Apple Cider Dinners: 16 Cozy Fall Meals That Start With One Jug, Led by the Viral Pot Roast

These apple cider dinners all start with one jug of plain, sweet apple cider from the produce aisle, and they taste like fall in every bite. This month a slow cooker apple cider pot roast with garlic mashed potatoes became one of the most watched dinners online, with more than 10 million views and nearly 600,000 likes on one Instagram video. The idea is simple: cider adds a gentle sweetness and a little tang that makes pork, chicken, beef and even salmon taste rich and cozy, with almost no extra work. Most of these are slow cooker or one pan meals, and they use regular non-alcoholic apple cider. Grab a jug, and you have dinner planned for the whole week..

Apple Cider Dinners Start With the Viral Pot Roast

Swap the beef broth for apple cider and something happens to a pot roast. The meat turns fork tender, the gravy gets glossy and a little sweet, and the whole house smells like an orchard. This is the dinner that took over social media this October, and it is mostly a dump and go job for the slow cooker. Serve it over creamy garlic mashed potatoes. Would you try it: A: yes, this Sunday, B: I need convincing, or C: already made it?..

You will need: 3 to 4 lb chuck roast, salt and pepper, 2 tbsp oil, 1 onion cut in wedges, 4 carrots, 2 apples cut in wedges, 4 cloves garlic, 1 1/2 cups apple cider, 1 cup beef broth, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 2 sprigs rosemary, 2 tbsp cornstarch.

How to make it: 1. Season the roast and brown it in hot oil on all sides. 2. Put the onion, carrots and apples in the slow cooker and set the roast on top. 3. Whisk the cider, broth, mustard and garlic and pour it over. 4. Add the rosemary and cook on low 8 to 9 hours. 5. Shred the meat and thicken the juices with cornstarch mixed with water. 6. Serve over mashed potatoes.

Apple Cider Pork Chops With Skillet Apples

Pork and apples are a classic pair, and cider makes it even easier. Sear thick chops until golden, then cook sliced apples and onion in the same pan and simmer them in apple cider until the sauce turns syrupy. It is a 30 minute dinner that tastes like you worked much harder, and a great first recipe if you are new to apple cider dinners. Serve it with mashed potatoes or buttered noodles to catch every drop of sauce.

You will need: 4 bone-in pork chops (1 inch thick), salt and pepper, 1 tbsp oil, 2 tbsp butter, 2 apples sliced, 1 small onion sliced, 1 cup apple cider, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp fresh thyme.

How to make it: 1. Season the chops and sear in hot oil 4 to 5 minutes per side. 2. Move the chops to a plate. 3. Melt the butter and cook the apples and onion 5 minutes. 4. Stir in the cider, mustard and thyme and simmer 5 minutes. 5. Return the chops and simmer until they reach 145 F. 6. Spoon the apples and sauce over the top.

Cider Braised Chicken Thighs and Onions

Chicken thighs stay juicy no matter what, which makes them perfect for a cider braise. Brown the skin until crisp, cook a pile of onions in the drippings, then let everything simmer in cider and a splash of broth in the oven. The onions melt into a sweet, savory sauce. It is one of the coziest apple cider dinners for a weeknight, and it all happens in one pan.

You will need: 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, salt and pepper, 1 tbsp oil, 2 large onions sliced, 3 cloves garlic, 1 cup apple cider, 1/2 cup chicken broth, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, fresh thyme.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 375 F. 2. Season the thighs and brown them skin side down in an oven safe pan. 3. Remove the chicken and cook the onions and garlic 8 minutes. 4. Add the cider, broth, vinegar and thyme. 5. Nestle the chicken in, skin side up. 6. Bake 35 to 40 minutes until the chicken reaches 175 F.

Apple Cider Dinners for the Holidays: Glazed Ham

If you are hosting this year, a cider glazed ham is about as easy as holiday mains get. Buy a fully cooked spiral ham, warm it slowly, then brush on a glaze of reduced apple cider, brown sugar and mustard for the last half hour. The cider glaze is less sticky sweet than the packet kind and gives the ham a shiny, deep amber finish. Which do you serve at Christmas: A: ham or B: turkey?

You will need: 1 fully cooked spiral ham (8 to 10 lb), 2 cups apple cider, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/2 tsp cinnamon.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 325 F. 2. Set the ham in a roasting pan with 1/2 cup cider and cover with foil. 3. Bake about 12 minutes per pound. 4. Simmer the rest of the cider until it reduces to 1/2 cup. 5. Stir in the sugar, mustard and spices. 6. Brush on the glaze and bake uncovered 20 to 30 minutes more.

Apple Cider Dinners for Sunday: Pork Loin With Apples

A pork loin roast looks impressive on the table but needs almost no effort. Rub it with garlic, rosemary and mustard, roast it on a bed of apples and onions, and baste it with cider as it cooks. The pan juices become an instant gravy. It is one of those apple cider dinners that works just as well for a Sunday supper as for a small holiday table.

You will need: 3 lb boneless pork loin roast, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 3 cloves garlic minced, 1 tbsp chopped rosemary, salt and pepper, 3 apples cut in wedges, 1 onion cut in wedges, 1 1/2 cups apple cider, 1 tbsp cornstarch.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 375 F. 2. Rub the pork with mustard, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. 3. Scatter the apples and onion in a roasting pan and set the pork on top. 4. Pour in 1 cup cider. 5. Roast 60 to 75 minutes until the center reaches 145 F, then rest 10 minutes. 6. Thicken the pan juices with the rest of the cider mixed with cornstarch.

Cider Brats With Onions and Apples

Bratwurst simmered in apple cider is a family friendly twist on the classic game day brat. Brown the sausages, then let them bubble in cider with sliced onions and apples until the liquid turns into a sticky glaze. Pile everything into toasted buns with mustard. It is perfect for football Sundays and easy to keep warm in a slow cooker for a crowd. Kids often pick it as their favorite of all the apple cider dinners.

You will need: 5 uncooked bratwurst, 1 tbsp oil, 2 onions sliced, 2 apples sliced, 1 1/2 cups apple cider, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 5 buns, grainy mustard.

How to make it: 1. Brown the brats in the oil on all sides. 2. Add the onions and apples and cook 5 minutes. 3. Pour in the cider and sugar. 4. Simmer uncovered 20 minutes, turning the brats. 5. Cook until the brats reach 160 F and the liquid is syrupy. 6. Serve in toasted buns with the onions, apples and mustard.

Apple Cider Dinners for a Crowd: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

This is the easiest way to feed a crowd this season. A pork shoulder cooks low and slow in apple cider with onion, garlic and a smoky spice rub until it falls apart. Stir some of the cooking juices back into the meat, then pile it on soft buns with coleslaw. It freezes well too, so make a big batch and save half for a busy night. Do you top yours with A: coleslaw, B: pickles or C: both?

You will need: 4 lb boneless pork shoulder, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 onion sliced, 1 1/2 cups apple cider, 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, buns, coleslaw.

How to make it: 1. Mix the sugar, paprika, garlic powder and salt and rub it over the pork. 2. Put the onion in the slow cooker and the pork on top. 3. Pour in the cider. 4. Cook on low 8 to 10 hours. 5. Shred the pork and stir in the barbecue sauce and 1/2 cup of the juices. 6. Serve on buns with coleslaw.

Apple Cider Glazed Salmon in 20 Minutes

Cider is not just for pork. Simmer it down with a little maple syrup, soy sauce and mustard, and you get a glossy glaze that is perfect on salmon. Brush it on and bake for about 12 minutes. The sweet and salty glaze caramelizes on top while the fish stays tender. Serve it with green beans or a quick salad for one of the lightest apple cider dinners on this list.

You will need: 4 salmon fillets, salt and pepper, 1 cup apple cider, 1 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 clove garlic grated, sesame seeds or chopped chives.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 400 F and line a pan with parchment. 2. Simmer the cider until it reduces to 1/3 cup. 3. Stir in the maple syrup, soy sauce, mustard and garlic. 4. Season the salmon and set it on the pan. 5. Brush with half the glaze and bake 12 to 14 minutes. 6. Brush with the rest of the glaze and add the seeds or chives.

Cider and Dijon Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

Everything for this dinner roasts together on one sheet pan. Chicken drumsticks or thighs get a quick marinade of apple cider, Dijon mustard and garlic, then roast with potatoes, red onion and apple wedges. The marinade turns into sticky, golden bits on the pan. It may be the easiest of all these apple cider dinners. Cleanup is one pan, and the leftovers are great cold in a lunchbox the next day.

You will need: 8 chicken drumsticks or thighs, 1/2 cup apple cider, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 2 tbsp olive oil, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tsp salt, 1 1/2 lb small potatoes halved, 1 red onion in wedges, 2 apples in wedges, fresh thyme.

How to make it: 1. Whisk the cider, mustard, oil, garlic and salt. 2. Toss the chicken in half the mixture and marinate 30 minutes. 3. Heat the oven to 425 F. 4. Toss the potatoes and onion in the rest of the mixture and spread on a sheet pan. 5. Add the chicken and roast 25 minutes. 6. Add the apples and roast 15 to 20 minutes more, until the chicken reaches 175 F.

Apple Cider Dinners for Parties: Glazed Meatballs

Here is a party trick: bake a batch of meatballs, then simmer them in a sticky glaze of apple cider, brown sugar, ketchup and a pinch of spice. They work as a dinner over rice or noodles and as a holiday appetizer in the slow cooker on the buffet. You can even use frozen meatballs to save time. Which would you serve them with: A: rice, B: egg noodles or C: toothpicks?

You will need: 1 1/2 lb meatballs (homemade or frozen), 1 1/2 cups apple cider, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp cornstarch.

How to make it: 1. Bake homemade meatballs at 400 F for 18 minutes, or thaw frozen ones. 2. Whisk the cider, ketchup, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce and cinnamon in a pot. 3. Bring to a simmer. 4. Stir in the cornstarch mixed with water until it thickens. 5. Add the meatballs and simmer 10 minutes. 6. Serve over rice or keep warm in a slow cooker.

Cider Braised Short Ribs for a Special Night

For a weekend or a holiday dinner, short ribs braised in apple cider and beef broth are hard to beat. The meat cooks for hours in the oven until it slides off the bone, and the sauce turns rich and glossy with a hint of apple. Make them a day ahead: they taste even better, and you can lift the fat off the top once they are cold. Of all the apple cider dinners here, this is the showstopper.

You will need: 4 lb bone-in beef short ribs, salt and pepper, 2 tbsp oil, 1 onion, 2 carrots, 3 cloves garlic, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 2 cups apple cider, 2 cups beef broth, 2 sprigs thyme, 1 bay leaf.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 325 F. 2. Season and brown the ribs in a Dutch oven, then set aside. 3. Cook the onion, carrots and garlic 5 minutes, then stir in the tomato paste. 4. Add the cider, broth, thyme and bay leaf. 5. Return the ribs, cover and bake 3 hours. 6. Skim the fat and simmer the sauce until thick.

Cider Braised Cabbage and Smoked Sausage

This is a cheap, filling one pot meal with old fashioned flavor. Smoked sausage browns in a big skillet, then sliced cabbage and onion cook down in apple cider with a spoon of mustard until soft and sweet. It costs very little, it is ready in about 30 minutes, and it tastes like something grandma would have made on a cold night. Add boiled potatoes to stretch it even further, which makes it one of the cheapest apple cider dinners you can make.

You will need: 1 lb smoked sausage sliced, 1 tbsp butter, 1 onion sliced, 1 small head green cabbage sliced, 1 cup apple cider, 1 tbsp grainy mustard, 1 tsp caraway seeds (optional), salt and pepper.

How to make it: 1. Brown the sausage in a large skillet and set it aside. 2. Melt the butter and cook the onion 5 minutes. 3. Add the cabbage and toss until it starts to wilt. 4. Stir in the cider, mustard and caraway. 5. Cover and cook 15 minutes until tender. 6. Stir the sausage back in and season to taste.

Apple Cider Dinners in One Skillet: Squash and Sausage

This skillet is fall in one pan. Cubes of butternut squash brown next to Italian sausage, then a splash of apple cider and a handful of sage turn it all into a sweet, savory supper. Toss in spinach at the end for some green. It is a great gluten free dinner on its own, or spoon it over rice or pasta for bigger appetites.

You will need: 1 lb Italian sausage, 1 small butternut squash peeled and cubed (about 4 cups), 1 small onion diced, 1 apple diced, 3/4 cup apple cider, 6 sage leaves chopped, 2 cups baby spinach, salt and pepper, grated Parmesan.

How to make it: 1. Brown the sausage in a large skillet, breaking it up, then set aside. 2. Cook the squash and onion in the drippings 10 minutes. 3. Add the apple and sage and cook 3 minutes. 4. Pour in the cider, cover and simmer 8 minutes until the squash is tender. 5. Stir in the sausage and spinach. 6. Season and top with Parmesan.

Cider Glazed Carrots on the Side

Every main dish needs a good side, and cider glazed carrots take about 20 minutes on the stove. The carrots simmer in apple cider and butter until the liquid cooks down to a shiny glaze. A pinch of salt and fresh thyme keep them from tasting like dessert. They go with nearly all of these apple cider dinners and are an easy make ahead side for Thanksgiving too.

You will need: 2 lb carrots peeled and sliced on an angle, 1 cup apple cider, 2 tbsp butter, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, fresh thyme or parsley.

How to make it: 1. Put the carrots, cider, butter, sugar and salt in a wide skillet. 2. Bring to a boil. 3. Cover and simmer 8 minutes. 4. Uncover and cook 8 to 10 minutes more, stirring. 5. Stop when the liquid turns into a shiny glaze. 6. Top with thyme or parsley.

Cider Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Bacon

Even people who say they hate Brussels sprouts tend to change their minds after this one. Roast halved sprouts until crispy at the edges, toss them with crumbled bacon, then drizzle with reduced apple cider. The sweet glaze balances the slightly bitter sprouts and the salty bacon. It is a side dish that often gets eaten first at Thanksgiving. Are you A: team sprouts or B: still not convinced?

You will need: 2 lb Brussels sprouts halved, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, 6 slices bacon, 1 cup apple cider, 1 tbsp maple syrup.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 425 F. 2. Toss the sprouts with oil and salt and spread on a sheet pan, cut side down. 3. Roast 20 to 25 minutes until browned. 4. Cook the bacon until crisp and crumble it. 5. Simmer the cider and maple syrup until reduced to 1/4 cup. 6. Toss the sprouts with the bacon and glaze.

Apple Cider Gravy for Your Thanksgiving Turkey

We end with the most useful trick of all: apple cider gravy. Make it with the turkey drippings, a little flour, broth and a splash of cider for a gravy that tastes deeper and a little brighter than usual. It is also great on mashed potatoes and stuffing. For more ideas, see our apple cider bakes, and the apple cider trend report from Buzzabout. Which of these apple cider dinners will you make first?

You will need: 1/4 cup turkey drippings or butter, 1/4 cup flour, 1 1/2 cups turkey or chicken broth, 1/2 cup apple cider, 1 tsp fresh thyme, salt and pepper.

How to make it: 1. Pour the drippings into a saucepan over medium heat. 2. Whisk in the flour and cook 2 minutes until golden. 3. Slowly whisk in the broth. 4. Add the cider and thyme. 5. Simmer 5 to 8 minutes until thick. 6. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.