the skin is golden brown and crispy. Flip and sear the other side for an additional 3-4 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the apple slices: In the same skillet, add the honeycrisp apple slices and sauté for 2-3 minutes until they begin to soften and caramelize, stirring occasionally.
- Deglaze and simmer: Pour the prepared apple cider glaze into the skillet with the apples, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Cook the chicken in the glaze: Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, skin side up, nestling them into the glaze mixture. Reduce heat to low, cover loosely, and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the glaze has thickened to a syrupy consistency, occasionally spooning glaze over the chicken.
- Finish and serve: Remove the rosemary and thyme sprigs. Plate the chicken thighs topped with the caramelized apple slices and spoon the glaze over the top for a beautiful presentation and extra flavor.
Notes
- Use skin-on chicken thighs for the best crispy texture and moisture.
- If apple cider is unavailable, a mix of unsweetened apple juice with a splash of water can be a substitute.
- For thicker glaze, let it simmer a bit longer uncovered after chicken is done.
- Adjust sweetness by adding less or more brown sugar according to taste.
- Serve with roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a simple green salad for a complete meal.
Keywords: apple cider glazed chicken, chicken thighs recipe, sweet and savory chicken, fall recipes, easy chicken dinner