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5 from 1 vote

Chicken Fricassee with Apples

Gently stewed chicken breasts in a creamy white sauce made with chicken broth, cider and a splash of vinegar for wonderful balance.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple, chicken
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 401kcal
Author: Tricia

Ingredients

  • 2 sweet apples like Fuji, Gala or Braeburn
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts trimmed
  • salt and pepper
  • cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 1 onion chopped fine
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ cup apple cider (not sweetened apple juice)
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley or additional thyme leaves for garnish

Instructions

  • Wash the apples and cut each into fourths. Do not remove the skin. Cut away the seeds and core, then cut each quarter into four ½-inch-thick wedges. You should have a total of 16 wedges for each apple.
  • Place the flour in a shallow bowl. Dry the chicken breasts with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Dredge each chicken breast in the flour to coat and transfer to a clean plate. Set aside.
  • Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter and heat until melted. Add the apple slices, cut side down, to the hot skillet. Cook the apples until well browned, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
  • Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the now empty skillet. Once melted, add the chicken breasts and cook until well browned on both sides. Transfer back to the plate.
  • Immediately add the onion, thyme leaves and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper to the hot skillet. Cook over medium heat until the onion is softened and browned, about 7-8 minutes.
  • Add the cider and broth (not vinegar yet) to the onions in the skillet and bring to a boil. Add the browned chicken to the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Do not turn the chicken.
  • Remove the chicken to a serving platter and tent with foil to keep warm. Add the cream to the skillet. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Cook until the sauce has thickened slightly, about 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and stir until combined. Add the apples, and any accumulated chicken juices to the skillet. Check the seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed. Spoon the sauce over the chicken breasts and garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Optional add ins: Sprinkle 1/2 cup frozen peas over the sauce at the end to add a little color to the dish. Mushrooms or carrots would also be great added at the same time as the onions.
  • Make sure to brown the chicken, apples and onions well for good caramelization and color.
  • This recipe moves fast so it’s best to have all ingredients prepped and measured before you start cooking. Read through the recipe a time or two before starting and it will be much easier to make.
  • Recipe adapted from Cook's Country magazine
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 444mg | Potassium: 578mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 991IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg