Description
Simmering Apple Cider Chicken brings pure comfort straight from your kitchen to the dinner table. Tender chicken bathed in a sweet-tangy sauce creates a simple weeknight meal that feels like a warm hug.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breast
Liquids and Sweeteners:
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Warm your oven to exactly 400°F and lightly coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Use paper towels to thoroughly dry 1.5 lbs of chicken, then generously sprinkle both sides with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper.
- Grab a medium mixing bowl and combine 1 cup apple cider, 2 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, and 1 tsp fresh chopped thyme. Whisk the ingredients until the mixture looks completely smooth.
- Carefully arrange your seasoned chicken pieces in the prepared baking dish, ensuring they are not overlapping.
- Pour the entire glaze evenly across the chicken, making sure each piece gets coated with the liquid mixture.
- Slide the baking dish into the 400°F oven and roast for precisely 25-30 minutes, checking that your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F at the thickest part.
- Remove the dish from the oven and let the chicken rest for exactly 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Before serving, spoon any remaining glaze from the baking dish directly over the chicken for extra flavor.
Notes
- Swap chicken thighs for breasts or use boneless, skinless options for a leaner meal.
- Create extra sauce by doubling the glaze recipe if everyone loves additional drizzling.
- Check chicken temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure perfectly cooked, juicy meat.
- Use fresh thyme instead of dried for brighter herb flavor and more vibrant sauce complexity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 238 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg