Description
Whipping up apple cider glazed chicken brings pure comfort straight to your dinner table with minimal effort and maximum flavor. This tender, golden-brown chicken gets its irresistible shine from a sweet-tangy glaze that’ll have your family asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Liquid and Sweeteners:
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons honey
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Fresh thyme or rosemary
Instructions
- Pat 4 boneless chicken breasts completely dry with paper towels. Generously season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Carefully place chicken breasts into hot pan and sear for 6 minutes until deep golden brown.
- Flip chicken and cook opposite side for 5-6 minutes until golden. Remove chicken and set aside on a clean plate.
- Whisk 1 cup apple cider, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons honey, and 2 minced garlic cloves in a separate bowl until smooth and well combined.
- Return skillet to medium-low heat. Pour entire glaze mixture into pan, scraping any browned bits from bottom of skillet.
- Nestle seared chicken breasts back into glaze. Cover skillet and simmer for 15-18 minutes, occasionally spooning glaze over chicken.
- Check internal temperature with meat thermometer – chicken must reach 165°F at thickest part. Remove from heat and let rest 3-4 minutes.
- Transfer chicken to serving plates. Drizzle remaining glaze over top and garnish with fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs if desired.
Notes
- Always pat chicken completely dry to ensure a golden, crispy sear that locks in flavor and helps the glaze adhere beautifully.
- Use fresh apple cider for the most vibrant, authentic taste, and choose a high-quality local variety if possible.
- For a lower-carb version, replace honey with a sugar-free alternative like monk fruit sweetener and reduce total cooking time by 2-3 minutes.
- Allow chicken to rest 3-5 minutes after cooking to help juices redistribute, ensuring each bite stays tender and succulent.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-34 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg