Are you searching for that perfect fall dinner that is quick enough for a busy weeknight, elegant enough for a special occasion, and only uses one pan for the easiest cleanup imaginable? This incredible, from-scratch Skillet Chicken with Apples, simmering in a rich and savory apple cider sauce, is the delicious answer you’ve been looking for.
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a 30-minute masterpiece of cozy, autumnal flavors that the whole family will love. We’ll show you how to create perfectly seared, juicy chicken thighs and tender, sweet-tart apples, all brought together by a luscious, buttery pan sauce. This is the simple, satisfying, and sophisticated one-pan meal that will become a new staple in your fall dinner rotation.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Perfect 30-Minute Fall Dinner
What makes this Skillet Chicken with Apples so spectacularly delicious is its incredible depth of flavor, all developed in a single pan. The chicken thighs are seasoned with a warm, fragrant spice blend and seared to a beautiful golden brown. Then, in the same pan, we sauté sweet apples and delicate shallots, creating a rich apple cider pan sauce right on top of all those delicious, caramelized bits. It’s a fast, easy, and elegant meal that perfectly captures the essence of the autumn season.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 30 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 4 |
The Essential Ingredients for This Cozy Skillet Meal
This recipe uses a handful of fresh, seasonal ingredients to create its signature savory and slightly sweet flavor.
- The Chicken:
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs: This is the perfect choice for a quick and flavorful skillet meal. Chicken thighs are incredibly juicy, tender, and much more forgiving than chicken breasts, ensuring they stay moist and delicious even after searing.
- The “Orchard” Elements:
- Apples: A crisp, firm apple that can hold its shape when cooked is key. A variety that is both sweet and tart, like a Honeycrisp, Gala, or Braeburn, is a fantastic choice.
- Apple Cider: It is crucial to use 100% pure apple cider (the unfiltered, opaque kind), not apple cider vinegar and not sparkling hard cider. Its sweet, concentrated apple flavor is the heart of the pan sauce.
- The Homemade Spice Blend: A beautiful, warm, and fragrant blend of coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, and dried thyme gives the chicken a deep, savory, and cozy flavor that is the perfect complement to the sweet apples.
- The Aromatics:
- Shallots: These have a more delicate, sweeter, and less pungent flavor than a regular yellow onion, which adds a touch of elegance to the final dish.
Step-by-Step to the Perfect One-Pan Dinner
This delicious meal comes together in about 30 minutes, all in one single skillet.
Step 1: Season and Sear the Chicken
Step 1: In a small bowl, mix together your homemade seasoning blend: 3/4 teaspoon of the salt, the 1/2 teaspoon of ground coriander, the 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, the 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, the 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme, and the 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
Step 2: Pat your chicken thighs completely dry with a paper towel and sprinkle the spice mixture generously over both sides.
Step 3: Heat a large, 12-inch skillet (a cast-iron skillet works beautifully here) over medium heat. Add a drizzle of oil to the hot skillet and swirl to coat.
Step 4: Carefully place the seasoned chicken thighs in the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes, then flip and cook for 5 more minutes, until the chicken is a beautiful golden brown and cooked through (the internal temperature should be at least 165°F / 74°C).
Step 5: Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean plate and cover it lightly with foil to keep warm. Do not wipe out the pan!
Step 2: Sauté the Apples and Create the Pan Sauce
Step 1: Add the 2 tablespoons of butter to the same skillet. As it melts, gently swirl it to coat the bottom of the pan and pick up all those delicious, browned bits (the “fond”) left behind by the chicken.
Step 2: Add the 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, the sliced apples, and the chopped shallots to the pan. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
Step 3: Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, until the apples begin to soften and the shallots are tender.
Step 4: Now, we’ll deglaze the pan. Pour in the 1/3 cup of apple cider and continue to cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan, until the cider has reduced slightly and the sauce has thickened, which will take about 5 more minutes.
Step 3: Finish and Serve
Add the cooked chicken and any of its accumulated juices from the plate back into the pan with the apples and the sauce. Let everything simmer together for 2 more minutes to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
Remove the skillet from the heat. To serve, spoon the delicious apple and cider mixture over the chicken. Garnish with some fresh thyme and rosemary, if desired.
The Best 30-Minute One-Pan Skillet Chicken with Apples
A savory one-pan meal featuring pan-seared chicken thighs with a sweet and spiced apple pan sauce. The boneless, skinless chicken thighs are coated in a warm spice blend of coriander, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then seared until cooked through. In the same skillet, a rich sauce is created by cooking apple slices and shallots in butter and brown sugar, then deglazing the pan with apple cider. The chicken is returned to the pan to simmer in the sauce before serving. Note: The source article title was ‘The Ultimate Hearty Kale and Butternut Squash Salad’ but the recipe provided was for this skillet chicken dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: 37 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Searing, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pound (454g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 Tablespoon light or dark brown sugar
- 2 cups (250g) apple slices
- 1/3 cup (40g) chopped shallots or yellow onion
- 1/3 cup (80ml) apple cider
- Fresh thyme and rosemary, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together 3/4 teaspoon of the salt with the coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried thyme, and pepper to create a spice blend.
