Description
Cranberry Orange Chicken brings zesty Mediterranean flavors right to your dinner table, with tender chicken embracing a tangy sauce that dances between sweet and savory notes. Delightful and simple to prepare, this dish delivers restaurant-quality results that make your family meal feel extra special.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 6 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on
Seasonings:
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon paprika
Sauce and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup cranberries
- 0.5 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 0.33 cup honey
- 0.5 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Garnish:
- Fresh thyme sprigs
- Orange slices
- Pomegranate arils
Instructions
- Thoroughly blot each chicken thigh using paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring a crispy exterior during cooking.
- Generously sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon paprika across both sides of the chicken, massaging the seasonings into the meat.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat at 375°F (190°C) until the butter stops foaming.
- Carefully place the seasoned chicken thighs skin-side down in the hot skillet, allowing them to develop a golden-brown crust for 6-7 minutes without moving.
- Flip the chicken and cook the other side for an additional 5-6 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside on a warm plate, covering loosely with aluminum foil to retain heat.
- Pour 1 cup cranberries, ½ cup orange juice, 1 tablespoon orange zest, and ⅓ cup honey into the same skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
- Simmer the sauce at medium heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until cranberries begin to burst and liquid reduces slightly.
- Add ½ cup chicken broth, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper to the sauce, continuing to cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Return chicken to the skillet, spooning the cranberry sauce over each piece to coat thoroughly.
- Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs, orange slices, and pomegranate arils before serving immediately.
Notes
- Patting the chicken thighs completely dry helps the seasonings stick better and creates a gorgeous golden-brown exterior when cooking.
- For extra citrus punch, zest the orange before juicing it and sprinkle the zest directly onto the seasoned chicken before roasting.
- Swap chicken thighs for chicken breasts if preferred, but reduce cooking time to prevent drying out the meat.
- Gluten-free diets can easily adapt this recipe by ensuring all ingredients like broth and seasonings are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg