Best 6 Cider Braised Chicken Recipes

CIDER-BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH APPLES AND GREENS

Steps:

• Pat the chicken thighs dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
• In a Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat the oil over medium. Cook the chicken thighs skin-side down, undisturbed, until the skin is golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Flip and cook until lightly browned on the other side, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Pour off all but about 3 tablespoons of fat from the pot, turn the heat to medium-low, then add the shallots and sage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Be careful not to let the garlic burn.
• Add the cider, cider vinegar, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until the cider has reduced slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pot, skin-side up. Pour just enough broth around (not on!) the chicken to cover the sides of the thighs but not cover the skin on top.
• Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low. Partly cover and gently simmer until the thighs are cooked through and tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a clean plate or sheet pan (if you'd like to broil the chicken in the next step), raise the heat to medium, and add the kale and apple to the pot. Cook, tossing often, until all the kale is wilted, the apples are just softened and the liquid has reduced slightly, about 5 minutes. While the greens cook, if you'd like to crisp the skin on the chicken, pop it under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Taste for seasoning, and stir in 1 or 2 more teaspoons cider vinegar to taste. Divide the chicken and kale mixture among shallow bowls; serve with crusty bread to mop up broth.

CIDER-BRAISED CHICKEN WITH APPLES AND KALE

Steps:

• Arrange rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 450°F. Season chicken all over with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper, then rub with 1/4 cup mustard, making sure to get mustard under skin.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large heatproof high-sided skillet or heavy braising pan over medium-high. Sear chicken, skin side down, until golden-brown, about 8 minutes. Turn chicken, then arrange apples and onion around chicken. Add wine and 1 cup cider, then transfer to oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165°F, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1/2 cup cider, 1 Tbsp. oil, and 1/2 tsp. salt in a large pot over medium; add kale, cover, and cook until wilted. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until kale is tender, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, divide kale among plates.
• Transfer chicken, apples, and onion to plates with a slotted spoon. Heat remaining liquid in skillet over high. Add cream and remaining 1 tsp. mustard and bring to a boil. Cook, whisking constantly, until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.
• Spoon sauce alongside chicken and kale. Garnish with tarragon, if desired.

CIDER-BRAISED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken with 2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then brown chicken, skin side down first, turning once, 8 to 10 minutes total. Transfer to a plate, discarding oil.
• Wipe out skillet, then boil remaining ingredients until reduced by half, 3 to 5 minutes. Return chicken to skillet and braise, covered, turning once, until chicken is just cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer chicken to a platter. Boil sauce to thicken if necessary. Whisk sauce if separated and season with salt, then pour over chicken.

SLOW-COOKER CIDER-BRAISED CHICKEN TACOS WITH APPLE JALAPEñO SALSA

Steps:

• Spray slow cooker with cooking spray.
• Season chicken thighs generously with salt. Heat 10- to 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat; add about 1 tablespoon canola oil to skillet. Cook chicken thighs until well browned; place in slow cooker (cook in batches if necessary).
• Pour 1/4 cup of the hard cider into hot skillet, scraping up browned bits from bottom of skillet with wooden spoon as it bubbles. Turn off stove, and add cider from pan to slow cooker along with remaining 1/2 cup hard cider.
• Add green chiles, cumin, garlic and onion to slow cooker along with a pinch of salt. Stir gently; cover and cook on High heat setting 4 hours.
• While chicken cooks, in medium bowl, mix Apple Jalapeño Salsa ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Shred chicken with 2 forks. Serve in taco shells with cheese and salsa.

CIDER BRAISED CHICKEN WITH BERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• soak berries in water until plump, simmer over low heat until thickened to sauce consistency. remove from heat and stir in honey. set aside.
• heat oil and butter in deep skillet (with lid). add chicken and brown thoroughly, salt and pepper while cooking.
• stir in garlic, onion, savory, muchrooms, stock and cider. turn heat to low, simmer covered until chicken is cooked (20-30 minutes).
• remove chicken from pan, keep warm. increase heat to thicken onion mixture in pan.
• serve chicken with onion and berry sauces.

CIDER BRAISED CHICKEN OVER SMOKED CHEDDAR GRITS

Steps:

• In large skillet over medium high heat, place 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• Add chicken and cook about 3 minutes per side, until browned. Remove to 9x12-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
• In small bowl, whisk together apple cider, thyme, garlic salt and honey; pour over chicken.
• Place in 350°F oven and bake about 45 minutes or until fork tender. In large skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium high heat.
• Add onions and saute about 3 minutes or until transparent.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and cook 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove lid and continue cooking about 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
• In medium saucepan, place water and bring to rapid boil.
• Stir in grits, reduce heat to medium low and cover. Cook about 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
• Reduce heat to low; stir in butter and cheese and continue stirring until melted. Cover and remove from heat.
• To serve, place equal amounts of grits in 4 shallow bowls. Top with onion mixture and 2 chicken thighs. Garnish with thyme sprigs. Makes 4 servings.