Apple Cider Roasted Chicken with Butternut Squash

Apple cider and olive oil are used to keep lean chicken breasts moist while roasting the garlic cloves in their skin have them become caramelized and sweet.

Apple Cider Roasted Chicken with Butternut Squash

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As you’ve probably heard by now, cinnamon is an excellent source of antioxidants. In my house, we literally cook with it morning, noon and night. As a Middle Eastern gal, my family has been preparing savory dishes with cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and other woody spices my entire life so it is no surprise that it is my go-to spice when roasting chicken.

If you typically think of oatmeal when someone mentions cinnamon, I urge you to experiment at dinnertime. Here are a few recipes to get you started:

Roast Chicken with Apples, Onions and Sweet Potatoes
Beef Shawarma with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
Slow Cooked Lebanese Green Beans with Beef

Your fork is waiting.

Apple Cider Roasted Chicken with Butternut Squash

Apple Cider Roasted Chicken with Butternut Squash

3.78 stars average
Apple cider and olive oil are used to keep lean chicken breasts moist while roasting the garlic cloves in their skin have them become caramelized and sweet.
PREP: 10 minutes
COOK: 45 minutes
TOTAL: 55 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
 

  • 4 cups butternut squash (peeled and cut in cubes)
  • 12 cloves garlic (whole skin-on)
  • ½ cup apple cider (Cider NOT Vinegar)
  • 4 chicken breasts (boneless skinless (about 6oz each))
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • chopped parsley (optional garnish)

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat oven to 350 and line a roasting pan with foil.
  • Scatter butternut squash cubes and whole garlic cloves on bottom of the roasting pan then pour apple cider on top.
  • Place chicken breasts on top of the squash/garlic and drizzle with olive oil.
  • Season chicken and squash with cinnamon, salt and pepper. (Don’t be afraid to use your hands – these breasts need to be evenly coated and well seasoned!)
  • Cover pan loosely with foil and bake for 45 minutes or until chicken reaches internal cooking temperature of 165.

Notes

Timing on cooking the chicken breasts may vary depending on the size of the breasts.

Do I need a roasting pan?

No. A brownie or lasagna pan will work.

Can I leave the skin on?

Yes!

Could I substitute chicken breast with boneless skinless chicken thighs and would cook time be the same?

Cook time would be 35-40 minutes at 400.

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 24.7gProtein: 30.2gFat: 5.5gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 885mgFiber: 3.8gSugar: 6.9g

34 thoughts on “Apple Cider Roasted Chicken with Butternut Squash”

  1. I really enjoyed this meal and so did my husband. I cooked it a little longer than suggested and used a baking dish. I also flipped the chicken about half way through and nestled it around the squash so it touched the bottom of the dish to really cook in the cider and garlic broth.I served it with rice and green beans. Next time I make it I think i’ll add turmeric and cayenne with the cinnamon.

  2. Do you think I could substitute chicken breast with boneless skinless chicken thighs and would cook time be the same. Thank you

  3. Hi CJM,

    Thank you for taking the time to write. I’m so sorry to hear you had difficulties with this recipe but I’d love to help. We make this meal at least twice a month and it always turns out great. To confirm, did you use apple cider (the sweet juice), not apple cider vinegar? That’s a common mistake. Let me know! I’d love to help you troubleshoot!!

  4. The end result was really good, but it took a bit of effort to get there.

    After 40 minutes the chicken was done (I’d split two large ones) but looked strange (puddles of cinnamon), the squash was still crunchy and the cider was runny and foamy. Even putting it under broil with a bit of butter didn’t do anything to the chicken so I took it out (in foil) and roasted the squash at 400 for 15 – 20 min after which it was perfect. The liquid had thickened a bit too much so more cider was added.

    Slicing the incredibly tender and tasty chicken solved the problem of appearance; a very enjoyable meal.

  5. Lol…. oh goodness. I read the recipe as apple cider vinegar also…
    Hm…. still cooking and not quite done. At about 45 minutes now and seems to need another 15…

  6. I’m just about to make this for the first time, and reading thru the recipe and comments I’m pretty sure what the issues are: It’s a size thing. “6oz chicken breast”…they rarely make them that small. Maybe a Game Hen breast. Amish tend to run closer to 10oz. A “regular” breast (1/2 breast) can run to almost a pound easily. And “1/2″ dice” butternut should really be 1/2″ – which is quite small, in the scheme of things squashy. But if you keep things to small sizes required by the recipe, timing should work.

  7. I don’t have a roasting pan at the moment. Is it ok to use a regular pan or dish? Or should I wait to make it till I can get my hands on a roasting pan?

  8. When you say garlic with skin on do you mean I don’t have to take the outer layer off ? And if so, what happens to it when it cooks? I’ve never not peeled that part off of an onion not glove of garlic. So, just making sure I prepare it right! I can’t wait to make it!

  9. This was OK, but didn’t care for strong cinnamon flavor on chicken while squash was bland. I will try it again, but this time put the cinnamon, salt and pepper in with the squash. I will lightly season and brown chicken breasts before putting them in with squash to cook. Also will thicken any remaining liquid so it will stick to veg. and rice.

  10. I ran across this recipe on Pintrest and just had to try it and oh my am I glad it did! It was delicious! I did sub the apple cider for 1/2 cup water and a whole apple and added some Brussels sprouts. Was able to stick with my clean eating program and enjoy something new and different. Thanks!

  11. Do you think apple juice would work instead of apple cider? I always have juice around, but never cider. Maybe compensate by adding extra spices since that’s the only difference I notice?

  12. WOW!! An hour and 20 minutes? Hmm..I wonder if your chicken breasts were extremely thick? Perhaps next time try cutting them in half before placing them in the oven? Still bizarre. As for the apple cider vinegar, the recipe does not call for that ingredient. It calls for apple cider, the drink. :) BIG difference!! I hope you can try this again with delicious, sweet apple cider!

    1. Omg, I can’t believe I made that mistake- it didn’t even occur to me it WASN’T apple cider vinegar! Well, that explains that. The breasts were a bit plump, but the squash didn’t look soft like yours in the picture at all, in fact, I turned up the heat to 400 and roasted it for another 20 minutes. I wonder if the vinegar made a difference some how. I will try this again with the cider this time! Thanks.

        1. I’m having the exact same problem. Double and triple checked the recipe to make sure I followed instructions. My squash is still hard and it’s been in there 40 minutes longer than the cooking time. My chicken still isn’t cooked through either and I did slice them in half since I had seen this post before I prepped it. Just turned up to 400 and hopefully things will get cooked soon!

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