Apple Butter Baked Chicken Recipe Is a Fall Chicken Dinner Winner (6 Ingredients) by Donna John

This chicken recipe should be called I Cleaned Out My Refrigerator Chicken – because that's what happened. After cleaning out my fridge, I found half a jar of (unexpired!) apple butter and decided to use it in a baked chicken recipe. This easy recipe is what I came up with. A fall-inspired chicken dinner winner for sure.

Apple butter may sound overly sweet, but it is surprisingly not. The combination of slightly sweet apple butter and warm spices creates a complex taste and a moist piece of chicken. 

Here's all you need to make this high-protein apple butter baked chicken recipe: bone-in chicken pieces, apple butter, ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, crushed red pepper flakes and fresh garlic. The spices are mixed with the apple butter and smeared under the skin and all over the outside of the chicken. Bake for about 40 minutes and dinner is ready to roll. (Check out the health benefits of protein.)

Photo credit (all photos): Donna John

You can do a whole chicken instead of pieces. Use a whole 3- to 4-pound chicken and double the remaining ingredients. Proceed with recipe as directed and bake for about 1 hour or until internal temperature is 165 degrees F.

Serve this moist baked chicken for dinner with your favorite side dishes. I served mine with broccoli and a fresh salad with homemade salad dressing.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes (ovens vary)
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 6 - 8 bone-in chicken pieces (I used chicken legs)
• 1/4 cup apple butter
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• crushed red pepper flakes, to taste (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Here's how to make it: 

1. Combine the apple butter, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, crushed red pepper flakes and garlic in a small bowl. (Add chopped fresh herbs to the apple butter mixture for a little freshness.)
   
2. Put the chicken into a baking dish lined with aluminum foil (for easier cleanup). Season with salt and pepper. Gently use your fingers to release the skin from the meat without tearing it. Coat under the chicken skin and on top of the skin on both sides.
   
3. Bake in a preheated 375-degree F oven for about 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Chicken is cooked through at 165 degrees F internal temperature on a food thermometer.
   
4. Store any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat in the microwave.
   

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