When I’m looking for easy dinner recipes to make during the colder months, I turn to comfort food classics such as white chicken chili, Instant Pot pulled pork, chicken Vesuvio, stuffed green peppers and this simple but satisfying cranberry chicken. Everyone knows that cranberries are great for making homemade cranberry sauce and cranberry muffins, but they also work well in savory dishes such as chicken recipes. This cranberry chicken takes just minutes to put together, an is a unique and unexpected way to dress up chicken thighs.
Cranberry Chicken Ingredients
To make this cranberry chicken recipe, you will need bone in chicken thighs, salt, black pepper, orange zest, orange juice, garlic, olive oil, maple syrup, rosemary and cranberries.
How Do You Make Cranberry Chicken?
Preheat the oven, then pat the chicken dry with a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a large skillet, then add olive oil to the pan. Sear the chicken on both sides until it is golden brown. Place the cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, maple syrup, garlic and rosemary in a bowl. Stir everything together, then pour the cranberry mixture over the chicken thighs. Transfer the pan to the oven, and bake until the chicken is cooked through and the cranberries burst. Serve the baked chicken with the cranberry mixture spooned over the top.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
I like to use bone-in skin on chicken thighs for this recipe because they have a lot of flavor and are less likely to dry out. You can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, but you’ll need to reduce the cooking time. You can use fresh or frozen cranberries in this recipe with great results. I highly recommend using fresh rosemary, as it has the best flavor. If you need to use dry rosemary, use 1/3 of the amount as you would for fresh. Store any leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave, adding a bit of water or broth to retain moisture. Serve your cranberry chicken along with fall and winter side dishes such as pear salad, rice pilaf, hasselback sweet potatoes, green beans with bacon, crispy brussels sprouts or candied carrots.
Flavor Variations
While this recipe is delicious as-is, you can customize some of the ingredients to suit your tastes.
Protein: No chicken on hand? This recipe will also work with pork chops or turkey thighs, you’ll just need to adjust the cooking time. Herbs: Instead of rosemary, try using fresh thyme leaves or parsley. Fruit: You can use half cranberries, half another type of fall fruit such as diced apples or pears. Vegetables: Feel free to add some veggies to the dish when it goes into the oven. Some great choices include thinly sliced carrots or diced parsnips. Toppings: Finish the dish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze, chopped pecans or a sprinkle of dried cranberries.
Cranberry chicken is a must-try recipe during cranberry season! It’s fresh, colorful and loaded with sweet and savory flavors.
