This post was most recently updated on June 15th, 2020
These restaurant cinnamon apples are just like the ones served as a side dish at Cracker Barrel and Chili’s, only healthier! No butter, and minimal sugar!
If you are looking for other delicious apple recipes try our baked apple chips or Grandpa Bob’s apple pull-apart bread!
Watch our step by step video!
Derrick and I both LOVE the skillet apples at restaurant like Chili’s and Cracker Barrel. We don’t eat out often, but still like having this delicious side dish so we make our own.
What Makes These Cinnamon Apples Healthier?
We’ve made them many times and have come to the conclusion that 1: they don’t need to be fried or sauteed in butter (like many recipes call for) and 2: they don’t need a lot of sugar, if any. It all depends on what kind of apple that you use. The sweeter the apple, the less sugar you’ll want to add. I find that 2 T. of sugar for 6 apples is perfect for our family!
What Apples Are Best for Cooking?
I like using Honey Crisp or Gala. According to allrecipes.com, other apples that hold up well when cooked are Braeburn, Fuji, Gala, Jonagold, and Golden Delicious (just to name a few). I’m going to go out on a limb and say that all apples would taste delicious served this way!
To make skillet apples you’ll need fresh apples that have been peeled and sliced, 100% apple juice, cinnamon, a bit of sugar and a few tablespoons of corn starch for thickening. That’s it! This delicious side dish serves 6 people (1 apple each).
Restaurant Cinnamon Apples Side Dish Recipe
Cinnamon Apples Side Dish
These restaurant cinnamon apples are just like the ones served as a side dish at Cracker Barrel and Chili's, only healthier! No butter, and minimal sugar!
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Servings: 6
Calories: 166kcal
Ingredients
- 6-8 apples
- 2 1/2 cup apple juice divided
- 2 Tbsp. sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 Tbsp. cornstarch
Instructions
- Peel and slice each apple into 12 sections.
- Add apples to a large saute pan or skillet in a single layer.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
- Pour 1 c. apple juice over your apples and bring to a simmer on med-high heat. Continue to simmer on medium heat for 10 minutes, or until fork tender.
- Combine (with a whisk) cornstarch and remaining juice. Once apples are tender, pour cornstarch mixture over apples and stir until thickened.
- Remove from heat.
Notes
These keep well for at least a week in the refrigerator and 6 months in the freezer.
Nutrition
Calories: 166kcal
Dishes to Serve Restaurant Cinnamon Apples With:
Grilled chicken, pork chops and mashed potatoes, Thanksgiving dinner, or ham and potatoes!
This post is a refresh of a post originally shared in 2011. New photos and video instructions have been added.
Oh wow!! That was easy, and looks delicious 🙂 Perfect for the fall. Thanks for sharing.
-Rachel Cottongim
the happily ever after project
oooh yummy, I’ve always wanted to know how to make those!
so yummy come see me at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
Oooooh! I love the apples from Chili’s! I’m definitely trying these out!
Hi Brandy, I have been wanting to do some apples this way for a while now. I was able to get some Stoufer’s apples a couple years back, totally fat free, and I would microwave them, and add a little granola in the bottom of a souffle cup, then the hot apples and we felt like we were eating apple pie, without all the fat, so your recipe sounds healthy, and easy, I’m going to try it, thanks for sharing, tami
I love anything “apples”, especially at this time of year – looks delish! Stop by to enter my giveaway of 100 printed postcards!
These sound fabulous, especially for this time of the year! I’m visiting from OTMM.
Apples are favorite fruit in every sessions. We make different dishes with apples and same thing doing with berries. My grandmother likes to make blackberry jam, blackberry cobbler, blackberry lemonade, and many more recipes of blackberry.
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Hi Brandy, what a great recipe. Would be perfect for apple crisp/crumble and apple pie. I found and am following you through My Romantic Home and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you could follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
thanks for sharing, i’m stopping by from tip junkie and would love to have you stop by my blog and check out the huge ($100) giveaway going on now- http://thelovelypoppy.blogspot.com/2011/10/blog-follower-giveaway.html
Tried out your recipe and your right! went down an absolute treat with the wife and kids! Dad’s not so useless after all! after a few hours of basking in the credit I did have to admit to getting the recip from yourself!replica watches uk
Had some apples a little past their prime so I gave this. A try. Delish! I only used 1 cup of apple juice and 1 T. corn starch and just enough apple juice to mix it with. I wanted it thick. Going to try it with my morning yogurt.