Effortless and delicious cider-braised chicken for busy weeknights

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 45 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary

Instructions:

1. Start by seasoning the chicken thighs. Sprinkle both sides of each thigh with salt and pepper.
2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs, skin-side down, and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the skin is nice and brown. Flip the chicken and cook for another 5 minutes on the other side. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
3. In the same skillet, add the finely chopped onion. Cook it for 2-3 minutes, or until it gets a bit soft and translucent. Then, add the minced garlic, and cook for another minute until it’s fragrant.
4. Now comes the apple cider. Pour the cider into the skillet, and let it simmer for a minute, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. This will add a delicious depth of flavor to your dish.
5. Add the chicken broth to the skillet, along with the sprigs of thyme and rosemary.
6. Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, positioning them so that they’re mostly submerged but the skin is still above the liquid.
7. Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to low, and let everything simmer for about 30 minutes.
8. Remove the cover, and let it simmer for another 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and the sauce has reduced a bit.
9. Serve the cider-braised chicken hot, with a little bit of the cider sauce drizzled over the top.

Enjoy!

Making cider-braised chicken healthier

There are numerous ways to make the delightful Cider-braised chicken healthier without compromising the taste. First, you can choose skinless chicken, to decrease the saturated fat intake.

Rather than normal salt, opt for reduced-sodium or Himalayan salt. The usual white sugar can also be replaced with healthier options like honey or raw cane sugar.

Include more veggies in the recipe like carrots, celery, or peas to boost the nutritional value.

Storing your cider-braised chicken

Once your delicious Cider-Braised Chicken is ready, proper storage is vital to keep it edible for more days in case you decide to save some for later.

Place the chicken in a well-sealed container and refrigerate. It can stay fresh for up to three days. For longer preservation up to 3 months, store it in an airtight container in the freezer.

Before eating, be sure to completely thaw and reheat it to a safe temperature.

Serving suggestions for cider-braised chicken

What would a superb Cider-Braised Chicken be without the perfect accompaniment? This chicken recipe pairs well with both roasty and creamy dishes.

Some simple alternatives are perfectly roasted potatoes or a modest pasta dish. As for drinks, an aged white wine or the cider used for cooking would make an excellent companion to enhance the flavors of the recipe.