This cranberry orange chicken is one of our favorite festive dinners, juicy chicken in a bright, sweet and tart cranberry orange sauce that comes together in about forty minutes. For us that kind of vibrant, special feeling meal is exactly what real food for real life is about. It is the kind of dinner that feels festive and special yet comes together easily, juicy chicken in a bright, sweet and tart cranberry orange sauce that lights up the plate.
Seared chicken simmers in a glossy sauce of fresh cranberries, orange juice and zest, garlic, and a touch of honey. This cranberry orange chicken balances sweet, tart, and savory in every bite, perfect for a holiday table or a brighter weeknight dinner. Searing the chicken and then simmering it in a glossy sauce of fresh cranberries, orange juice and zest, garlic, and a touch of honey balances sweet, tart, and savory in every bite.
Seared chicken simmered in a bright cranberry and orange sauce makes this cranberry orange chicken sweet, tart, and festive.
Why You Will Love This Cranberry Orange Chicken
- Sweet and tart. Cranberries and orange give the sauce a bright, festive balance.
- Ready in about forty minutes. A quick sear and simmer make it easy enough for any night.
- Festive and special. The vibrant sauce feels right at home on a holiday table.
- Juicy chicken. Searing then simmering keeps the chicken moist and flavorful.
- One pan sauce. The whole glossy sauce comes together right in the skillet.
What Makes This Cranberry Orange Chicken So Good
A great cranberry orange chicken starts with searing the chicken to build flavor and color, then setting it aside while the sauce comes together in the same pan, picking up all those savory browned bits. Searing the chicken first builds flavor and color, and setting it aside while the sauce comes together in the same pan lets the sauce pick up all those savory browned bits.
Simmering fresh cranberries with orange juice, zest, and a little honey lets the berries burst and release their pectin, which naturally thickens the sauce into a glossy, jammy glaze. Simmering fresh cranberries with orange juice, zest, and a little honey lets the berries burst and release their natural pectin, which thickens the sauce into a glossy, jammy glaze.
Returning the chicken to the pan to finish in the sauce is the key to this cranberry orange chicken. It lets the meat soak up the bright, sweet tart flavor while cooking through to juicy perfection. Returning the chicken to the pan to finish in the sauce lets the meat soak up the bright, sweet tart flavor while cooking through to juicy perfection.
Optional Pro Tip: Let the Cranberries Burst
Give the cranberries time to simmer and burst before returning the chicken, since that is what thickens the sauce and releases their tart flavor. For the best cranberry orange chicken, balance the tartness with honey to taste, adding a little more if the cranberries are very sharp. Giving the cranberries time to burst before the chicken returns is what thickens the sauce and releases their tart flavor, and balancing that tartness with honey to taste keeps it just right.
Tips for the Best Cranberry Orange Chicken
Sear the chicken well and let the cranberries fully burst so the cranberry orange chicken has a glossy, balanced sauce, and use fresh orange juice and zest for the brightest flavor. Searing the chicken well and letting the cranberries fully burst gives a glossy, balanced sauce, and using fresh orange juice and zest delivers the brightest flavor.
Taste and adjust the honey and salt at the end. A splash of balsamic vinegar or a little Dijon adds extra depth if you like. A final taste for honey and salt balances the sauce, and a splash of balsamic vinegar or a little Dijon adds extra depth if you want it.
Variations and Add Ins
- Maple. Use maple syrup in place of honey for a deeper sweetness.
- Spiced. Add a pinch of cinnamon or a sprig of rosemary.
- Thighs. Use boneless thighs for an even juicier result.
- Extra citrus. Add a little orange marmalade for more orange flavor.
- Spicy. Add a pinch of red chili flakes for a sweet heat balance.
How to Store and Make Ahead
Store leftover cranberry orange chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The flavor deepens as it sits. Stored airtight, the flavor deepens as it sits, making this an especially rewarding dish to enjoy again the next day as a quick, festive lunch.
Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth or orange juice if the sauce has thickened too much. A splash of broth or orange juice stirred in while reheating loosens the sauce if it has thickened, bringing back that glossy, spoonable glaze.
Serving Suggestions for Cranberry Orange Chicken
Serve this over rice, mashed potatoes, or alongside roasted vegetables and greens, with extra sauce spooned over. It makes a beautiful, festive plate for guests or a special family dinner. Served over rice or mashed potatoes, or alongside roasted vegetables and greens with extra sauce spooned over, it makes a beautiful, festive plate for guests or a special family dinner.
Cranberries are a tart North American berry that turns bright and jammy when cooked, as described in this overview of cranberries. That natural tartness is exactly what gives this cranberry orange chicken its lively, balanced sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen cranberries?
Yes. Frozen cranberries work well and do not need thawing. Add them straight to the simmering sauce. Frozen cranberries work well and do not need thawing, so add them straight to the simmering sauce and let them burst as they cook.
Can I use dried cranberries instead?
Fresh or frozen give the best tart sauce. Dried cranberries are much sweeter and will not burst, so the sauce will be different. Fresh or frozen cranberries give the best tart sauce, while dried cranberries are much sweeter and will not burst, so the sauce turns out quite different.
Can I use chicken thighs?
Yes. Boneless thighs stay especially juicy. Adjust the time and cook to 165 F. Boneless thighs stay especially juicy, so they are a great choice, just adjust the cooking time so they cook through evenly.
How do I balance the tartness?
Add honey or maple syrup to taste. Fresh cranberries are sharp, so sweeten gradually until it tastes balanced. Fresh cranberries are sharp, so adding honey or maple syrup gradually and tasting as you go lets you sweeten the sauce until it tastes perfectly balanced.
How do I thicken the sauce?
Let the cranberries burst and simmer until the sauce reduces. Their natural pectin thickens it as it cooks. Letting the cranberries burst and the sauce reduce is what thickens it, since their natural pectin sets the glaze as it simmers.
How do I know the chicken is done?
Use a thermometer and cook until the thickest part reaches 165 F. A quick read in the thickest part of the chicken is the most reliable check that it is cooked through and ready to serve.
Is this a good holiday dish?
Yes. The bright cranberry orange sauce makes it festive and colorful, ideal for a holiday table. The bright cranberry orange sauce makes this festive and colorful, which is exactly what makes it such a natural fit for a holiday table.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It keeps for up to three days and the flavor deepens, making it good for prep ahead meals. Because the flavor deepens as it sits, it makes a great prep ahead dish, reheating into a meal that tastes freshly made.
What can I serve it over?
Rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables all pair well and soak up the sauce. Rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables all pair well and soak up that glossy, sweet tart sauce beautifully.
Can I add more orange flavor?
Yes. Add extra zest or a spoonful of orange marmalade for a stronger citrus note. For a stronger citrus note, a little extra zest or a spoonful of orange marmalade stirred in deepens the bright orange flavor.
A Bright, Festive Chicken Dinner
This cranberry orange chicken brings a vibrant, sweet and tart sauce to juicy chicken in about forty minutes, all in one pan. It is festive enough for a holiday yet easy enough for a weeknight. It brings a vibrant, sweet and tart sauce to juicy chicken in about forty minutes, all in one pan, festive enough for a holiday yet easy enough for a weeknight.
Serve it over rice or potatoes with the glossy sauce spooned on top, and adjust the sweetness to your taste. It is a colorful, crowd pleasing dish that feels special with little effort. Serve it over rice or potatoes with the glossy sauce spooned on top, and adjust the sweetness to your taste for a colorful, crowd pleasing dish that feels special.
If you love bright, flavorful chicken dishes like this, you will also enjoy our healthy orange chicken, another favorite from our kitchen.
Results vary by ingredients, equipment, and cooking conditions. Always taste and adjust seasoning as you go.
Cranberry Orange Chicken
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Season the chicken breasts or thighs with salt, pepper, and a pinch of fresh thyme or rosemary.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add the chicken and cook for 4 to 6 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and saute for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, and honey or maple syrup.
- Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.
- Let the sauce simmer for 5 to 7 minutes until the cranberries burst and release their juice, creating a slightly thickened sauce.
- Return the chicken to the skillet, spooning some sauce over the top.
- Add the chicken broth and scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan to infuse the sauce with extra flavor.
- Cover the skillet and reduce the heat to low, simmering for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 F.
- Once the chicken is fully cooked, spoon the cranberry orange sauce over the top.
Nutrition
Notes
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