Crock Pot Chicken and Apples

Slow cooker full of bone in chicken thighs, chopped apples, onion, and apple cider surrounding the cooked chicken.

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Apple cider chicken is the perfect main dish for fall, when you're craving a healthy meal with fall flavors. The sweet and savory elements combine flawlessly to engulf the tender chicken with delight.

Prep Time15

Cook Time4 10

Total Time4 25

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: crock pot chicken and apples, crock pot chicken recipes, slow cooker chicken recipes, slow cooker recipes

Servings: Servings

Calories: 225kcal

Author: Julia Mueller

Equipment

Crock Pot

Ingredients

2 Tbsp avocado oil
1 large yellow onion
5 cloves garlic minced
4 to 5 lbs bone-in skin on chicken thighs
1 tsp paprika
2 apples peeled and chopped*
2 cups apple cider
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
¼ cup dry white wine optional
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp sea salt to taste
¼ tsp black pepper to taste

Instructions

Remove the chicken from its packaging and place it on large plates or a cutting board. Sprinkle the chicken with sea salt and paprika. Note: this step can be performed while the onion is sautéing.
Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened and turned golden-brown, about 10 minutes. If you have the time, caramelize the onion (or two onions) fully. Move the sauteed onion to the bottom of your slow cooker and return the skillet to the stove top.
If need be, add more avocado oil to generously coat the surface and allow the skillet to heat over medium-high or high heat until it is sizzling hot. Carefully transfer the seasoned chicken to the surface of the hot skillet skin-side down and brown for 4 minutes, until the skin is golden brown. Flip to the other side and brown for an additional 4 minutes.
Use tongs to transfer the chicken to the slow cooker with the sauteed onion and add in the rest of the ingredients (minced garlic, chopped apples, apple cider, apple cider vinegar, white wine, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper).
Secure the lid on the crock pot and cook for 4 hours on high heat or for 7-8 hours on low heat.
Remove the lid from the crock pot and serve your chicken and apples with your choice of side dishes.

Notes

*I use gala apples. Use a hearty apple that will hold up during the cooking process without turning to mush. Granny smith apples, pink lady apples, honeycrisp apples, and Jonagold apples are all great options.

Nutrition