Description
A vibrant and flavorful Cranberry Orange Chicken recipe, balancing sweet, tart, and savory notes. This elegant dish is surprisingly simple to prepare, perfect for special occasions or a gourmet weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 large orange, zested and juiced
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme or rosemary (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- ½ cup chicken broth or water
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Zest and juice the orange, mince garlic. Pat chicken dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken 4-6 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove chicken and set aside.
- To the same skillet, add fresh cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, honey/maple syrup, minced garlic, thyme/rosemary, chicken broth/water, balsamic vinegar, and Dijon mustard. Bring to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
- Return the seared chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the sauce. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until cranberries burst, sauce slightly thickens, and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Turn chicken occasionally.
- Remove skillet from heat and let rest for 5-10 minutes. Garnish with fresh herbs or orange slices if desired, and serve.
Notes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg