Apple Cider Braised Chicken
with Butternut Squash
Fall in Colorado moves fast. It shows up beautifully and then disappears almost overnight. However, I’ve learned to celebrate every moment of it. This apple cider braised chicken with butternut squash brings all the cozy fall flavors to the table. It’s warm, fragrant, and perfect for those crisp evenings when you want a fall chicken dinner that feels comforting but still simple.
As the dish cooks, your kitchen fills with the aromas of sweet apple cider, tender squash, crisp apples, and earthy thyme. I love using both fresh and dried thyme here. They each bring a different flavor, and together they make this braised chicken recipe even better.
One Pan Happiness.
Let’s talk about one pan chicken recipes. They make life easier. Truly. Less cleanup means more time doing the things you enjoy, especially during these short fall days.
First, sear the chicken until golden. Remove it and set it aside.
Next, cook the butternut squash in the apple cider until it softens.
Then add the apples, nestle the chicken back in the skillet, and let everything braise together.
It’s incredibly good.
And incredibly simple.
Because yes—one pan = happiness.
This cozy fall meal also makes an excellent weeknight fall recipe since everything comes together quickly while still tasting like it simmered all day.
My favorite kitchen tools I used in this recipe
Ingredients list.
- boneless chicken breast
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
- butter
- shallots
- garlic
- butternut squash
- arrowroot or tapioca powder
- chicken bone broth
- honey crisp apple
- dried and/or fresh thyme
Fall recipes on repeat!
Pro Tip: Use a mix of sweet and tart apples for deeper flavor. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or a blend of both makes the broth even more delicious and balances the natural sweetness of the squash.
If you make this recipe, tag and follow along on Instagram @whitesparrowfoodco for more seasonal, simple, one-pan meals you’ll want to cook again and again.
Apple Cider Braised Chicken with Butternut Squash
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided in half
- 4-6 boneless chicken breasts
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 medium shallots, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, roughly minced
- 1 heaping tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 medium sized butternut squash, cubed (about 2-3 heaping cups)
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot or tapioca powder
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider
- 1 cup chicken bone broth
- 1 honey crisp apple, sliced
Instructions
- Heat a cast iron enamel pan on your stove over medium high heat. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. When the pan is hot, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and swirl around to coat the pan. Add the chicken breasts – leave some room between each piece of chicken. Let sear for 6 minutes. When the chicken lift off the pan without any problems and is a nice brown, flip them over. Turn the heat to medium low and cook for 4 minutes (the chicken will not be cooked through, so don’t taste test at this point). Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on a plate.
- Return the pan back to the heat. Add in the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil butter, shallots, garlic and butternut squash. Add in 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and 1 heaping tablespoon dried thyme. Saute for 3-4 minutes until the shallots and garlic smell good and are softened.
- Sprinkle in the arrowroot or tapioca powder, toss to the coat the squash.
- Pour in the apple cider and chicken bone broth. Stir around and place a lid on the pan. Keep the heat at medium low or low and cook covered for 8 minutes.
- Remove the lid and turn the heat to low (it should be a soft simmer). Stir around and add the chicken breasts back into the pan along with the slices of apples. Make sure to nestle the chicken and apples within the butternut squash so that it finishes cooking and takes in all those flavors.
- Taste test for salt, pepper or thyme after the chicken has cooked for 4-6 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: chicken
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: dinner
Did you make this recipe? Take a picture and tag me @whitesparrowfoodco or #whitesparrowfoodco I’d love to hear what you thought of the recipe!
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