Apple cider braised chicken thighs are so delicious and come together all in one pot, making them a great easy weeknight fall meal. Perfectly crispy skin, tender potatoes, and a ton of onions all simmered and baked in apple cider and wine. So, so yummy.
A FEW KEY INGREDIENT NOTES FOR BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS:
- Chicken: For this recipe I prefer bone-in skin-on chicken thighs. These will be the most moist after being seared and baked, and retain that delicious flavor. You could absolutely do boneless if you prefer.
- Potatoes: Yukon gold baby potatoes are ideal because of their buttery texture. Other baby potato varieties will likely be fine to substitute.
- Apple cider: Apple cider is certainly not hard to come by this time of year. Just make sure that it's not sparkling apple cider.
- White wine: You'll want to use a dry white wine. I recommend buying one that you will also enjoy drinking because you'll have a decent amount left in the bottle!
- Dijon mustard: This ingredient gives adds delicious depth of flavor to the sauce. I wouldn't recommend skipping it, but if you really don't like mustard, you could.
- Thyme: Fresh is best but if you need/want to sub for dried do so by using ½ tsp.
KITCHEN TOOLS YOU'LL NEED:
- Braiser or heavy-bottom stovetop to oven pot (at least 3.5QT)
- Cutting board
- Chef's knife
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Wood spoon
- Tongs
HOW TO MAKE APPLE CIDER BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS:
Apple cider braised chicken is a dish loaded with so much flavor that takes only a few easy steps to make.
- Step 1: Prep. Clean your chicken as needed, season both sides with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Chop your onions, potatoes, and garlic.
- Step 2: Brown. On medium-high heat, melt olive oil and sear both sides of the chicken thighs until golden brown, about 5 minutes on each side.
- Step 3: Sauté. Lower the heat to medium and sauté the onions and garlic about 5 minutes.
- Step 4: Deglaze & reduce. Pour the white wine in and deglaze the pan, allow to simmer for about 5 minutes. Then mix in the apple cider and dijon mustard. Bring to a simmer and allow to reduce for about 5-8 minutes.
- Step 5: Add in the baby potatoes & sprinkle with salt, pepper and the thyme. Layer the chicken on top and bake uncovered at 400℉ for 30-35 minutes until the potatoes are fork-tender.
WHAT IS BRAISED CHICKEN?
Braised chicken is a two-step cooking process that begins with a sear to get it golden brown, followed by a slower bake in a liquid/broth. This cooking method enables both a crispy skin and delicious, moist chicken infused with the flavors of the liquid.
OTHER EASY DELICIOUS FALL DINNER RECIPES:
- Sweet Potato Quinoa Burgers
- Roasted Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
- Spinach, Pesto & Cheese Stuffed Shells
- Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce with Sage Breadcrumbs
Apple Cider Braised Chicken Thighs
Apple cider braised chicken thighs are so delicious and come together all in one pot, making them a great easy weeknight fall meal. Chicken thighs with perfectly crisp skin, tender potatoes, and a ton of onions all simmered and baked in apple cider and wine.
Servings: 4 servings
INGREDIENTS
- 4 x bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 lb yukon gold baby potatoes quartered
- 1 medium yellow onion thinly sliced
- 4 garlic cloves roughly chopped
- ¾ cup apple cider
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat your oven to 400℉.
- Clean and pat your chicken thighs dry. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil on medium-high heat. Sear both sides of the chicken thighs, about 5 minutes on each side. Remove them from the pan and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium and sauté the onion and garlic for 5 minutes until the onions loosen up and it's all very fragrant.
- Deglaze the pan with the white wine. Simmer for 5 minutes, then mix in the apple cider and mustard. Simmer to reduce for 5-8 minutes.
- Mix in the baby potatoes and sprinkle with 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, and the fresh thyme. Place the chicken thighs (and any juices that may have released while they were sitting) back in the pan nestled in with the potatoes.
- Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes until the potatoes are fork-tender.
Made this recipe?Mention @cozycravings or tag #cozycravings
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