Description
This Skillet Cranberry Orange Chicken is a quick, flavorful, and festive dish. Juicy chicken breasts are cooked in a tangy-sweet cranberry and orange sauce, perfect for weeknight dinners or holiday meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/2 cup orange juice (fresh is best)
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley or thyme, for garnish
Instructions
Instructions
- Season & sear chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Prepare sauce: In the same skillet, add garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Stir in cranberries, orange juice, honey, orange zest, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes. Simmer 5–7 minutes until cranberries soften and sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine & serve: Return chicken to the skillet, spooning sauce over the top. Cook 2–3 minutes to coat chicken with sauce.
- Garnish: Sprinkle with fresh parsley or thyme. Serve warm with rice, quinoa, or roasted vegetables.
Notes
For a smoother sauce, blend half of the cranberry mixture before returning chicken. Adjust sweetness with more honey if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American / Holiday
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: cranberry chicken, orange chicken, quick dinner, festive chicken