Want to enjoy fall flavors with grilled chicken? Check out this recipe for Chicken Breast with Apple Cider Pepper Sauce. It brings the fall flavors of apple cider along with a spicy kick from cayenne pepper.
Read on to learn about how to make the apple cider pepper sauce and how to properly grill bone in chicken breasts on a kettle grill with charcoal!
Grilled Chicken Breast sitting on apples
What is apple cider?
Before I go deeper into this post some people may have a question about the main ingredient. The North American version of Apple Cider is the unfiltered juice of apples that have been pressed. Apples are smashed in a press and all the juice that is pushed out of the apples is what is known as apple cider. Because all those little smashed apple bits are still in the juice, apple cider pours a little cloudy when compared to apple juice. A lot of people think pumpkin spice during the autumn months, but to me nothing beats apple cider. People reading this outside North America might hear the word apple cider and immediately think of hard cider which is an alcoholic beverage. Don’t get me wrong, I can go for a good hard apple cider from time to time, but not for this recipe.
Apple and Apple Cider
Which type of apples are great for Chicken Breast with Apple Cider Pepper Sauce?
The apple I used for this recipe was a macoun apple which comes from the McIntosh Family. It’s a great eating apple because it has a great bite. However, I chose the macoun because it has fabulous sweetness as well. The apple also has a slight spice and subtle berry flavor, but I admit a lot of that flavor will be overpowered by the pepper and tomato in this sauce. However, the sweetness does help balance out the other flavors of this sauce. If you can’t find this type of apple, feel free to experiment with other varieties. In my opinion, any apple that is more sweet then tart will be a good choice. As always I recommend getting out and trying some of the farms and farm stands for fresh produce including apples. You will find so many varieties and options!
How to make Apple Cider Pepper Sauce
I combine the apple cider with a diced macoun apple, 2 dried Guajillo peppers that I re-hydrated by simmering them in boiling water and a few other ingredients that I have listed below. You will find that this sauce does have a little heat, but the heat does not come from the guajillo peppers. The heat comes from a chilies infused honey that I added to this recipe. I highly recommend always having a bottle of this stuff in your pantry. It has the sweetness of honey, but with a spicy kick. I throw this stuff into a lot of my sauces and marinades.
Combine the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
How to grill bone in chicken breast on a kettle grill
For this recipe I used bone in chicken breasts. The breasts are seasoned with salt, pepper, and onion powder before putting them them on the kettle grill. Don’t place them directly over the charcoal heat. Place them away from the coals and close the kettle grill lid. Plan on the chicken breasts to take about 45 minutes to grill and come up to the proper temperature. Take a meat thermometer and place into the thickest part of the chicken breast.
Bring the internal temperature of the chicken breasts up to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the breasts are fully cooked individually dip them in the sauce and then plate them. Enjoy!
Chicken Breast on Charcoal Grill
Grilled Chicken laying over sliced apples
Everyone is always looking for a new way to grill chicken. People will love this recipe at your next backyard party or tailgate. Sweet Heat from the cider and peppers is always delicious when combined with the smoky grilled bone in chicken. Chicken Breast with Apple Cider Pepper Sauce will bring in the compliments!
Grilled Chicken Breasts sitting on sliced apples
Chicken Breast with Apple Cider Pepper Sauce
Apple Cider is combined with Guajillo Peppers to make a fall recipe that goes great with grilled chicken breasts using a kettle grill and charcoal.
Ingredients
- For Sauce
- 2 Guajillo Peppers that have been simmered in 2 cups of water
- 2 Cups of Apple Cider
- 1 Macoun Apple
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 3 tablespoon hot pepper infused honey
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon salt
Instructions
Simmer Dried Guajillo Peppers in 2 cups hot water for ten minutes.
Combine the above ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Heat charcoals in kettle grill.
Once Charcoal is hot place bone in chicken breast skin side on the grill grates away from the charcoals
Close lid and grill for 45 minutes.
Grill Bone In Chicken Breasts on a charcoal grill until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dip Cooked Chicken Breasts in sauce.
Serve.
Notes
The thickest part of the chicken breast should be closets to the charcoal.
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