I am not sure at what age I’ll outgrow apple picking, but I am thrilled to report that 30 is not it. I have an outlandish supply of apples, which means it’s time for another round of this sizzlin’ Apple Cider Chicken Skillet.
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What’s happening in the pan: apples caramelizing; juicy chicken searing; apple cider bubbling; rosemary making your whole kitchen smell like fall.
This apple cider chicken skillet is a healthy, simple meal takes just ONE PAN and is ready in 30 minutes.
She’s a finalist for Miss Fall Dinner, and I must say, she has an excellent shot at the tiara.
I’m relieved that this recipe was a hit at our house, because after Sunday’s apple picking extravaganza, I have A LOT of apples to go through.
I’m not sure what it is about being at an orchard that makes me lose all reasonable sense of quantity, but I drove home with a toddler-sized bag of apples in the passenger seat beside me.
I drove halfway home with an apple cider donut. Unlike the apples, it didn’t survive the journey.
Why I Love This Apple Cider Chicken Skillet
With just ONE pan (translation: almost zero clean up), fantastic fall flavor, less than 300 calories, and 30 grams of protein per serving, this healthy, easy apple cider chicken skillet begs the question,
How do you like them apples?
^^I’m sorry, I had to go there. Have an extra bite of this apple cider chicken skillet (feel ambitious with homemade Apple Cider!). Then have an Apple Oatmeal Cookie for dessert and forgive me.
How to Store and Reheat
- To Store. This recipe is best enjoyed the day it is made, but can last 1 to 2 days in the fridge.
- To Reheat. Reheat the leftovers gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a bit of chicken broth to keep the chicken from drying out.
Recommended Tools to Make This Apple Cider Chicken Skillet
- Cast-iron skillet (this is another excellent, more budget-friendly option)
- Non-slip cutting board
- I didn’t peel the apples, but if you’d like to, this is a great fruit and veggie peeler
Apple Cider Chicken
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Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 8, depending on size)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper divided
- ½ cup fresh apple cider
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 3 medium firm sweet apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch slices (I used Gala)
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary plus additional for serving
Instructions
- Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a large skillet over medium high. Sprinkle the top of the chicken evenly with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the chicken to the pan, top-side down. Let cook 4 minutes, then flip and continue cooking until the meat is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees, 3 to 4 additional minutes. Remove to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
- In a small bowl or large measuring cup, stir together the apple cider and mustard. With a paper towel, carefully wipe the skillet clean. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil to the pan over medium high. Once the oil is hot, add the apple slices, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and rosemary. Cook for 5 minutes, until the apples are lightly tender and begin to turn golden. Return the chicken to the pan and pour the cider mixture over the top. Let cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until the liquid is reduced by half. Serve warm, sprinkled with additional chopped rosemary as desired.
Notes
- This recipe is best enjoyed the day it is made, but can last 1 to 2 days in the fridge. Reheat the leftovers gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a bit of chicken broth to keep the chicken from drying out.
- You can swap chicken breasts for the thighs, though I think overall, thighs give this recipe the best flavor. If you use chicken breasts, be sure to watch the cooking time, as it may vary from what is listed in the recipe.
Nutrition
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Delicious! Perfect dinner for getting into a fall mood. Even my kids gobbled it down!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Elizabeth! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
I have made this multiple times always dark meat of chicken boneless thighs due
To family preference. My family requests mashed potatoes w it but rice would be nice. I do no salt dietary restriction works nicely lil extra pepper and some crushed dried rosemary. TY for scrumptious recipes.
I’m so happy that you’ve enjoyed it, Phyllis! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
I cook a lot of recipes online of all sorts of cuisines. This was so easy and a nice balance with the dijon and apple cider. I used only 2 apples but other than that exactly as written, Hubs liked it too. Thank you I will be trying some other recipes from your blog soon!
Whooo hooo! So happy to hear it, thank you!
THIS IS SO UNEXPECTADLY GOOD OH MY LORD IT’S DELICIOUS
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Mariam! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Wow, this was SO delicious. Made mine with sliced chicken breasts. I paired it with frozen peas cooked in the microwave. Great high protein meal. Fast, easy, deliciously made with ingredients I keep on hand.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Melody! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
So delicious and easy! Made for the perfect fall dinner.
Hi Erin! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
My wife and I love this recipe!
My mom would like to try it, but was told to watch her sugar intake. Do you know a rough estimate of how much sugar is in each serving?
Hi Michael! Unfortunately the way the nutritional facts are set up, I am not able to change them. The good news is that you can calculate the calories for free at MyFitnessPal (there are other similar sites too). I hope that can be a helpful resource for you! When in doubt, you should definitely check them out yourself with the ingredients you use at home!
Love the estimate of macros but protein is missing :/
Hi RLK! The nutritional information is not always completely accurate and can vary depending on ingredients and brands of ingredients used. When in doubt I would double check with a free source like myfitnesspal.com. Hope this helps!
I am going to make this but have a question: what kind of apple do I use? I love Red Delicious, Green Delicious, and Gala.
Hi Pam! You’ll see I covered this in the ingredient list. You can use any sweet apple, but I specifically used gala. Hope you enjoy it!
You did – my error. Apparently when I hit print it did not copy any of the lighter shaded notes.
You’re nutrition info doesn’t include protein, which is the most important macro.
Hi Cassie! Nutritional information is something I started adding to recipes in 2016 (when this recipe was published) . Unfortunately, it’s a time-consuming process, so I’m unable to go back to all my past recipes to add it or make it complete. The good news is that you can calculate the calories for free at MyFitnessPal (there are other similar sites too). I hope that can be a helpful resource for you!
We had this 3 nights ago but just now finding time to post. This was delicious, easy and so flavorful and has us ready for fall. Thank you for sharing
Hooray, thanks Vicky!