Cider Chicken

I had leftover spiced cider and decided to try using it to cook some chicken…actually came out well.  It’s little sweet due to the brown sugar in the cider but still good…IMHO!
 
Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
• 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 2 pounds)
• Salt
• Fresh ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 large or two medium onions, chopped
• 1 apple, peeled, cored and sliced (approx. 1/8 inch slices)
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 4 cups spiced cider

Directions:Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

1. Pour cider into roasting pan.
2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, add to skillet and sear until golden, about 4 minutes each side.
4. Remove chicken from skillet and place in roasting pan.
5. Add butter, onion, apple, garlic, thyme and rosemary to skillet.
6. Sauté until apple begins to color up and onions soften.
7. Pour over chicken.
8. Put lid on roasting pan and place in oven until chicken is cooked. (approximately 30 – 45 minutes)

To make gravy:

1. Remove chicken and apples from roasting pan.
2. Place pan on stove and bring to boil.
3. Place cornstarch in jar, add 3/4 cup cold cider, secure lid tightly and shake well. 
4. Pour slurry into boiling pan drippings and stir until thickened.
5. Serve over mashed potatoes.

 
Notes:

• I used grapeseed oil but you could easily use olive oil or any oil you prefer.
• May need to add a bit more oil when browning chicken.
• You don’t have to use spiced cider…can use plain instead and just add the juice of one orange, 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon and a sprinkle of nutmeg.  Would probably omit the brown sugar or just use maybe a tablespoonful.
• You can also use plain cider without the orange, cinnamon and nutmeg.
• You could add carrots and potatoes to the roasting pan and serve over them rather than mashed potatoes.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and if you try the recipe, as always, I would love any feedback you would care to give.