- Sprinkle the spice mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken thighs.
- Heat a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add a drizzle of oil and swirl to coat. Add the chicken thighs to the hot pan.
- Cook for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for 5 more minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of at least 165°F. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the brown sugar, apple slices, and shallots, and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes until the apples begin to soften.
- Pour in the apple cider and cook, stirring, for about 5 more minutes until the cider sauce has slightly thickened.
- Return the cooked chicken to the pan and cook for 2 more minutes to reheat and coat in the sauce.
- Remove from the heat and spoon the apple mixture over the chicken to serve. Garnish with fresh herbs, if desired.
Notes
- Recipe Clarification: The source article was titled ‘The Ultimate Hearty Kale and Butternut Squash Salad’, but the provided recipe was for Skillet Chicken with Spiced Apples. This entry has been filled out for the chicken recipe.
- This is a one-pan meal, which builds layers of flavor by cooking the sauce in the same skillet used for the chicken.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator; the butter in the sauce will solidify when cold but will melt again upon reheating.
What to Serve With Your Skillet Chicken and Apples
This beautiful, saucy skillet dinner is a fantastic centerpiece for a complete and comforting meal.
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes: The absolute perfect partner for sopping up every last drop of that incredible apple cider pan sauce.
- Roasted Vegetables: Serve alongside some simple, roasted sweet potatoes, butternut squash, or Brussels sprouts.
- Fluffy Grains: Spoon the chicken and sauce over a bed of fluffy white rice, nutty quinoa, or farro.
- Crusty Bread: A simple side of warm, crusty bread is a must-have for dipping into the delicious sauce.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
This is a fantastic recipe for a quick meal, and the leftovers are just as delicious.
- Make-Ahead: You can get a head start by preparing the spice blend and chopping your shallots a day or two in advance. Store them in separate airtight containers.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: The butter in the sauce will solidify in the refrigerator, but it will come back together beautifully when reheated. You can reheat the chicken and sauce gently in a covered skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat, or in the microwave.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Use Bone-In Pork Chops: This recipe is also absolutely fantastic when made with thick-cut, bone-in pork chops. Simply sear them on both sides, and then after you have made the sauce, you can return them to the pan, cover it, and let them simmer for about 10-15 minutes, or until they are cooked through.
- Add a Luxurious Creamy Finish: For an even richer, more decadent sauce, you can stir in 1/4 cup of heavy cream or crème fraîche at the very end, after you have returned the chicken to the pan.
- Add a Sophisticated Boozy Kick: For a delicious, “grown-up” flavor, you can substitute about 1/4 cup of the apple cider with an equal amount of a good quality apple brandy (like Calvados) or a smooth bourbon.
Enjoy The Perfect Taste of Fall!
You’ve just created a truly special skillet dinner that is the very definition of autumn comfort. This Skillet Chicken with Apples is a perfect harmony of savory, sweet, and spiced flavors. It’s a rewarding, deeply satisfying, and surprisingly easy recipe that is sure to become a new family favorite for all the cozy days of the year.
We hope you enjoy every last, warm, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, easy, one-pan meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What are the best apples to use for a savory skillet dish?
For a dish like this one, you want to use a firm apple that will hold its shape when cooked and not turn into a mushy applesauce. An apple that is both a little sweet and a little tart is perfect for balancing the savory chicken. Excellent choices include Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Braeburn.
Q2: Do I have to use chicken thighs, or can I use chicken breasts instead?
You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you will need to be very careful not to overcook them, as they are much leaner and can dry out easily. You may want to pound them to an even thickness and reduce the initial searing time by a minute or two on each side. The absolute best way to check for doneness is with an instant-read thermometer.
Q3: What is the difference between apple cider and apple juice?
Apple cider is typically raw, unfiltered, and unsweetened apple juice. It is opaque and has a much more robust, complex, and authentic apple flavor. Apple juice is filtered to be clear and is often sweetened. For the best, deepest flavor in your pan sauce, it is highly recommended to use 100% pure apple cider.
Q4: How do I know for sure when my chicken is cooked through?
The only 100% foolproof way to check for doneness is with an instant-read thermometer. The chicken is perfectly and safely cooked when the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh registers at least 165°F (74°C).
Q5: What can I use instead of shallots if I can’t find them?
If you can’t find shallots, you can substitute them with an equal amount of finely chopped sweet onion or yellow onion. Shallots just have a slightly more delicate and milder flavor.