Description
Cranberry Orange Chicken delivers a seriously tasty dinner that brings restaurant-quality comfort right to your kitchen table. Zesty citrus and tart berries create a delicious sauce that makes weeknight cooking feel wonderfully special.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cup orange juice
Seasoning and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Sauce and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 tablespoon caperberries
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Set your oven to 375F and grab a paper towel to thoroughly dry 4 chicken thighs, ensuring a crisp skin.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon smoked paprika evenly over the chicken’s surface.
- Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil into a large oven-safe skillet and heat over medium-high until shimmering.
- Carefully place chicken skin-side down, pressing gently to achieve golden-brown crispiness for 4-5 minutes.
- Flip chicken and cook an additional 2 minutes, then transfer to a plate.
- Drop 1 cup cranberries into the same skillet with ½ cup orange juice, orange zest from 1 orange, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 1 teaspoon thyme.
- Stir sauce ingredients and simmer for 5 minutes until cranberries begin to burst and release their juices.
- Return chicken to the skillet, nestling pieces into the vibrant sauce.
- Slide skillet into the preheated 375F oven and bake 20-25 minutes until chicken reaches 165F internal temperature.
- Remove from oven and swirl 1 tablespoon butter into the sauce for extra richness.
- Sprinkle fresh thyme and additional orange zest over the chicken before serving.
Notes
- Pat chicken thighs completely dry for the crispiest skin and best sear, which helps lock in flavor and create a beautiful golden-brown exterior.
- Use an oven-safe skillet to minimize dishes and allow seamless transition from stovetop to oven, keeping all those delicious pan juices.
- Choose bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for maximum moisture and richer taste compared to leaner chicken breasts.
- For a lower-carb version, swap honey with a sugar-free alternative like monk fruit sweetener and reduce overall sauce sweetness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-42 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 590 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg