Description
Apple Cider Glazed Chicken is a flavorful dish featuring tender chicken pieces simmered in a rich, sweet, and tangy apple cider glaze with shallots, fresh thyme, and aromatic seasonings. This comforting meal is perfect for serving over mashed potatoes, wild rice, or with crusty bread for a satisfying family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 4 cut-up chickens, or 16 chicken breasts, or 24 chicken thighs
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Cooking Fats
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
Vegetables and Fruits
- 8 shallots, thinly sliced
- 12 apples (Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Roma), sliced
- 12 sprigs fresh thyme
Liquids and Flavorings
- 4 cups apple cider
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 4 tsp soy sauce
- 2 tsp dry mustard powder
Garnish
- Fresh thyme leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Season all chicken pieces with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and dried thyme to prepare for cooking.
- Sear the chicken: In large skillets or batches, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and sear them until golden brown on both sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook shallots and apples: In the same pans, add the sliced shallots and cook until they are soft and translucent. Add the sliced apples along with the fresh thyme sprigs and sauté briefly to combine flavors.
- Add liquids and seasonings: Pour in apple cider, chicken stock, soy sauce, and sprinkle in dry mustard powder. Stir well to combine all ingredients, deglazing the pan and creating the base for the glaze.
- Simmer the chicken: Return the seared chicken pieces to the pans, nestling them into the apples and liquid. Cover the pans and let the chicken simmer gently for 25 to 30 minutes until cooked through and tender.
- Thicken the glaze: Remove the cover and continue simmering the mixture uncovered for an additional 10 minutes. This step helps to reduce and thicken the glaze, concentrating the flavors.
- Finish and serve: Garnish the glazed chicken with fresh thyme leaves. Serve the dish hot over mashed potatoes, wild rice, or alongside crusty bread for a complete meal.
Notes
- Choose apples that hold their shape when cooked such as Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Roma for best texture.
- Use chicken thighs or breasts according to your preference; thighs provide juicier meat while breasts cook faster.
- Simmering with the lid on helps keep the chicken moist while cooking.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper at the end if necessary.
- This dish pairs excellently with creamy mashed potatoes or fluffy wild rice to soak up the glaze.
