Tangy Orchard Chicken

I make chicken a lot for dinner so I am always looking for ways to change things up so we aren't eating the same grilled chicken night after night. I love any meal that incorporates cooked fruit. The warm sweetness of an apple or pear could make even a dry piece of chicken taste good...but trust me, this chicken won't be dry.

This is a perfect meal to make during the fall when apples are at the height of the season. You can use any kind of apple you like for this recipe....granny smith if you like tart, gala for a mild flavor, and when they're in season, try honey-crisp for that extra sweet finish!

INGREDIENTS:
- 4 medium skinless/boneless chicken breast (about 1.5lbs)
- 2 apples of your liking (I used Golden Delicious the last time I made this)
- 1 medium red onion, sliced thin
- 1c low-sodium chicken broth (I used the Rachael Ray all-natural brand)
- 2 tbsp lite maple syrup (I used Log Cabin brand)
- 2 tbsp whole grain dijon mustard
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1/3c half & half
- salt & pepper to taste

HOW-TO:

Pound the chicken breasts out thin in between some parchment paper until each breast is about 1/2" thick. Season with a few sprinkles of salt & a couple turns of fresh ground pepper.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add the chicken breasts and cook until it's browned on each side & cooked through - about 8 minutes per side. Once done cooking, transfer the chicken to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.

Take the core out of the apples and slice into rings - each apple should yield about 6-8 rings. Arrange the apples & onion on a microwave safe plate, cover with parchment paper, and microwave on high for about 4 minutes.

Transfer the warmed apple & onion mixture to the skillet and cook over medium heat to get a golden brown color. Add the chicken broth, syrup, mustard, and a pinch of salt - cook until mixture is slightly reduced, about 2-3 minutes.

In a small bowl, mix the half & half & cornstarch until smooth and then stir into the apple mixture, cooking until the sauce is somewhat thick, about 2-3 minutes.

To serve, spoon the apple & onion mixture w/ sauce over each piece of chicken.

Blogger Note:
Try serving to your tot & you may be impressed at how easily they wolf this down!

Nutritional Facts Per Serving (recipe yields 4 servings):
Calories: 310
Fat: 9g
Sodium: 350mg
Protein: 40g