Description

A vibrant and tangy Cranberry Orange Chicken recipe featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a flavorful sauce made from fresh cranberries, orange zest and juice, garlic, and herbs. This dish offers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and citrus flavors, making it ideal for a delicious weeknight dinner or special occasion meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon fresh thyme or rosemary (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chicken broth or water
Fresh herbs or extra orange zest for garnish (optional)

Sauce

1 cup fresh cranberries
1 large orange (zested and juiced)
2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Instructions

Prep the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts or thighs with salt, pepper, and a pinch of fresh thyme or rosemary. If time allows, marinate for 30 minutes to enhance flavor, although this step is optional.
Brown the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4-6 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
Make the Cranberry Orange Sauce: In the same skillet, sauté the minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add fresh cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, and honey or maple syrup. Stir to combine and simmer for 5-7 minutes until cranberries burst and the sauce thickens slightly.
Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the browned chicken to the skillet and spoon some sauce over each piece. Pour in chicken broth and scrape browned bits from the pan bottom to incorporate extra flavor. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10-12 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Serve: Once chicken is cooked through, spoon additional cranberry-orange sauce over each serving. Garnish with fresh herbs or orange zest as desired. Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

You can substitute chicken thighs for breasts for a juicier result.
For a dairy-free version, ensure honey or maple syrup are used and omit any optional garnishes containing dairy.
If fresh cranberries are unavailable, frozen cranberries can be used—no need to thaw before cooking.
Adjust the sweetness by varying honey or maple syrup quantities to personal taste.
Ensure chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F for safety.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Sautéing and Simmering
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce (about 180g)
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 12 g
Sodium: 420 mg
Fat: 10 g
Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 26 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 35 g
Cholesterol: 85 mg

Keywords: cranberry orange chicken, chicken breast recipe, cranberry sauce, citrus chicken, easy chicken dinner, healthy chicken recipe