su-Five Spice Chicken Thighs with Apples and Sweet Potatoes Image

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
AuthorAmy Traverso

The seasoning blend called Chinese five-spice adds a warm note without pushing the apples into pie territory, and the apples are tart enough to balance the flavor too. Cooked fennel bulbs add a warm, aromatic note that makes this sheet pan dinner smell like a cozy, Autumn night. Roasting ingredients together on a sheet pan saves time and reduces cleanup. Make sure to head to your farmer's market between August and November for the freshest, ripest apples that will yield the most flavorful, sweet results.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

Preheat oven to 425°. Cut off fennel stalks and reserve feathery leaves. Trim base of bulb and any tough outer layers. Halve bulb lengthwise, cut out core in a V, and cut bulb lengthwise into slim wedges.

Step 2
2

Oil a large rimmed baking sheet and arrange sweet potatoes and fennel in a single layer. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Arrange onion and apples over potatoes and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper. Set chicken on top. In a small bowl, combine butter, honey, five-spice, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt. Brush onto chicken.

Step 3
3

Roast 15 minutes, then tip pan and baste ingredients with juices (use a bulb baster or wide spoon). Continue to roast until chicken is nicely browned and no longer pink at bone (cut to test), 15 to 20 minutes more. Baste everything again and scatter reserved fennel leaves on top.

Ingredients

 1 small fennel bulb with feathery stalks
 3/4 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-in. slices
 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
 1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided
 1 medium red onion, cut lengthwise into 1/3-in.-wide slices
 2 large firm-tart apples, such as Ida Red, Sierra Beauty, or Granny Smith, unpeeled, sliced into 1/4-in. wedges
 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (2 3/4 lbs. total)
 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
 1 teaspoon honey
 1 1/2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice

Directions

Step 1
1

Preheat oven to 425°. Cut off fennel stalks and reserve feathery leaves. Trim base of bulb and any tough outer layers. Halve bulb lengthwise, cut out core in a V, and cut bulb lengthwise into slim wedges.

Step 2
2

Oil a large rimmed baking sheet and arrange sweet potatoes and fennel in a single layer. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Arrange onion and apples over potatoes and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper. Set chicken on top. In a small bowl, combine butter, honey, five-spice, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt. Brush onto chicken.

Step 3
3

Roast 15 minutes, then tip pan and baste ingredients with juices (use a bulb baster or wide spoon). Continue to roast until chicken is nicely browned and no longer pink at bone (cut to test), 15 to 20 minutes more. Baste everything again and scatter reserved fennel leaves on top.

Five Spice Chicken Thighs with Apples and Sweet Potatoes

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