Best 3 Cider Braised Chicken With Apples And Kale Recipes

Indulge in the tantalizing flavors of fall with this Cider Braised Chicken with Apples and Kale, a dish that effortlessly blends sweet, savory, and aromatic notes. Picture succulent chicken thighs nestled in a rich and flavorful apple cider braising liquid, infused with the essence of crisp apples, aromatic rosemary, and a hint of tangy lemon. As the chicken braises, it absorbs the delectable flavors of the cider, resulting in tender and juicy meat that simply melts in your mouth.

Accompanying the chicken are tender and flavorful sautéed apples, their natural sweetness perfectly complementing the savory chicken. The addition of hearty kale adds a touch of earthy goodness and essential nutrients, making this dish a wholesome and satisfying meal. The recipe also includes instructions for preparing a creamy and tangy yogurt sauce, adding a delightful contrast to the rich flavors of the chicken and apples.

This culinary masterpiece is not only a treat for your taste buds but also incredibly easy to prepare. With just a few simple steps and readily available ingredients, you can create a dish that will impress family and friends alike. So, gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and embark on a culinary journey that will leave you craving more.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS AND APPLES

Braised Chicken Thighs and Apples image

Apple cider and apples give this braised chicken dish a decidedly fall feel.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

8 bone-in chicken thighs (2 to 2 1/2 pounds)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 bunch leeks (white and green parts), halved lengthwise and sliced
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 apples, such as Golden Delicious, chopped

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 425 degree F. Sprinkle the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large, deep ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken in the skillet skin-side down and cook, flipping once, until golden on both sides. Transfer to a plate.
Reduce the heat to medium, add the thyme and leeks to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Pour in the wine and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Cook until the skillet is nearly dry. Stir in the broth, apple cider and a pinch each of salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
Use a fork to mash the butter and flour together in a small bowl until smooth. Whisk the butter-flour mixture into the skillet until dissolved. Stir in the apples and remove from the heat. Nestle the chicken skin-side up in the skillet along with any collected juices from the plate. Bake until the chicken is cooked through, about 25 minutes.

CIDER-BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH APPLES AND GREENS

Cider-Braised Chicken Thighs With Apples and Greens image

In this hearty one-pot dinner, chicken thighs are browned, then braised in chicken broth flavored with mustard, sage, garlic and a triple dose of apple: apple cider, cider vinegar and apple slices. The addition of a few handfuls of greens makes this a complete meal, in need of nothing else but a nice of hunk of bread to soak up the broth and perhaps a glass of dry white wine.

Provided by Lidey Heuck

Categories dinner, poultry, main course

Time 50m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 1/2 to 2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 4 to 6)
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons canola or grapeseed oil
1 cup thinly sliced shallots (2 to 3 medium shallots)
2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh sage leaves
3 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup fresh apple cider
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, plus more to taste
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3/4 to 1 cup chicken broth, preferably low-sodium
1 bunch curly kale (10 to 12 ounces), stemmed, leaves torn into bite-size pieces
1 crisp red apple, such as Fuji, cored and thinly sliced

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.

APPLE CIDER CHICKEN

Apple Cider Chicken image

Provided by Sunny Anderson

Categories main-dish

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 Vidalia onion, chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and sliced into 1/4-inch wedges
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups apple cider

Steps:

Heat oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, add to pan and sear until golden, about 4 minutes each side. Remove chicken from pan, and set aside. Add remaining butter and onion, apple, garlic, thyme and bay leaves. Saute until apple begins to get color and onions soften, about 6 minutes. Add flour and stir 2 to 3 minutes. Nestle chicken back into pan, add cider, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook until chicken is cooked through, about 12 minutes.

Tips:

Use a Dutch oven or large pot with a lid. This will help to braise the chicken and create a flavorful sauce.
Sear the chicken before braising. This will help to brown the chicken and add flavor to the dish.
Use a flavorful cooking liquid. The cooking liquid will infuse the chicken with flavor as it braises. Good options include apple cider, chicken broth, or white wine.
Add vegetables and herbs to the cooking liquid. This will add flavor and color to the dish. Good options include apples, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme, and rosemary.
Braise the chicken for at least 1 hour. This will allow the chicken to become tender and fall off the bone.
Serve the chicken with a side of mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.

Conclusion:

Cider-braised chicken with apples and kale is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a fall or winter meal. The chicken is tender and flavorful, the apples and kale add sweetness and crunch, and the cider-based sauce is rich and savory. This dish is sure to please everyone at your table.