Why You’ll Love This this Sweet & Savory Apple-Glazed Chicken
This sweet and savory chicken dish brings together tender, juicy chicken pieces with crisp Granny Smith apples in a glossy, caramelized glaze that’s basically autumn on a plate.
The brown sugar and cider vinegar create this amazing sweet-tangy sauce that coats every bite, while the Worcestershire adds just enough depth to keep things interesting – no boring chicken dinners here.
It’s the kind of recipe that makes your kitchen smell like a warm farmhouse, and honestly, who doesn’t want to feel like they’re living in a food magazine spread while making dinner on a Tuesday night.
Ingredients List
You’ll need just a handful of simple ingredients to create this gorgeous apple-glazed masterpiece that’s going to make your whole house smell like fall decided to move in permanently.
- 1 1/4 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 4 granny smith apples, cored and sliced into 1/2 inch wedges
- 3/4 cup dry white wine
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Here’s the thing about this ingredient list – it’s surprisingly balanced from a health perspective, which honestly feels like winning the lottery when you’re making something this delicious:
- The apples bring natural fiber and vitamins, plus they help cut the richness of the sauce
- Using minimal oil keeps things lighter than most skillet dishes
- The brown sugar creates that gorgeous glaze without going overboard on sweetness
- Chicken breast is lean protein that won’t leave you feeling heavy
- The wine and vinegar add tons of flavor without adding calories, which is basically kitchen magic
Step by Step Directions
This apple-glazed chicken comes together in one skillet with a simple sear-and-simmer technique that creates an incredible sauce without any fussy steps.
- Heat 1 1/4 teaspoons vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add 6 cubed chicken breast halves and brown on all sides until golden.
- Add 4 sliced Granny Smith apples and sauté for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour in half of the white wine (about 6 tablespoons) and half of the chicken broth.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk together remaining wine, remaining chicken broth, brown sugar, cider vinegar, cornstarch, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper.
- Add the sauce mixture to the skillet.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken and apples.
- Serve immediately while the glaze is glossy and the chicken is tender.
For your next culinary adventure, consider exploring homemade pasta dishes using a premium pasta maker to create fresh noodles that pair beautifully with similar glazed proteins.
Substitutions and Variations
- Vegetable additions – Toss in some diced onions with the apples, or add carrots and celery for a more hearty, almost stew-like situation.
- Sweetness adjustments – Cut the brown sugar in half if you prefer things less sweet, or swap it for maple syrup if you want that fall atmosphere cranked up to eleven.
- Thickness control – Use less cornstarch for a thinner sauce, or make a slurry with cold water if you want it extra thick and glossy.
Additional Things to Serve With This Dish
This chicken pairs beautifully with so many sides that you’ll have trouble choosing just one or two.
• Rice and grains – Fluffy white rice soaks up that glossy apple sauce like a dream, while wild rice adds a nutty contrast that plays well with the sweet-tart flavors.
Brown rice works too, though it’s a bit more assertive than the delicate chicken deserves.
• Roasted vegetables – Brussels sprouts get caramelized and crispy, creating this lovely textural contrast to the tender chicken.
Roasted sweet potatoes echo the apple sweetness without competing, and green beans stay crisp enough to cut through all that rich sauce.
• Potato options – Mashed potatoes turn this into comfort food central, especially if you leave the skins on for texture.
Roasted fingerlings get golden and crispy on the outside while staying fluffy inside, making them perfect little sauce-sopping vehicles.
• Fresh elements – A simple arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette cuts through the richness beautifully, while steamed asparagus adds that bright green pop your plate needs.
Even basic steamed broccoli works wonders here, though I know that sounds boring.
• Bread situations – Crusty dinner rolls let you chase every last drop of that apple glaze around your plate, which is really the whole point of making this dish in the first place.
Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)
A few smart moves will turn this good recipe into something that’ll make your kitchen smell like autumn heaven.
• Don’t crowd the chicken – Give those cubes some breathing room in the pan, or they’ll steam instead of getting that gorgeous golden crust.
I’d rather cook in batches than end up with sad, gray chicken pieces.
• Pick the right apples – Granny Smiths are perfect here because they hold their shape and won’t turn to mush, but Honeycrisp or Braeburn work if that’s what you’ve got.
Just avoid Red Delicious, which basically turn into apple sauce the moment they hit heat.
• Cornstarch magic – Mix that cornstarch with the cold wine first, whisking like your life depends on it.
Nobody wants lumpy sauce, and cornstarch gets revenge on people who try to rush this step.
• Low and slow for the sauce – Once you add the cornstarch mixture, keep the heat at medium and stir constantly.
High heat turns cornstarch into weird, gloppy cement, and trust me, that’s not the texture we’re going for here.
• Taste as you go – The sweetness of apples varies wildly, so you might need to adjust that brown sugar or add a pinch more salt.
Your tongue is smarter than any recipe, including this one.
• Let it rest – Give the finished dish a few minutes to settle before serving.
The sauce will thicken up even more, and those flavors will meld together into something magical.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 285
- Protein: 35g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Dietary Fiber: 3g
- Sugars: 18g
- Total Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Cholesterol: 98mg
- Sodium: 485mg
- Potassium: 425mg
- Vitamin C: 8% Daily Value
- Iron: 6% Daily Value
- Calcium: 2% Daily Value
Key nutritional highlights:
- High-protein, low-fat – Each serving delivers a solid protein punch without excessive calories
- Natural fruit sugars – The sweetness comes primarily from apples and brown sugar rather than processed additives
- Moderate sodium – The salt content is reasonable for a flavored dish, though those watching sodium should monitor portion sizes
- Gluten-free friendly – Using cornstarch instead of flour makes this suitable for gluten-sensitive diets
- Low saturated fat – Minimal oil and lean chicken breast keep the unhealthy fats in check
- Antioxidant boost – Apples contribute fiber and natural antioxidants, plus that hit of vitamin C
Fun “Did You Know?”
Beyond the impressive nutritional profile, this apple-glazed chicken recipe connects you to centuries of culinary tradition.
Did you know that apples and chicken have been paired together since medieval times? European cooks realized that apples’ natural sugars create perfect caramelization while their acidity tenderizes meat.
Granny Smith apples, featured in this recipe, weren’t developed until 1868 by Australian grandmother Maria Ann Smith. The combination of sweet and savory flavors triggers multiple taste receptors simultaneously, which explains why you’ll find this dish so satisfying.
I’m sharing a recipe that’s both historically significant and scientifically delicious.
