Indulge in the rich flavors of this Cider Braised Chicken with French Onion featuring tender chicken breasts baked to perfection with caramelized onions, apple cider, and gruyere cheese. This braised chicken dish is guaranteed to please everyone!
If you are a French Onion Soup lover, you’ll enjoy this cider braised chicken or try my Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken for a more traditional recipe!
Table of Contents
This apple cider chicken is made with simple seasoned chicken breasts and the cozy flavors of French onion soup. I’ve added my favorite go-to fall ingredient, apple cider, for a touch of sweetness yet tart flavor to the chicken. Baked with caramelized onions and topped with melted gruyere cheese it is a quick and easy weeknight meal that feels quite luxurious.
If you’ve never cooked with apple cider before you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the sweet and tart flavor it brings to your dishes. This Cider Braised Pork Roast is another great recipe that features apple cider.
Though I used chicken breasts in this recipe you could use chicken thighs, bone in or bone out. If you opt to use bone-in chicken you may need to let it cook a little longer.
Gruyere cheese is the best option to pair with this chicken and apple cider, along with caramelized onions for an authentic French onion soup taste. If you can’t get your hands on any, use Emmenthal instead.
What you’ll need
- Chicken breasts: I used deboned, skinless chicken breasts but chicken cutlets or thinner filets would also be a good option. Just be sure to adjust cooking times.
- Onion: Any type of white onion, sliced, will work in this chicken recipe.
- Coconut sugar: Coconut sugar adds sweetness. Brown sugar is a good alternative.
- Apple cider: Apple cider adds a natural sweetness. Do not use apple cider vinegar.
- Butter: Salted or unsalted butter helps to soften and brown the onions.
- Cheese: I sprinkled shredded gruyère cheese over the chicken as the flavor combination goes well.
The details
First: Season chicken well with salt and pepper.
Second: Heat the oil in an oven-safe skillet and cook the chicken until golden on both sides. Transfer to a plate.
Third: Melt the butter in the skillet and sauté the onions until they turn golden brown.
Fourth: Stir in the coconut sugar and then deglaze the pan with apple cider.
Fifth: Place chicken back in the skillet and top with gruyère cheese. Bake in the oven at 400F until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165F degrees.
Sixth: Garnish with fresh thyme and serve.
Helpful TIP
Cut the onions as thinly as possible so they caramelize quickly. Using a food processor or mandolin will speed up the process.
Turn this into a full meal
Here are a few ideas I think will work well to soak up the sweet and savory sauce in this apple cider chicken:
These French Bread Dinner Rolls or these Instant Pot No Knead Artisan Bread are good bread options. Honestly even a quick sandwich bread will do!
You can also serve this apple chicken alongside a low-carb mashed potato alternative, Cauliflower Mashed, or this simple Garlic Fried Rice With Swiss Chard would also work well.
FAQs
Hard apple cider will work but it has a more robust flavor. Hard cider also contains alcohol which is usually burned off during the cooking process but if you want to avoid using alcohol, apple cider is better. If you want you can use apple juice, make sure it is unsweetened.
I find that butter adds a richness to the onions though oil will work as well.
Absolutely! Please see instructions in the recipe card.
Storage and Make Ahead
Refrigerator: Store chicken leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or over the stove.
NOTE: the best way to reheat this apple cider braised chicken is by steaming. This way the chicken will remain moist and not dry out. You can always add more gruyère cheese at this point and toss it in the air fryer or oven for a couple of minutes until the cheese melts.
Freezer: In the freezer, cider braised chicken will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Make ahead: This one-pot dish is a good option to prepare during meal prep so all you have to do on those busy weeknights is reheat it.
More braised chicken recipes you’ll love
Braising is such a wonderful way to build flavorful and cozy meals. This Braised Chicken with Mushrooms and Broccoli is a classic with mushrooms and broccoli. While this similar Braised Chicken and Potatoes has a side of delicious potatoes.
For an oven alternative that provides with a meal that is complete with chicken for protein and veggies try this very popular Honey Mustard Chicken Recipe with tomatoes and zucchini.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below 👇🏻 Thank you!
Cider Braised Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts or filets
- 1 lg onion sliced
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1 cup apple cider
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup gruyère cheese shredded
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Stove Top Skillet Braised Chicken Instructions
- Start by seasoning the chicken well with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in oven safe cast iron skillet. Add chicken and cook on both sides until golden brown (about 5-7 minutes on each side). Transfer chicken to a plate.
- To the same skillet melt butter. Toss in onions and sauté on medium-low heat for about 12-15 minutes or until onions are golden brown, but not burnt.
- Stir in coconut sugar, then deglaze the pan with apple cider.
- Transfer chicken back to the skillet. Top with gruyère cheese and bake in the oven at 400F degrees for 8 minutes or until internal temperature is at least 165F degrees.
- Garnish with fresh thyme and serve.
Slow Cooker / Crockpot Instructions
- Start by seasoning the chicken well with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in slow cooker using sauté mode (Note, if your crockpot does not have sauté or browning mode, you'll need to do this step on the stove top). Add chicken and cook on both sides until golden brown (about 5-7 minutes on each side). Transfer chicken to a plate.
- Melt butter. Toss in onions and sauté for about 12-15 minutes or until onions are golden brown, but not burnt.
- Stir in coconut sugar, then deglaze the slow cooker with apple cider.
- Transfer chicken back to the slow cooker. Top with gruyère cheese and cook on low for up to 6 hours and on high for up to 4 hours. The internal temperature should be at least 165F degrees.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.