I’m willing to bet you’re not eating enough sauerkraut and this one pan chicken and sauerkraut recipe is here to change that! There is nothing better than a hot nutritious meal that only has one pan to clean up. This recipe is Whole30 Compliant if you use juniper berries instead of gin. Yes, gin, read below for more on that!
Ingredients in Chicken and Sauerkraut
- Chicken Thighs
- Bacon
- Sauerkraut
- Onion
- Carrot
- Apple
- Chicken Broth
- Dijon Mustard
- Gin or Juniper Berries
Benefits of Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is made by fermenting cabbage. This process produces probiotics and beneficial live bacteria that are great for gut health. The probiotics and sauerkraut’s high levels of vitamin C have also been linked to a healthier immune system. Sauerkraut doesn’t just taste good, it’s good for you.
Juniper Berries or Gin?
This recipe calls for gin, and it is not a misprint. Gin is flavored with juniper berries and juniper berries can be hard to find. When I have them, I use them in this recipe. When I don’t, I substitute a shot of Gin for every 8 juniper berries the recipe calls for. while gin might not have quite the same flavor, it gets the point across. This dish would not reach its full potential without either, so if you don’t have juniper berries on hand, don’t get shy with the gin.
How to make One Pan Chicken and Sauerkraut
This recipe is simple. It has a short prep time, 25 minutes of active cooking, and 25 minutes of passive cooking. First you are going to drain and rinse our sauerkraut in a colander, then you will chop your carrot, apple, onion, and bacon.
Next you will cook your bacon in a large frying pan over medium heat. while the bacon is sizzling, season the chicken thighs. Once the bacon is done remove and reserve it. In the same pan, add the chicken and sear each side. Depending on the size of your pan, you may need to work in batches. Once you have achieved a golden brown sear on all sides of the meat, remove and reserve the chicken.
Now pour off most of the fat in the pan and add your carrot, onion, apples. Let them cook at least five minutes to give them a chance to really sweat. Then you’re going to mix in your sauerkraut and chicken broth. If you have juniper berries, add them now. If not, pour in a shot of your favorite gin. You’re also going to mix in a the mustard, bay leaves, salt, and pepper during this step.
Now mix in your cooked bacon and arrange your chicken in a single layer over of the sauerkraut mixture. Once you’ve reached this step tell your food you love it, cover it with a tight fitting lid, and let the whole thing cook over medium heat for 25 minutes. You can now spend the next 25 minutes streaming your favorite 23 minute per episode sitcom or do your dishes: the choice is yours.
At the end of the 25 minute cook time, use a thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of your chicken has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Scoop the sauerkraut mixture to a plate and place your chicken on top of it. Serve it up hot!
One Pan Chicken Thighs and Sauerkraut
Equipment
- Large Deep Frying Pan with Lid
Ingredients
- 6 Chicken Thighs (bone in skin on)
- 5 Slices Bacon (chopped)
- 1 Onion (chopped)
- 1 Carrot (chopped)
- 1 Granny Smith Apple (peeled, cored, chopped)
- 2 lbs Sauerkraut (drained and rinsed)
- 1 Cup Chicken Broth (low sodium)
- 1½ tbsp Gin
- 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
- 3 Bay Leaf
- 1 tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- ¼ tsp Rosemary
- ¼ tsp Thyme
- ¼ tsp Parsley
- ¼ tsp Sage
Instructions
- In a large deep frying pan, cook the bacon on medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan and reserve.
- Season Chicken thighs with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. Add to the pan in batches, cooking both sides until browed. About 8 minutes. Remove from pan. Pour off all fat from pan except 1 tbsp.
- Cook the onion, carrot, and apple in the pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Stir in the sauerkraut, bacon, salt, broth, gin, mustard, and bay leaves. Place the chicken thighs in a single layer on top of the mixture. Bring to a simmer then reduce heat, cover, and cook for 25 minutes.
- Remove the Bay Leaves and serve the Chicken over the Sauerkraut
Notes
- To make this recipe Whole30 compliant, simply substitute 8 juniper berries for the gin. I prefer this recipe with juniper berries, but they are hard to come by without visiting a specialty spice store.