Description
A quick, one-pan weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken breasts and caramelized apples in a savory-sweet pan sauce. It’s easy to make, requires minimal cleanup, and tastes fancy enough for a dinner party.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 medium apples (mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp), peeled and sliced into ½-inch wedges
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup apple cider
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
- 1 tablespoon flour (optional, for thickening)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Slice apples into wedges, dice onion, and mince garlic.
- Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of butter. Sear chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet. Cook diced onions for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and thyme, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add sliced apples to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly caramelized. Pour in apple cider and scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Return chicken to the skillet. Pour in chicken broth. If using flour, whisk with 2 tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry and stir into the sauce.
- Cover and simmer on low-medium heat for 8-10 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and apples are tender.
- Remove lid and let sauce thicken for a few minutes if needed. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh thyme or optional toppings like bacon or nuts.
- Serve immediately with the pan sauce spooned over the top.
Notes
Use a mix of tart (Granny Smith) and sweet (Honeycrisp) apples for best texture. Do not skip searing the chicken for flavor. If chicken breasts are thick, pound them to ensure even cooking. This dish does not freeze well.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: one-pan dinner, apple chicken, weeknight meals, easy chicken recipe, fall recipes, gluten-free option