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Bowl of Slow Cooker Cider Chicken and Apples garnished with parsley and fennel, served in a creamy cider sauce

Slow Cooker Cider Chicken and Apples

This Slow Cooker Cider Chicken and Apples is a time-saving recipe that combines tender chicken thighs with sweet apples and a rich creamy sauce, making it the perfect easy dinner option for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat, cut into thirds
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup all-natural apple cider
  • 3 leeks, white and light green parts only, halved and sliced 1 inch thick
  • 2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled and cut into large chunks
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 1 medium fennel bulb, quartered, cored, and thickly sliced, 1/4 cup chopped fronds reserved
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 cups extra-wide egg noodles

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. In a large bowl, toss the chicken thighs with flour, dill, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and a few grinds of pepper to coat.
  3. Brown the chicken in batches in your hot skillet, about 3 minutes per side, then transfer to your 6-quart slow cooker.
  4. To the slow cooker, add the chicken broth, apple cider, leeks, apples, fennel bulb, bay leaves, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours.
  6. Turn the slow cooker to high; stir in the cream, mustard, parsley, and fennel fronds. Let the apples break into the sauce—a good thing!
  7. Add the egg noodles, cover, and continue cooking on high for 7 minutes or until the noodles are al dente.
  8. Remove the bay leaves and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Notes

Don’t skip browning the chicken; it locks in flavor without adding significant time. Always add the noodles at the end to keep them from overcooking. Prep everything the night before, store in the fridge, and start slow cooking the next day. This dish reheats beautifully. Add a splash of broth to revive the sauce when warming. Double the recipe and freeze portions for future meals—an absolute lifesaver!