Sticky Apple Cider Chicken with Crisp Autumn Slaw Recipe
A flavorful dish featuring crispy seared chicken thighs glazed with a sticky, sweet apple cider reduction, paired perfectly with a refreshing and crunchy autumn slaw made of cabbage, carrots, and apple, dressed in a tangy apple cider vinegar dressing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Glaze
- 6 chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil (vegetable or olive oil)
Crisp Autumn Slaw
- 2 cups green cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup carrots, shredded
- 1 medium apple (preferably Granny Smith), thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or chives, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the glaze: In a small saucepan, combine the apple cider, honey, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reduces and thickens into a sticky glaze that can coat the back of a spoon.
- Cook the chicken: Heat cooking oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken thighs generously with salt and pepper. Place them skin side down and sear until the skin is golden and crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Flip and continue cooking for another 5 minutes until the chicken is almost cooked through.
- Glaze the chicken: Pour the prepared apple cider glaze over the chicken in the skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook gently, spooning the glaze frequently over the thighs until sticky and caramelized, fully coating the chicken.
- Make the crisp autumn slaw: While the chicken cooks, combine shredded green cabbage, shredded carrots, and thinly sliced apple in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together apple cider vinegar, celery seeds, salt, and pepper. Drizzle this dressing over the slaw and toss gently to combine. Stir in chopped fresh parsley or chives for added brightness.
- Plate and serve: Arrange the sticky apple cider chicken thighs on plates alongside a generous portion of the crisp autumn slaw. Serve immediately to enjoy the balance of sticky, sweet chicken and refreshing, crunchy slaw.
Notes
- Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for the best flavor and texture.
- Granny Smith apples add a nice tartness that balances the sweet glaze perfectly.
- Adjust honey quantity in the glaze if you prefer it more or less sweet.
- The slaw can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld.
- Make sure to spoon the glaze over the chicken frequently to achieve a nice sticky coating.
Keywords: apple cider chicken, sticky chicken thighs, autumn slaw, apple slaw, crispy chicken, sweet and tangy chicken
