Description
Apple Cider Chicken is a quick and comforting weeknight dinner featuring juicy boneless, skinless chicken thighs cooked in a tangy-sweet apple cider sauce with garlic, Dijon mustard, and fresh thyme. This easy-to-make dish offers a perfect balance of savory and sweet flavors, making it an ideal family-friendly meal that’s ready in under 30 minutes. Pair it with your favorite sides for a warm and inviting dinner that’s both simple and special.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
Sauce
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. This step ensures the chicken browns beautifully and stays juicy.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for about 5 minutes per side or until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside to keep warm.
- Make the Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium and add butter, minced garlic, and fresh thyme to the skillet. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the apple cider and stir in Dijon mustard, scraping up any browned bits from the pan for extra flavor.
- Simmer and Thicken: Bring the sauce to a simmer, then return the chicken to the skillet. Let everything cook together for 10 minutes, allowing the sauce to reduce slightly and the chicken to soak up the flavors.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once the sauce has thickened and the chicken is cooked through, turn off the heat. Spoon extra sauce over the chicken and serve immediately while warm and inviting.
Notes
- Patience with searing is key to getting a golden crust without steaming the chicken.
- Use fresh thyme for the brightest flavor in the sauce.
- Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer to reduce it properly without burning.
- Taste and adjust seasoning toward the end for a perfect balance of sweet and savory.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes off the heat to redistribute juices.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing and Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: Apple Cider Chicken, quick dinner, weeknight meal, chicken thighs, gluten free, easy chicken recipe, savory and sweet
