
Country Chicken Skillet with Cider-Sage Gravy, Crunchy Pretzel Stuffing and Roasted Squash
An original American-inspired recipe: browned chicken thighs served over a savory pretzel-herb stuffing with roasted squash and a silky apple cider-sage gravy. Cozy, crisp, and perfect for a hearty dinner.
Ingredients
- 700 g boneless skinless chicken thighs (secados with papel of cocina)
- 8 g salt (divided)
- 3 g black pepper (freshly ground, divided)
- 4 g smoked paprika
- 3 g garlic powder (divided)
- 30 ml olive oil (divided)
- 450 g delicata or butternut squash, small diced (without semillas)
- 180 g yellow onion (chopped diced small, divided)
- 100 g celery (chopped)
- 45 g unsalted butter (divided)
- 6 g fresh sage (chopped, divided)
- 2 g fresh thyme (hojitas solamente)
- 140 g hard pretzels (troceados en pieces small)
- 170 g rustic bread (diced of 2 cm, lightly dry)
- 480 ml chicken broth (divided)
- 180 ml non-alcoholic apple cider (divided)
- 16 g all-purpose flour
- 10 g Dijon mustard
- 15 ml apple cider vinegar
- 8 g fresh parsley (chopped)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 220°C / 425°F. Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and half of the garlic powder. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until tender and browned at the edges.
- 2
While the squash roasts, pat the chicken thighs dry and season them with 1 teaspoon salt, 3/4 teaspoon black pepper, and the smoked paprika.
- 3
Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and brown the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until nicely colored. Transfer to a plate; it will finish cooking later.
- 4
Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add two-thirds of the onion and all the celery. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring, until softened. Stir in half of the sage, the thyme, and the remaining garlic powder; cook for 30 seconds.
- 5
Add the broken pretzels and cubed rustic bread. Pour in 360 ml / 1 1/2 cups chicken broth and 60 ml / 1/4 cup apple cider. Mix well to moisten, then fold in the roasted squash and half of the parsley. Cook for 1 minute and level the mixture into a rustic stuffing base.
- 6
Nestle the browned chicken thighs on top of the stuffing. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake at 200°C / 400°F for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the center reaches at least 74°C / 165°F.
- 7
Meanwhile, make the gravy. In a small saucepan, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the remaining onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- 8
Gradually whisk in the remaining 120 ml / 1/2 cup chicken broth and remaining 120 ml / 1/2 cup apple cider. Add the Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and remaining sage. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until lightly thickened and smooth.
- 9
Remove the skillet from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Taste the gravy and adjust with an extra pinch of salt or black pepper if desired.
- 10
Serve the chicken over the crunchy pretzel-squash stuffing, spoon the cider gravy over the top, and finish with the remaining fresh parsley.
Chef tips
For the best texture, use day-old bread and thick pretzels so the stuffing stays crisp on top and tender inside. If your skillet is not oven-safe, transfer the stuffing and chicken to a baking dish before baking.
Substitutions
You can swap the squash for diced sweet potato. Thyme can be replaced with a smaller amount of rosemary. If you do not have non-alcoholic apple cider, use unsweetened apple juice with an extra splash of apple cider vinegar.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
Illustrative imageT-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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