Maple-Glazed Carrot and Apple Chicken Thighs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-05 · Updated 2026-04-05

Succulent chicken thighs simmered with sweet carrots and tart apples in a sticky maple sauce, a crowd-pleasing dish that even picky eaters devour. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 380 minutes, pairs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, carrots, crisp apple for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 3 medium, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch coins carrots
• 1 (like Honeycrisp), cored and diced crisp apple
• 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup chicken broth

Slow cookers worth buying for this → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat the 1.5 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs dry with paper towels; season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper, then place in slow cooker.
2. Step 2: Arrange the 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch coins, around the chicken, then add the 1 crisp apple, cored and diced.
3. Step 3: Whisk together 3 tbsp pure maple syrup, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp dried thyme, and 1/4 tsp salt; pour evenly over chicken and vegetables.
4. Step 4: Pour 1/4 cup chicken broth around the slow cooker edges; cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours until chicken is tender and carrots are soft.