Baked Chicken with Apples and Honey Recipe
This Baked Chicken with Apples and Honey recipe offers a delightful balance of savory and sweet flavors. Tender chicken breasts are seared to golden perfection, then baked with tart Granny Smith apples, fragrant herbs, and a touch of honey for a comforting, wholesome meal that’s perfect for any night of the week.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1.5 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 2 skinless chicken breasts
- ½ onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- pinch salt
- pinch black pepper, optional
Fruit and Flavorings
- 1.5 Granny Smith apples, cored and sliced
- ¾ cup apple juice or apple cider
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon sage
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 200°C (390°F) to get it ready for baking the chicken after searing.
- Sear Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken breasts for 4-5 minutes on each side until nicely browned. Use tongs to transfer the chicken to an ovenproof dish or keep it in the oven-safe skillet if you used one.
- Sauté Aromatics and Apples: Add another half tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet if needed. Sauté the diced onion and garlic for 3-4 minutes until softened. Then add the sliced apples and continue cooking for an additional minute.
- Add Liquids and Herbs: Pour in the apple juice and honey, then sprinkle the thyme, sage, salt, and black pepper over the mixture. Let this cook for 2 more minutes to combine flavors.
- Bake the Chicken: Pour the apple and herb mixture over the chicken breasts. Loosely cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Rest and Serve: Allow the chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes after baking to retain juices. Then serve the baked chicken with the apple and herb sauce spooned over the top.
Notes
- Using tart green apples like Granny Smith balances the sweetness of honey and herbs nicely.
- Dried herbs are more potent; reduce the amount if substituting for fresh herbs.
- Always check that the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F to ensure it is cooked safely.
- If sensitive to packaged juices, freshly squeeze your apple juice instead.
- Nutritional values given are estimates and should be used as a guideline only.
Keywords: baked chicken, apples, honey, herb chicken recipe, healthy chicken dinner, easy baked chicken
