Description
Cranberry Orange Chicken brings zesty Mediterranean flavors right to your dinner table with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness. Tender chicken breasts get glazed with a tangy-sweet sauce that makes weeknight meals feel like something special.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Produce:
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cup fresh orange juice (about 2 oranges)
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Fresh rosemary or thyme
- Orange slices
- Extra cranberries
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Pat 4 chicken breasts (113 grams each) completely dry with paper towels. Generously sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon paprika across both sides of your chicken.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (375°F). Carefully place seasoned chicken into hot oil, searing exactly 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown edges develop.
- Remove chicken from skillet and set aside temporarily. Keep the same skillet on medium heat with remaining oil and drippings.
- Add 1 cup fresh cranberries, ½ cup orange juice (120 ml), 1 tablespoon orange zest, ⅓ cup honey, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 2 minced garlic cloves into the skillet.
- Simmer sauce ingredients for 5-7 minutes, gently stirring occasionally until cranberries begin bursting and liquid slightly reduces.
- Whisk 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water to create a smooth slurry. Slowly pour into simmering sauce while continuously stirring.
- Return seared chicken back to skillet, spooning hot sauce completely over each piece. Cover and reduce heat to low, cooking 5-7 minutes until internal chicken temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Transfer chicken onto serving plates, generously spooning remaining cranberry orange sauce on top.
- Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs, orange slice medallions, and additional whole cranberries for elegant presentation.
Notes
- Always pat the chicken completely dry before seasoning to ensure a perfect golden-brown sear that locks in flavor.
- Cornstarch slurry works like magic to thicken the sauce without creating lumps, giving your dish a smooth, glossy finish.
- Fresh cranberries bring bright, tangy notes to the sauce, but frozen work just as well if that’s what your pantry offers.
- Checking chicken’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer guarantees juicy meat and food safety every single time.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 254 kcal
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg