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This Healthier 30 Minute Beer Braised Chicken is for cold fall nights when you want a hearty and warming slow-braised chicken, but you want it ready in less than an hour. All made in the instant pot (with slow cooker and stove-stop directions too), using simple, wholesome ingredients that you may already have on hand. The key to this chicken is all in the beer, which gives the sauce a deep, rich flavor. This dish is warm, flavorful, hearty but healthy, so delicious, and great for busy nights.
You know those recipes that are just really good? The ones you turn to time and time again because they never fail and everyone always loves them? Well, this is very much one of those recipes. And I love so much that I get to share it with you guys because it’s so perfect for the crazy months ahead.
Funny enough, this recipe was inspired by one I made way back in the very early days of writing Half Baked Harvest. I was still living at home with my family, and cooking dinner every night. When it comes to eating, my family usually sways towards the simpler, midwest style recipe. They’ve now come to love just about everything I make, but the comfort food recipes will always be their favorites.
Anyway, the original recipe that inspired today’s similar, but different, recipe was from October 2013. I still cannot believe that HBH is getting so old! It was and still is, a delicious dish, but this version is healthier, better, and easier too. Our recent extra chilly temperatures call for serious comfort food, so I pulled this out of the archives.
PS. if you want to take a little trip down memory lane, you can see the post I’m talking about here. My writing and my photos scare me, but I love that I have these super old posts to look back on. It’s really fun to see the growth and how far HBH has come since the beginning of our second year!!
As I said, my family loves comfort food and one of their favorites is chicken and rice. This is basically just the fancier upgrade. And you guys…it’s SO GOOD.
The chicken is cooked in pumpkin beer along with roasted tomatoes, seasonings, and a touch of bacon for added flavor. I like to serve this over steamed with a generous side of my favorite honey butter beer bread. (Recipe in the HBH cookbook).
It’s so cozy and so delicious, but yet pretty healthy too!
Here is how you make this easy beer braised chicken:
I prefer to make this in the instant pot. I recently upgraded to this one and am loving it so much. That said, I’ve also included slow cooker and stovetop cooking directions for those who may not have an Instant Pot.
First things first, start a pot of rice so that it cooks while the chicken is cooking. Yes, rice and beer bread are pretty much required with this dish. Promise you will be so happy you went along with these additions.
Next, the bacon. This adds so much flavor to this dish and using a little really goes a long way. I love the smokiness it brings.
Once the bacon has been crisped, sear the chicken right in the instant pot. Then add all the remaining ingredients…tomatoes, peppers, spices, and pumpkin beer (or whatever beer you love). Cook for 6 minutes.
Less than 10 minutes after sealing the instant pot, your dinner is complete. It’s so quick and leaves you with chicken that’s so tender it’s almost falling apart.
As delicious as the chicken is, this recipe is all about the sauce.
It reminds me of a warming slow-cooked chili, but a little less spicy. The beer adds a really deep, rich flavor. And if using a pumpkin beer, a very subtle undertone of warming pumpkin spice as well.
To bump up the flavors of this sauce, I used a mix of chili powder, smoked paprika, and my secret ingredient, apple butter. I know it may seem weird to use apple butter in a savory chicken recipe, but the sweetness balances out the spices. Go with me on this, promise it takes this braised chicken to a whole new level of GOOD.
And you guys, that’s it. So simple, but yet so delicious, pretty healthy..ish, and an all-around a great dinner for any night of the week from now…until winter’s end. I find this especially fitting for Sunday and or Monday night dinner at home with the fam. And again, simply serve with rice (use brown rice or quinoa if you prefer) and a side of beer bread.
Nothing is more delicious. This is a top HBH recipe…as declared by my family. Enjoy, enjoy!!
If you make this healthier 30 minute beer braised chicken, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Healthier 30 Minute Beer Braised Chicken.
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 508 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (can use GF flour too)
- 3 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 2 small yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1 (12 ounce) pumpkin beer, or whatever you drink
- 1 can (14 ounce) diced fire-roasted tomatoes with chilies
- 1 tablespoon apple butter or real maple syrup
- 1 red bell peppers, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or 2 teaspoons dried thyme)
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- cooked white or brown rice, for serving
Instructions
Instant Pot
- 1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the flour in a shallow bowl and dredge the chicken through the flour, coating it completely.2. Set Instant Pot to sauté. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon. If there's excess bacon grease, drain off all but 1 tablespoon. Add the chicken to the instant pot and sear on both sides until browned, about 2 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, cook 3 minutes. Turn the instant pot off.3. To the instant pot, add the beer, tomatoes, apple butter, bell pepper, chili powder, paprika, thyme, cayenne, and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes.4. Once done cooking, use the natural or quick release function. Set the Instant pot to sauté and bring to a boil, boil 10-12 minutes or until the liquid reduces slightly. Turn the instant pot off. Remove the thyme and discard. Stir in the parsley and reserved bacon.5. Serve the chicken and sauce over rice.
Slow Cooker
- 1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the flour in a shallow bowl and dredge the chicken through the flour, coating it completely.2. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon. If there's excess bacon grease, drain off all but 1 tablespoon. Add the chicken and sear until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the skillet and place directly into the slow cooker. Add the onions, garlic, beer, tomatoes, apple butter, bell pepper, chili powder, paprika, thyme, cayenne, and season with salt and pepper. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. 3. Remove the lid, cook 30 minutes on high to thicken the sauce. Remove the thyme and discard. Stir in the parsley and reserved bacon.4. Serve the chicken and sauce over rice.
