Description
A comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken thighs braised in sweet and tangy apple cider, enhanced with garlic and thyme.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 chicken thighs – Choose bone-in and skin-on for the best flavor and moisture.
- 1 cup apple cider – This is the star ingredient that adds sweetness and depth.
- 1 large onion – Sliced, it brings sweetness and a savory base to the dish.
- 4 cloves garlic – Minced, garlic adds a wonderful aroma and flavor.
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme) – This herb enhances the dish with its earthy notes.
- Salt and pepper – Essential for seasoning and bringing out the flavors.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil – Used for searing the chicken and sautéing the aromatics.
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and sear the chicken thighs skin-side down for 5-7 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes, then remove from skillet.
- Add sliced onions to the same skillet and sauté for about 5 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and thyme, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the apple cider, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, skin-side up, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-35 minutes.
- Remove the chicken and cover with foil to keep warm. Increase heat to medium-high and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 5-10 minutes to thicken.
- Plate the chicken thighs and spoon the reduced apple cider sauce over the top, garnishing with additional thyme if desired.
Notes
- For best results, use bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs.
- High-quality, unfiltered apple cider enhances the flavor.
- Consider adding seasonal vegetables for added nutrition and color.
- This dish can be made in advance and reheats well.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: Apple Cider, Braised Chicken, Comfort Food, Easy Recipe