Description
Apple Cider Glazed Chicken is a delicious fall-inspired dish featuring juicy seared chicken thighs glazed with a sweet and savory apple cider sauce infused with fresh herbs and spices. The dish is finished in the oven to achieve tender, flavorful chicken with a crisp golden skin, making it a perfect easy one-pan recipe for cozy dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 Chicken Thighs (skin on)
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Onion Powder
- ½ tsp Smoked Paprika
- 2 tbsp Avocado Oil
Glaze
- 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
- 1 Honeycrisp Apple (large, sliced)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375° F to prepare for baking the glazed chicken thighs.
- Season the Chicken: In a small bowl, combine salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Season both sides of each chicken thigh evenly with this spice mixture.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat avocado oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken thighs skin side down and sear each side for about 4 minutes until charred and golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the Glaze: Using the same skillet, sauté the finely diced onion until translucent. Then add apple cider, brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, rosemary, thyme, grated garlic, grated ginger, and nutmeg. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, cooking for about 5 minutes while stirring occasionally.
- Add Apples and Chicken: Add sliced Honeycrisp apples to the skillet, then place the chicken thighs on top. Baste the chicken with the glaze to coat it well.
- Bake the Chicken: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven, baste the chicken thighs again with the glaze, and let the chicken rest for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with extra glaze spooned over the chicken.
Notes
- This recipe uses a fresh Honeycrisp apple for sweetness and texture; other sweet, firm apple varieties work well too.
- Use an oven-safe skillet to easily transfer from stovetop searing to oven baking without changing pans.
- Letting the chicken rest after baking helps retain juices for maximum tenderness.
- Garnish with fresh parsley to add a pop of color and fresh flavor.
- Check the internal temperature of chicken with a thermometer to ensure it’s safely cooked.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with glaze
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
