Get ready to cozy up with the ultimate fall comfort dish—apple cider glazed chicken thighs! These tender, juicy chicken thighs are bathed in a rich, tangy-sweet apple cider glaze and are baked in a bed of sweet potatoes and apples.
This ideal autumn recipe is the perfect blend of savory and sweet, with tender chicken thighs coated in a tangy apple cider glaze and roasted alongside sweet potatoes and sliced apples. Fresh rosemary adds just the right amount of fresh herbs to the finish.
This dish is simple to prepare but looks and tastes like a showstopper—ideal for a cozy dinner or impressing guests. If you’re looking for a one-pan dish that’s as comforting as it is flavorful, this is the recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need:
- bone-in, skin on chicken thighs
- chopped sweet potatoes
- sliced apples
- apple cider, or apple juice if that's all you have
- brown mustard
- honey
- seasoned salt
- black pepper
- olive oil
- garlic
- honey
- fresh rosemary sprigs
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Here's what you do to make this easy fall dinner. It'll be ready in about 45 minutes!
- Step 1: Toss apples and sweet potatoes with half of the olive oil and spices.
- Step 2: Heat remaining olive oil in cast iron skillet. Season chicken and sear skin side down until golden.
- Step 3: Remove chicken to a plate. In hot skillet, add apple cider, mustard, an honey. Stir and simmer until slightly reduced, then whisk in butter.
- Step 4: Add apples and sweet potatoes to skillet, stir to coat with glaze, then add chicken and rosemary sprigs. Bake at 425 for about 25 minutes.
Hint: For some extra caramelization on top, you can switch the oven to Broil for an extra few minutes at the end of the cook time.
Storage
Store leftover apple cider glazed chicken, along with any glaze left in the pan, in an airtight storage container. Reheat leftovers by heating on low in a covered pan on the stove, or on a covered plate in the microwave.
I have not tried freezing this recipe and can't offer any recommendations.
Best Tip
You'll want to make sure you get a good, golden sear on the outside of the chicken, while also cooking it to the minimum safe internal temperature in the oven (165F) to keep the chicken juicy.
FAQ
The glaze for this recipe is mixed into the hot skillet after searing the chicken, and develops while the chicken, potatoes, and apples finish up in the oven.
You can use dried rosemary instead.
I used gala apples to test this recipe, but you can use any sweet apple variety that you like.
Apple Cider Glazed Chicken
This is an intensely flavorful and easy dinner that is perfect for crisp fall evenings.
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
- 2 small apples, sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, divided
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 4 chicken thighs, with bone and skin
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- ⅔ cup apple cider
- 1 tablespoon brown mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- fresh rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F. In a mixing bowl, toss together sweet potatoes and apples with half of the olive oil, half of the seasoned salt, and half of the pepper. Set aside.
- Heat the rest of the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Rub garlic onto chicken thighs and season with the rest of the salt and pepper.
- Sear chicken skin side down until golden brown. This could take several minutes. Remove to plate.
- In the same skillet, without draining, add apple cider, brown mustard, and honey. Heat to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes, then whisk in the butter.
- Add sweet potatoes and apples to the skillet and stir to coat with glaze. Arrange chicken thighs skin side up in among the potatoes and apples. Add rosemary sprigs.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until thighs are cooked through and potatoes are tender.
Notes
I use this Lodge Cast Iron Skillet for this recipe.
If you don't have cider, you can use apple juice, the flavor will be a little milder, but you can throw in a tiny pinch of ground cinnamon and cloves.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop and Oven
- Cuisine: N/A
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ recipe
- Calories: 411
- Sugar: 26g
- Fat: 17.6g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 97mg
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