Creamy Skillet Chicken with Apples

This Skillet Chicken with Apples & Dijon Cream Sauce is as comforting as it is delicious. Succulent protein-packed chicken is simply seasoned and pairs perfectly with sweet Honeycrisp apples and caramelized onions. The creamy, slightly tangy Dijon sauce clings to it all and is finished with a sprinkling of fresh thyme, bringing these classic fall flavors together. Keep reading for our expert tips, including what ingredient substitutions can be made.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• If you can’t find chicken cutlets, use boneless breasts and slice them horizontally, then pound them thin between sheets of plastic wrap. Alternatively, use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
• Choose Granny Smith apples for their tartness or Fuji for their sweetness. Alternatively, you can use any firm, semisweet/tart apple that retains its shape when cooked. Honeycrisp and Braeburn would work too.
• You can substitute the Dijon mustard with whole-grain or stone-ground mustard, or try using honey Dijon or herbal Dijon for a different flavor.
• Fresh thyme makes a flavorful garnish, but dried thyme works well too—just add a small amount earlier in the cooking process so that it has time to soften into the sauce. You can also substitute rosemary or sage.

Nutrition Notes

• Chicken breast is an amazing source of lean protein. It also provides several micronutrients essential for overall good health and a healthy nervous system and metabolism, including choline and B vitamins. 
• Apples bring their anti-inflammatory antioxidants and fiber to this dish. Regularly eating apples has been linked to reduced risk of disease, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
• Onions are associated with a healthier heart, gut and brain. The powerful plant compounds in onions have even been shown to benefit vision and eye health.
• Chicken broth doesn’t typically add much in the way of nutrition, though this can vary, depending on the brand. It can, however, add more sodium than you might want, especially if you have high blood pressure. Choose a reduced-sodium broth or a no-salt-added broth, allowing you to tailor the flavor more to your liking.