Apple Cider Chicken

This apple cider chicken is made with bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces, sweet apples, shallots, garlic, and hard apple cider. The chicken cooks until tender while the cider reduces into a glossy sweet-savory pan sauce.

Recipe Developer-Estefania

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Ingredients

▢ 40 g unsalted butter
▢ 2 apples cored and sliced
▢ 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
▢ 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
▢ 1 teaspoon salt
▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper
▢ 1 large shallot thinly sliced
▢ 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
▢ 1 bottle hard apple cider about 2 cups / 500 ml

Instructions

Melt 40 g unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 apples, sliced, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly golden and slightly softened. Remove the apples from the skillet and set aside.
Heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in the same skillet. Add 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, then season with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper. Sear for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until the skin is deeply golden. Remove the chicken from the skillet.
Add 1 large shallot, sliced, to the same skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often, until softened. Add 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped, and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
Return the chicken to the skillet, pour in 1 bottle hard apple cider, about 2 cups (500 ml), and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
Uncover the skillet and simmer for another 5 to 8 minutes, or until the cider sauce reduces slightly. Return the apples to the skillet, spoon the sauce over the chicken, and serve hot.

Notes

Use Hard Apple Cider: I use hard apple cider because it gives the sauce a deeper, more savory flavor than regular apple juice.

Brown the Chicken Well: Let the chicken skin get deeply golden before adding the cider, because those browned bits make the sauce taste richer.

Choose Firm Apples: Apples like Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Gala, or Braeburn work well because they soften without falling apart too quickly.

Alcohol-Free Option: If you prefer not to use hard cider, replace it with fresh apple cider or apple juice mixed with a splash of chicken broth

Nutrition