Description
Cozy skillet comfort food featuring juicy chicken simmered in apple cider and broth, layered with golden onions, mushrooms, and fresh herbs. The rich, sweet, aromatic sauce is perfect for fall evenings and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds chicken thighs or breasts
- 4 yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups apple cider
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Olive oil, for searing
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high. Sear until golden, 4–5 minutes per side. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter. Add onions, cook 15–20 minutes over medium, stirring until golden and softened.
- Stir in mushrooms, cook 5–6 minutes until browned. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute.
- Sprinkle flour over onion-mushroom mixture. Stir 1–2 minutes, then slowly whisk in broth and cider. Bring to a simmer to thicken slightly.
- Nestle chicken back in, add thyme and sage. Cover and simmer on low 25–30 minutes, until chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Adjust seasoning, then serve chicken with generous spoonfuls of the onion-cider sauce over mashed potatoes, polenta, or bread.
Notes
Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs give the richest flavor.
Patience with onions is key—deep caramelization builds the sauce’s sweetness.
For gluten-free, swap flour for GF flour blend or cornstarch slurry.
Let the chicken rest 5 minutes before serving for juicier results.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 50
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 430mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 37g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: cider braised chicken, fall chicken dinner, caramelized onion chicken, skillet chicken with cider, dutch oven chicken recipe, cozy fall dinner