Stove Top
- 1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the flour in a shallow bowl and dredge the chicken through the flour, coating it completely.2. Cook the bacon in a large braiser over medium heat until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon. If there's excess bacon grease, drain off all but 1 tablespoon. Add the chicken and sear until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Add the onions and garlic, cook 5 minutes. 3. Reduce the heat to low. Add the beer, tomatoes, apple butter, bell pepper, chili powder, paprika, thyme, cayenne, and season with salt and pepper. Partially cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Stir in the parsley and reserved bacon.4. Serve the chicken and sauce over rice.
This post was originally published on October 14, 2019
How long would you suggest to cook chicken thighs if you are doing it on the stove?
Hi Courtney,
I would recommend following the stove top directions as is. I hope you love the recipe! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This took about 1.5 hours to prep and cook via the stovetop method. Honestly, it was bitter due to the beer (used my favorite blonde ale). I omitted the spice due to family, but lack of flavor wasn’t the problem. I’m super bummed i spent so much effort and chicken into making this. We threw out the sauce as the chicken luckily didn’t become bitter from the beer. I would sub with chicken broth next time!
Hi Lily! I am sorry this took a bit longer than expected to prepare! Are there any questions I can help you with? Please let me know! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan! Could you use canned tomato sauce instead of diced tomatoes?
Thanks so much!
Hi Jackie,
If you choose to do this I would only use half of the can otherwise your dish is going to be more of an Italian twist. If you can find diced tomatoes I would recommend using those!
Made this tonight and my hubby raved about it! Said it was best meal he’s had in years! The flavors are just wonderful. Thank you!
Thank you Andria! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Didn’t have beer on hand so I used chicken broth. Didn’t have rice so I served it over polenta. It was still amazing!!!
Love that!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you Connie! Thank you! xTieghan
How many grams are the slices of bacon in total? And can I avoid the apple butter? 🙂
Thanks!
Hi there! You can omit the bacon if needed. I am sorry I do not know the amount of bacon in grams.
You can replace the apple butter with an equal amount maple syrup or honey. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
Is it better to substitute the pumpkin beer with a light or with a dark beer? And can I avoid yo use bacon? Thanks!
Hi there! I would use a dark beer and you can just omit the the bacon from the recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
Tastes great, but took a lot longer than 30 minutes, even with everything prepped before starting. 1:20 min from start to table.
Notes:
Ingredient prep:
In the comments, Tieghan notes that onions should be chopped, not sliced.
Fire roasted tomatoes with chilies are not commonly available. Even the link here is for plain fire-roasted tomatoes.
Pumpkin beer, not surprisingly, is seasonal.
1/4 t. cayenne pepper is plenty spicy.
Instructions:
More oil was needed when adding the onion and garlic to prevent scorching.
Timing:
11 mins saute time: 7 minutes to come to pressure: Cooked breasts for 7 mins (they were large); 2 min to vent. Simmered uncovered for 15 minutes, but sauce was too thin. Thickened with 2 T cornstarch mixed with 1/4 c. cold water, then added to pot.
It tasted very good, but just took a lot longer from start to finish.
Hi Brenda! I am glad you enjoyed this recipe and apologize it took longer than expected! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
Soooo good! I’ve made it 2 times already and my family is just in love with this recipe and so am I. Thanks for creating it and sharing it with us! ?
Thank you so much for trying this! It is so nice to hear when you love a recipe! xTieghan
MADE IT LOVED IT!!!!!
The flour dredged chicken made the sauce thick. The sauce was very tasty!! I used fig butter as I had it handy, and mexican beer. Gave it a great flavor!! Thank you Tieghan yet another favorite!!!
Yes!! So glad this turned out so well for you Jaya! xTieghan
Making this tonight! I happen to have fig jam — do you think that would work as a sub for apple butter? If not, I’ll use maple syrup.
Thanks!!! Can’t wait to try this.
Hi Marcy! I am sure fig jam will be great!! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
Ok made this recipe … I have to say it did taste delicious but … in no way was this a 30minute recipe . More like 1 1/2 hrs. And the chicken needed oil added , lots more oil in order to cook all pieces . I used olive oil . Everyone did enjoy it !
Hi Patti! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! Please let me know if you have any questions! xTieghan
This was unfortunately inedible. Sometimes I wonder if Tieghan plays with recipes based on feel, and later assigns estimates of measurements.. Because I made this twice assuming I must have made a giant mistake somewhere. It was basically broth that wouldn’t reduce, with all ingredients clearly seperate like a soup, not combined or saucy as the photos show. Each ingredient and instruction followed exactly using the instant pot.
I’d also suggest more focus on videos for your website, so those can be reviewed. I really only have Instagram to view your recipe stories, but wish they were here.
Hi Jenna! I am really sorry to hear that this did not work out for you. While I love playing around with recipes, I definitely write down the measurements for all of you. Please let me know if you have questions on this one. xTieghan
We loved this! I liked that I was able to make this on a busy weeknight with the InstantPot. I did 7 minutes under high pressure on the “soup” setting and I let it simmer down on high saute after pressure cooking. It did not get quite as thick as pictured, but I thought that worked out well since it was being served over rice. Delicious!
I have extra pumpkin beer and since no one in my household regularly drinks alcohol, I have a very good excuse to make this again in the near future. And maybe I’ll make that awesome looking 5-ingredient beer bread recipe you have too. 🙂 Thanks for the meal inspiration!
Yes!! Love excuses like that haha! So glad you enjoyed this Summer!! xTieghan
Mine had flavour but was very soupy. Yours looks very thick almost. Any ideas where I may have gone wrong? :/
Hi Jill! For a thicker sauce, just simmer this down a bit more in the instant pot on saute. Try an additional 10 minutes. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I am so glad you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan