Description

This Cranberry Orange Chicken is a flavorful and festive dish combining juicy seared chicken breasts with a tangy-sweet sauce made from fresh cranberries, honey, and vibrant orange juice and zest. It’s an easy yet elegant meal perfect for holidays or cozy weeknights.

Ingredients

2 large chicken breasts

1 cup fresh cranberries

1/2 cup fresh orange juice

1 tablespoon orange zest

2 tablespoons honey

1 small onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

2 sprigs fresh thyme or rosemary

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Optional: orange slices for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Heat olive oil and butter in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat.

3. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.

4. Sear chicken in the skillet for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.

5. In the same skillet, sauté chopped onion and garlic until fragrant and translucent.

6. Add cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, and honey. Stir and simmer for 3–5 minutes until cranberries begin to burst.

7. Return chicken to the skillet, nestling into the sauce. Top with fresh herbs and optional orange slices.

8. Transfer skillet to oven and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165°F internally.

9. Let rest a few minutes, then spoon extra sauce over chicken before serving.

Notes

You can substitute chicken thighs for a juicier result; adjust bake time as needed.

If cranberries are too tart, add an extra teaspoon of honey to balance.

To make it dairy-free, use only olive oil and skip the butter.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Oven-Baked, Skillet
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
Calories: 370
Sugar: 15g
Sodium: 390mg
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 22g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 35g
Cholesterol: 95mg

Keywords: cranberry orange chicken, holiday chicken, skillet chicken