Apple Chicken Skillet Recipe

Introduction

Looking for a dish that’s easy to prepare, delivers incredible flavor, and feels gourmet enough for guests? This Apple Chicken Skillet recipe checks all the boxes. Sweet apples, savory seared chicken, and a blend of comforting spices all come together in one pan for a no-fuss dinner solution. Whether you’re serving a weeknight family meal or hosting a fall-inspired dinner party, this recipe is bound to become a new favorite.

Flavorful and Simple Apple Chicken Skillet

This recipe stands out thanks to the magical pairing of apples and chicken—combining juicy, tender chicken breasts with sweet, slightly tart apples creates a harmonious flavor profile. A touch of maple syrup and a hint of fresh thyme enhance the dish, while the minimal prep and cleanup make it a true one-pan wonder.

The Secret to Great Apple Chicken

Choose crisp apples, like Honeycrisp or Gala, for the best texture. Season the chicken well and get a good sear to lock in juices and build flavor. A quick pan sauce, built right after cooking the chicken and apples, ties everything together with a subtle sweetness that brings out the savory notes of the chicken.

Perfect Skillet Assembly

Cook everything in a large, oven-safe skillet so you can sauté on the stovetop and finish under the broiler if you want extra caramelization. Toast the spices slightly in hot oil before adding the chicken—this opens up the flavors. Slice the apples uniformly for even cooking, and don’t forget to deglaze the pan with a little broth or apple cider to capture every ounce of flavor.

Serving Suggestions for Apple Chicken Skillet

Serve the apple chicken over fluffy mashed potatoes, wild rice, or buttered egg noodles. Sprinkle with fresh parsley or thyme for a beautiful finish. For an easy weeknight meal, add a simple side salad and crusty bread, and dinner is served.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe serves 4, with each serving containing roughly 350 calories, 28g of protein, 11g of fat, and 30g of carbohydrates (depending on your apple and portion choices). It’s a balanced dish high in lean protein and bursting with natural sweetness.

Apple Chicken Skillet (Recap)

One-skillet Apple Chicken is a crave-worthy dinner you’ll want on repeat. Its elegant, sweet-savory flavors suit any season, while the easy cleanup keeps you out of the kitchen and around the dinner table.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook 5–6 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate and keep warm.
3. In the same skillet, add the onions and apples. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until softening, then sprinkle in the thyme and cinnamon. Cook 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Deglaze the pan with chicken broth (or apple cider), scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Stir in the maple syrup (or honey).
5. Return the chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the apples and onions. Spoon some of the sauce over the chicken. If desired, transfer to the oven and broil for 2–3 minutes for extra caramelization (optional).
6. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or extra thyme and serve hot.

Weekly Meal Planning

This apple chicken skillet is a fantastic make-ahead option for busy weekdays. Save and schedule this recipe to plan when you’ll cook it during the week and generate an automatically organized shopping list with precisely the right quantities—making meal planning easier than ever.

Planning Benefits:

– Calculates combined ingredient amounts if you add several recipes to your week
– Organizes ingredients by grocery store section for faster shopping
– Helps prevent forgetting key items during your shop
– Streamlines weekly meal prep and planning

Pro tip: If you select multiple chicken skillet dinners in a week, use scheduling to automatically calculate the total chicken to buy, saving you time and eliminating waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes