🍂🌻 Chili Champions & Backyard Cooks 🌻🍂🍁 Chuckwagon Fall Recipe of the Day — Wednesday, September 2, 2026

🍂🌻 Chili Champions & Backyard Cooks 🌻🍂

🍁 Chuckwagon Fall Recipe of the Day — Wednesday, September 2, 2026

🍗🍎 Harvest Apple Cider Chicken & Butternut Squash Skillet 🍎🍁

Good morning, folks! 🤠🍂

September is here, and we're keeping those cozy fall flavors coming! Today's recipe is a beautiful one-skillet harvest supper filled with juicy chicken, roasted butternut squash, apples, onions, bacon, and a savory apple-cider maple glaze.

It's colorful, hearty, and perfect for one of those early September evenings when you're ready for fall—even if the weather hasn't gotten the message yet! 😄🍁

🍗 Harvest Chicken Ingredients

• 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

• 6 slices bacon, chopped

• 3 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed

• 2 crisp apples, sliced

• 1 medium sweet onion, sliced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• ½ teaspoon rubbed sage

• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

• Salt and black pepper to taste

🍎 Apple Cider Glaze

• 1 cup apple cider

• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• ½ cup chicken broth

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water

🔥 Let's Get Cooking!

1️⃣ Cook the bacon.In a large cast-iron skillet, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove it and set aside, leaving about 2 tablespoons of those flavorful drippings behind.

2️⃣ Brown the chicken.Season the chicken with thyme, sage, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.

Sear the chicken in the bacon drippings for about 4–5 minutes per side, until beautifully golden. Remove and set aside.

3️⃣ Start the harvest vegetables. 🎃Add the olive oil and butter to the skillet. Toss in the butternut squash and onion.

Cook for about 7–8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the apples and garlic and cook another 2 minutes.

4️⃣ Make that cider glaze. 🍎Whisk together the apple cider, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and chicken broth.

Pour it into the skillet and bring to a gentle simmer.

5️⃣ Bring everything together.Return the chicken to the skillet, nestling it among the apples and squash.

Cover and simmer for about 10–15 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165°F and the squash is tender.

6️⃣ Thicken the sauce.Remove the chicken briefly if needed and stir in the cornstarch mixture. Simmer for a minute or two until the cider sauce becomes glossy and slightly thickened.

7️⃣ Finish it off!Return the chicken to the skillet and sprinkle that crispy bacon all over the top.

Spoon plenty of apple-cider glaze over everything before serving. 😋

⭐ MawMaw's Fall Kitchen Secret

🍎 Choose an apple that holds its shape when cooked.

Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, or Granny Smith are all great choices.

And don't add the apples too early—we want tender apple slices, not applesauce! 😄

For even more fall flavor, toss in a handful of dried cranberries or toasted pecans just before serving.

🍽️ Serve It Up With

🥖 Warm buttermilk biscuits with apple butter🥬 Southern green beans🥗 Cranberry-pecan harvest salad🌽 Buttered corn🍎 Cold apple cider or sweet tea

🍁 And for dessert?

🍎🥧 Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Serve them slightly warm with a drizzle of caramel sauce. Oh my goodness! ❤️

💜 Chuckwagon Encouragement

Fall teaches us something beautiful about life.

A tree doesn't fight to keep every leaf forever. There comes a season when it releases what has finished its purpose and prepares for what's coming next.

Sometimes we need to do the same.

We may need to release an old disappointment, forgive someone, stop worrying about something we cannot control, or simply trust God with a situation we don't understand.

You don't have to carry yesterday into every tomorrow.

Give it to God and make room for the new things He wants to do in your life. 🍂❤️

📖 Scripture for Today

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

— 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

🍁 Wednesday Fall Table Question

Which fall ingredient gets your vote?

🍎 Apples🎃 Pumpkin🍠 Sweet potatoes🌽 Corn🍁 Maple🥜 Pecans🍒 Cranberries

👇 Tell us in the comments! Better yet, share one of your favorite fall recipes with our cooking family—we'd love to see what's simmering in your kitchen!

🤠🍂 Happy Wednesday, Friends!

May your kitchen be warm, your skillet be full, and your day overflow with reasons to thank God.

Faith ⭐ Family ⭐ Friends ⭐ Food ⭐ Memories ❤️🍁🌻