Description
This Creamy Apple Cider Chicken Skillet is a quick and cozy fall dinner made with tender chicken breasts simmered in a smooth apple cider cream sauce. It’s rich, tangy, and perfectly balanced — ready in under 40 minutes using just one pan.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup apple cider (not vinegar)
½ cup heavy cream (or oat cream for dairy-free)
2 tbsp butter
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Optional: 1 tbsp olive oil (for extra searing flavor)
Instructions
Sear the Chicken: Season chicken with salt and pepper. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
Build the Sauce: Add onions and garlic to the skillet. Sauté 2 minutes, scraping up browned bits. Pour in apple cider and simmer until reduced by half.
Make It Creamy: Whisk in Dijon mustard and heavy cream. Stir until smooth.
Combine and Simmer: Return chicken to the pan. Simmer 8–10 minutes until fully cooked and sauce thickens.
Serve: Sprinkle with thyme and serve warm with mashed potatoes or rice.
Notes
For dairy-free: Use oat or coconut cream.For gluten-free: Use gluten-free flour if thickening the sauce.
Don’t overcook — simmer gently for tender chicken.
Add veggies like spinach or mushrooms for a full one-pan meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 430 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg
Keywords: Creamy Apple Cider Chicken Skillet, creamy chicken recipe, apple cider chicken, fall dinner, one-pan chicken