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French Apple Cider Chicken Recipe

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4.1 from 5 reviews

  • Author: Eve
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Description

This French Apple Cider Chicken recipe delivers tender, juicy chicken thighs cooked in a rich, silky apple cider and Dijon cream sauce. Searing the chicken first creates a beautifully golden crust, while simmering in hard apple cider and fresh thyme infuses the dish with complex, aromatic flavors. Finished with buttery apples and a creamy mustard sauce, this meal brings rustic French elegance to your dinner table in under an hour.

Ingredients

Chicken and Seasoning

  • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (Pat dry before seasoning for better browning)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Sauce and Aromatics

  • 2 tbsp butter (for searing and sauce base)
  • 1 large shallot, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 medium Granny Smith apples, thinly sliced
  • 1.5 cups hard apple cider
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 fresh thyme sprig

Instructions

  1. Season and Sear the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat butter in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken skin-side down and sear for 7-8 minutes until the skin is deeply golden and crispy. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  2. Sauté Aromatics and Apples: In the same skillet with the butter and chicken drippings, add the minced shallot and sauté for 2 minutes until translucent. Stir in minced garlic and thinly sliced Granny Smith apples, cooking for 3 minutes while stirring to coat the apples and soften them slightly.
  3. Braise in Apple Cider: Pour the hard apple cider into the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom to deglaze. Add the fresh thyme sprig and return the chicken to the skillet, skin-side up. Cover the skillet with a lid and simmer gently for 20 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
  4. Make the Dijon Cream Sauce: Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. Stir the heavy cream and Dijon mustard into the sauce in the skillet. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and becomes silky smooth. Return the chicken to the skillet, spooning sauce over the top to coat.
  5. Serve: Plate the chicken with the softened apple slices and spoon the creamy mustard cider sauce generously over the dish. Enjoy your elegant and flavorful French Apple Cider Chicken!

Notes

  • Patting the chicken dry is important for a crispy, golden skin.
  • Using hard apple cider adds complexity and a slight dryness to balance the creaminess.
  • Slicing apples thin helps them soften quickly during simmering.
  • Fresh thyme is preferable for its bright herbal flavors over dried.
  • Cast iron skillet is recommended for even searing and heat retention.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: French

Find it online: https://everecipes.com/french-apple-cider-chicken-recipe/