Pan-Seared Chicken with Caramelized Shallots and Apple Cider Reduction

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-08 · Updated 2026-08-08

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender chicken breasts pan-seared and finished with a sweet and tangy apple cider reduction featuring caramelized shallots. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs chicken breasts, shallots, apple cider for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 2, 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 2 American cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 pieces (6 oz each) chicken breasts
3 small, thinly sliced shallots
1 cup apple cider
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp, chopped fresh thyme

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 2 chicken breasts (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear for 5 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken and keep warm.
Step 3: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 3 thinly sliced shallots. Cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring frequently until shallots are deeply caramelized and fragrant.
Step 4: Pour in 1 cup apple cider and scrape the browned bits from the pan. Simmer for 5-6 minutes until the liquid reduces by half and thickens to a syrupy consistency.
Step 5: Stir in 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme, return the chicken to the skillet, and spoon the sauce over it. Cook for 1-2 minutes to warm through before serving.