Description
Cranberry Orange Chicken brings zesty warmth to your dinner table with a perfect balance of tart and sweet flavors that dance across your palate. Tender chicken breasts glazed with a bright citrus and cranberry sauce create a simple yet elegant meal your family will absolutely adore.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Liquids and Sweeteners:
- ½ cup orange juice
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Zest of 1 orange
- Fresh parsley or thyme
- Orange slices or extra cranberries
Instructions
- Blend 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder in a small dish. Pat your chicken breasts completely dry, then coat evenly with the seasoning mixture.
- Warm 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Sear each chicken breast for 4-5 minutes per side until a golden-brown crust develops.
- Transfer chicken to a clean plate, keeping the flavorful browned bits in the skillet. Leave remaining oil and drippings in pan.
- Pour 1 cup cranberries, ½ cup orange juice, zest from 1 orange, ¼ cup honey, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon into the skillet. Stir ingredients thoroughly.
- Add ½ cup chicken broth and allow sauce to simmer for 5-7 minutes. Watch for cranberries to burst and sauce to thicken naturally.
- Return chicken pieces back into the skillet, nestling them gently into the bubbling sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low.
- Cover skillet and cook for 8-10 minutes, ensuring chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F using a meat thermometer.
- Slide chicken onto serving plates. Ladle warm cranberry orange sauce generously over each piece.
- Decorate with fresh parsley, thyme sprigs, optional orange slices, or extra cranberries as a finishing touch.
- Let chicken rest 3-5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute and flavors to settle.
Notes
- Pat the chicken completely dry before seasoning to ensure a crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in maximum flavor.
- Use fresh cranberries when possible for a brighter, more vibrant sauce that delivers a perfect balance of sweet and tangy notes.
- Adjust the honey quantity to control the sauce’s sweetness, keeping in mind that cranberries naturally bring tartness to the dish.
- For a low-carb version, replace honey with a sugar-free alternative like monk fruit sweetener and serve alongside roasted vegetables instead of traditional sides.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-27 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg