Are you searching for a fast, fresh, and flavorful dinner that perfectly captures the delicious, cozy taste of autumn? A complete and wholesome meal that comes together in about 30 minutes with minimal cleanup? This incredible, from-scratch Spiced Chicken with Apples, served alongside simple, garlicky Swiss chard, is that perfect one-pan meal.
This isn’t just another chicken recipe; it’s your new weeknight hero. We’ll show you the simple secrets to perfectly seared, juicy chicken breasts and how to build a luscious, savory apple pan sauce right in the same skillet. It’s a stunning, healthy, and deeply satisfying dish that is as elegant as it is easy, making it perfect for a busy weeknight or a casual dinner party.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Taste of Autumn in a Skillet
What makes this Spiced Chicken with Apples so spectacularly delicious is its unique and fragrant spice blend and its wonderful balance of sweet and savory flavors. The chicken is seasoned with a warm, aromatic combination of allspice and turmeric, which gives it a beautiful golden color and a complex, cozy flavor. It’s seared to perfection and then simmered in a light yet luscious pan sauce made with sweet apples, red onion, and savory chicken broth. Served with a side of tender, garlicky Swiss chard, it’s a complete, well-balanced, and sophisticated meal.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 35 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 4 |
The Essential Ingredients for This Healthy Skillet Meal
This recipe uses a handful of fresh, seasonal ingredients to create its signature vibrant and cozy flavor.
- The Chicken & Spices:
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: This recipe works beautifully with lean chicken breasts. The secret to ensuring they stay juicy and cook evenly is to pound them to an even thickness before you start.
- The Spice Blend: A unique and wonderfully warm spice blend of ground allspice (which has notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves) and earthy, golden turmeric gives the chicken a beautiful color and a fantastic, aromatic flavor.
- The Savory Apple Pan Sauce:
- Gala Apples: A crisp, firm, and sweet apple like a Gala is a fantastic choice for this savory dish. It holds its shape well when cooked and its natural sweetness is a perfect complement to the savory chicken and onions.
- The Aromatics: Sweet red onion and pungent garlic create a delicious flavor base for the sauce.
- The Liquids: We deglaze the pan with a splash of bright, acidic lemon juice, and then create the body of the sauce with a rich, savory low-sodium chicken broth.
- The Simple, Healthy Side:
- Swiss Chard: This beautiful, leafy green is a fantastic and nutritious side dish. It has a mild, earthy flavor that is less bitter than kale, and its tender leaves and crisp stems are delicious when simply sautéed with garlic.
Step-by-Step to the Perfect Skillet Chicken
This delicious, one-pan meal comes together in just a few simple stages.
Step 1: Season and Sear the Chicken
Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the 1/2 teaspoon of ground allspice, the 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, and a few grinds of fresh black pepper.
Step 2: Pat your 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts completely dry with a paper towel and season them generously on all sides with the prepared spice mixture.
Pro Tip: Patting the chicken dry is the number one secret to getting a beautiful, golden-brown crust or sear!
Step 3: In a large, nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat.
Step 4: Carefully place the seasoned chicken in the hot skillet. Let it sear for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until it is beautifully browned. The chicken will not be fully cooked in the center at this stage.
Step 5: Transfer the seared chicken to a clean plate and set it aside. Do not wipe out the pan!
Step 2: Build the Apple Pan Sauce and Simmer
Step 1: Add the 2 sliced Gala apples, the 1 sliced red onion, and a pinch of salt to the same skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 4 minutes, until the apples are softened and have become a light golden brown.
Step 2: Add the juice of 1 lemon to the skillet to deglaze it, using a wooden spoon to scrape up all the delicious, flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the lemon juice cook for about 30 seconds.
Step 3: Add the 1/2 cup of chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer.
Step 4: Nestle the seared chicken breasts and any of their accumulated juices from the plate back into the pan, on top of the apple mixture.
Step 5: Cover the skillet and let the chicken cook for 6 to 9 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has reduced slightly.
Pro Tip: The only 100% foolproof way to guarantee a juicy, perfectly cooked chicken is to use an instant-read thermometer. The chicken is perfectly and safely cooked when the internal temperature in the thickest part of the breast registers at least 165°F (74°C).
Part 3: Sauté the Swiss Chard
While the chicken is simmering, you can prepare your simple and delicious side dish.
Step 1: Separate the tough stems from the tender leaves of your 1 bunch of Swiss chard and chop them both.
Step 2: Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a separate large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Step 3: Add the 2 minced cloves of garlic and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds, until the garlic is golden and fragrant.
Step 4: Add the chopped chard stems to the skillet and season them with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes, until the stems have softened.
Step 5: Add the chopped chard leaves to the skillet. Cook, stirring, for about 2 more minutes, until the leaves have completely wilted.
Serve the hot chicken and apples with the sautéed Swiss chard on the side.
What to Serve With Your Spiced Chicken and Apples
This beautiful skillet dinner is a fantastic, all-in-one meal. However, if you’d like to round it out, here are a few simple suggestions:
- A Hearty Grain: Serve the chicken and its delicious pan sauce over a bed of fluffy quinoa, wild rice, or couscous.
- Roasted Potatoes: Simple, roasted sweet potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes are a wonderful, comforting accompaniment.
- Crusty Bread: A simple side of warm, crusty bread is a must-have for sopping up all the delicious, lemony pan sauce.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- Make-Ahead: You can get a head start on this recipe by chopping all your vegetables and making the spice blend up to a day in advance. Store them in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: You can reheat the chicken and sauce gently in a covered skillet on the stovetop over a low heat until it is warmed through.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Use a Different Protein: This delicious, sweet and savory sauce and simple cooking method is also absolutely fantastic with boneless pork chops or juicy, boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Add a Luxurious Creamy Finish: For an even richer, more decadent sauce, you can stir in 1/4 cup of heavy cream or a large dollop of sour cream at the very end, after the chicken is fully cooked.
- Use a Different Green: If you’re not a fan of Swiss chard, this meal is also incredible when served with a side of sautéed spinach (which will cook much faster) or some hearty, wilted kale.
Enjoy Your New Favorite Healthy Skillet Meal!
You’ve just created a truly special skillet dinner that is a perfect harmony of wholesome, fresh, and delicious flavors. This Spiced Chicken with Apples is a testament to the power of a simple, one-pan meal to be both incredibly fast and incredibly elegant. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new staple in your weeknight dinner rotation.
We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, easy, and healthy meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute best way to keep my chicken breasts from being dry and tough?
The number one, game-changing secret is to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness. Chicken breasts are naturally thicker on one end than the other. Pounding them to a uniform thickness (about 3/4-inch) ensures that the entire piece of chicken cooks evenly and quickly, which prevents the thinner parts from drying out before the thicker part is cooked through. The second secret is to use an instant-read thermometer to ensure you do not overcook them.
Q2: What is Swiss chard, and how do I prepare it?
Swiss chard is a beautiful, leafy green vegetable that is a member of the beet family. It has a lovely, mild, and earthy flavor that is less bitter than kale. The recipe correctly directs you to separate the tender leaves from the tougher, crisp stems and cook the stems for a few minutes first to ensure everything is perfectly tender.
Q3: Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Yes, absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs would be a fantastic and even juicier substitute in this recipe. Because they are typically a more even thickness, you will not need to pound them. The cooking time will be very similar.
Q4: What are the best apples to use for a savory dish like this one?
You want to use a firm apple that will hold its shape when cooked and not turn into a mushy applesauce. An apple that is both a little sweet and a little crisp, like a Gala, a Fuji, or a Honeycrisp, is a fantastic choice that will complement the savory chicken beautifully.
Q5: Can I make this a one-pan meal with the Swiss chard?
You can! To make this a true one-pan meal, you can simply add the chopped chard stems to the skillet along with the apples and the onions. Then, during the last 2-3 minutes of the simmering time, you can stir in the chopped chard leaves and let them wilt directly in the pan sauce.