Autumn is such a magical time. The colors all around seem dream-like, like something you’d see on a screen… too perfect to be real, and yet very wonderfully real. After walking around in this dreamy fall season, you need something just as whimsical on your plate. Apple Cider Dinner embodies everything you’re seeing around you and brings all the flavors you’re craving. Warm, sweet, and full of favorites from the fall harvest like tender butternut squash and juicy apples, you’ll never find a more ideal chicken dish for when the leaves are falling. Let your fall dream spill over into dinner time with this Apple Cider Dinner!
Ingredients
- 5 chicken breasts, boneless and skin-on
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 cups butternut squash, cut into 1/4-inch-thick cubes
- 1 apple, of your choice, sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 420 degrees F.
Step 2 –Pat the chicken breasts with a paper towel to dry completely.
Step 3 –In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, the paprika, the salt, and the pepper.
Step 4 –Generously coat the chicken breasts with the seasoning mixture and place them on a plate. Let them sit, about 15 minutes.
Step 5 –Heat an oven-safe or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until it is thoroughly heated, about 5 minutes.
Step 6 –Add the chicken breasts, skin-side down, to the hot skillet and sear until the skin turns brown, about 4-5 minutes. They will not be cooked through.
Step 7 –Transfer the chicken breasts to a clean plate.
Step 8 –Reduce the heat to medium.
Step 9 –To the same skillet, add the apple cider, the butter, the mustard, the brown sugar, and the soy sauce and stir to combine.
Step 10 –Bring the sauce mixture to a simmer and stir until it forms a smooth texture.
Step 11 –Transfer the skillet from the heat, then place the chicken breasts, skin-side up, in the sauce.
Step 12 –In a large mixing bowl, add the butternut squash, the apples, the thyme, and the remaining olive oil and toss to combine.
Step 13 –Spread the apple mixture around the chicken breasts in the skillet.
Step 14 –Bake the chicken dinner until the chicken breasts reach an internal temperature of 165 F and their skin is crispy and golden-brown, about 20 minutes.
Step 15 –Transfer the chicken dinner from the oven and allow it to cool, about 10-15 minutes.
Step 16 –Serve.
