Asian Soy-Glazed Apple Chicken

For a tender, savory chicken dinner that’s the perfect amount of sweetness, try this Asian Soy Glazed Apple Chicken! This fruity chicken dish is sweet and savory in the most natural way. This chicken is extra tender thanks to chunks of flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth sautéed apples. And, it’s surprisingly gut-friendly! If you’re looking for tasty dish that’s also sneaks more fiber into your meals, this chicken dinner is the one!

Soy Apple Chicken: Surprisingly Gut Friendly

This Soy Glazed Apple Chicken is a variation on my Soy Glazed Chicken, with a fruity twist. I wanted to get a little creative with apples today, because I thought since we cook with other fruits like orange and lemons, why not apples? Apples add a natural, fruity sweetness and tartness that balances out that savory soy glaze. It’s refreshingly delicious! And, it has that tenderizing effect I like to take advantage of when it comes to marinating Korean BBQ meats.

Turns out, the combination of apples and chicken is super healthy, especially for someone training for a marathon like me. It’s a particularly good recovery dish thanks to its lean proteins and gut-friendly fiber. It’s easy to digest, with nutrients I need after a high intensity training.

Glazed Apple Chicken Ingredients

Sauteed Apples

I know it’s weird seeing apples in a savory dinner dish, but it’s actually my secret ingredient for extra tender meat. The apple helps naturally tenderize the chicken as it cooks, while also adding a light sweetness to the sauce. Apples naturally are high in vitamin C, fiber, and pectin, which are great for heart, immune, and gut health.

But, after cooking, the apple activates and releases extra pectin that makes it even more protective and healthy for your gut. It also turns soft and juicy in the pan and absorbs all the savory chicken flavor. Combined with garlic and onions, the apples add a fresh, fruity fragrance to the whole dish. Don’t skip it!

Soy Honey Glaze

For the sauce today, I’m using my classic Soy Honey Glaze that I love pairing with chicken. It’s 5 ingredients only: chicken stock, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, and honey. It’s the perfect sweet-savory base to tie together the flavors of chicken thighs and apples.

For a thicker glaze, uncover the pan for the last few minutes and let the sauce reduce a little more.

How To Make Apple Glazed Chicken

1. Season the chicken: Pat the chicken dry, then season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
2. Make the sauce: In a bowl or measuring cup, mix together the chicken stock, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and honey.
3. Sear the chicken: Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken skin-side down and pan-fry for about 2 minutes on each side, until lightly golden. Remove and set aside.
4. Cook the aromatics: In the same pan, add the sliced red onion and garlic. Sauté for 1 to 2 minutes.
5. Add the apple: Add the sliced apple and cook briefly with the onion and garlic.
6. Braise the chicken: Return the chicken to the pan. Pour in the sauce. Bring to a gentle simmer.
7. Cover and cook: Cover with a lid and let simmer on medium-low for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
8. Serve: Spoon the sauce, onions, garlic, and apples over the chicken. Serve with steamed rice.

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