Living Lou

Simple, fresh and flavorful recipes.

Apple Cider Roasted Chicken

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This post may contain affiliate links

Apple Cider Roasted Chicken with Seasonal Veggies

I was at a dinner the other night and we got onto the topic of the importance of eating meals as a family. Someone said to me “I bet you had a lot of family dinners growing up.” and I don’t think there could be a better compliment to my parents. In between competitive figure skating, soccer, cross country running and so many other things, there were always family meals. Whether it was a quick bite of pizza with my sister and mum before rushing off to a 4pm skating session, or our  almost weekly Sunday lunches, eating together was always a priority. So much so, that as a kid, I never realized that other families didn’t always eat together.

Sunday brunch

(A recent Sunday brunch courtesy of my mum – from my Instagram.)

Even still, I’m 20 and my sister is 22, there are Sunday lunches or brunches. Usually it’s my mum doing the cooking, a delicious roasted chicken, or one of her famous soups, and there is always an Apple Crumble for dessert. Since I love to cook (who would’ve guessed!) I might whip something up for lunch, recently it’s been this Apple Cider Roasted Chicken. The apple cider adds a delicious sweetness to the chicken and roasted vegetables, and makes for a sweet gravy. I used rosemary as the herb in this dish because to me, rosemary screams cozy comfort food and that’s exactly what this chicken is.

Apple Cider Roasted Chicken (serves 4-6)

Ingredients

1 roasting chicken
2 tbsp olive oil
2 medium potatoes, cut into wedges
2 carrots, sliced into rounds
1 onion, quartered
1 medium sweet potato, cut into chunks
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
½ tsp salt, divided
¾ tsp dried rosemary, divided
2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
1 tbsp of butter, melted
¾ cup apple cider (regular apple juice would work)
¼ cup chicken broth

Directions

Preheat oven to 350.

Toss vegetables and garlic with olive oil ¼ tsp of salt and ½ tsp rosemary. Dump vegetables into a roasting pan. Place chicken on top of vegetables.

Season chicken with remaining ¼ tsp of salt and pepper. Next, whisk together applesauce and melted butter. Brush mixture over chicken. Sprinkle chicken with remaining ¼ tsp of rosemary.

Add apple cider and chicken broth to the pan.

Roast for 45 minutes, baste with apple cider and broth mixture in the pan.

Continue roasting for  another 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

I hope you give this Apple Cider Roasted Chicken a try for your next family dinner!

– Lou

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Comments

  1. Whams

    I had this idea to roast a chicken using apple cider. Radiation treatments have left me unsure with how food will treat me, but for some reason, I have been craving apples, cider & cranberries. And trying to use them in creative ways. This recipe came closest to what I had in my head. It is roasting as I type. I haven't roasted a chicken in quite some time, but the basics are locked into my head. I followed your recipe fairly closely, just minor adjustments made to incorporate the ingredients I have on hand. Probably, the only major difference is cooking temperature. I have always started my turkeys & chicken at a high temp (500 F) then immediately turn the oven down after placing the bird in the oven. (350-425 F). I swear by this, as did mamma. It never fails to produce a very juicy product with a wonderful skin. Thanks. I have high hopes, tho I know I won't be able to put even a dent in this. Good thing I DO eat leftovers.
    Reply

    • Lou

      So glad you're trying my chicken recipe and I hope it was what you had in mind! I love the sounds of your method for roasting a chicken and I will have to give it a try next time I make chicken. :)
      Reply

  2. Shaimaa

    Looks delicious and fun to make! :) I was wondering though (since my roasting pan has a rack) whether I should put the chicken on the rack or just remove the rack and put the chicken directly on the veggies.
    Reply

    • Lou

      Hi Shaimaa, I usually just place my chicken right on top of the vegetables, but I'm sure it would work on your rack as well!
      Reply

  3. Shirley

    OMG...This brings me back to when I would make a chicken dinner for my family but I don't think it was as delicious as your recipe; I used butter, rosemary & garlic with lots of s&p but I never thought to add applesauce, nor did I think to add apple cider vinegar to the roast pan...I used to add plain old water; how boring was that! Nor did I roast my veggies; I always boiled them & how boring is that! Must try your delicious recipe...Love your delightful message about your lovely family dinners! More beautiful photos too!
    Reply

    • Lou

      Thank you - definitely give it a try! Roasting the veggies in the same pan gives it a lot of added flavour and makes cleanup easier. Also, it's just plain old apple cider, not vinegar!
      Reply