Sticky Apple Cider Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken thighs in a sweet and tangy apple cider glaze with honey and warm spices.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 1 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
04 - 1 tbsp olive oil

→ Sauce

05 - 1 cup apple cider
06 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
07 - 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
08 - 2 tbsp honey
09 - 2 tbsp brown sugar
10 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
13 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter

→ Garnish

14 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

# How to Make It:

01 - Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs and sear for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown. Remove chicken and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Pour in apple cider, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, brown sugar, thyme, and cinnamon. Stir and bring to a simmer.
05 - Return the chicken to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, turning chicken halfway.
06 - Uncover and increase heat to medium-high. Cook for an additional 7-10 minutes, spooning sauce over chicken, until sauce is reduced and sticky.
07 - Stir in the butter until melted and glossy.
08 - Remove from heat. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The glaze hits that perfect balance between sweet and tangy, like cider doughnut filling but savory enough for dinner
  • Everything happens in one pan, which means maximum flavor and minimum cleanup
02 -
  • The sauce thickens fast once you uncover it, so keep spooning it over the chicken and do not walk away
  • If the glaze gets too thick, splash in a tablespoon of cider to loosen it back up
03 -
  • Let the chicken come to room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking, it sears more evenly
  • Use a light-colored skillet so you can see when the sauce has reduced enough and achieved that perfect sticky consistency

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