Description
Cranberry Orange Chicken features juicy boneless chicken thighs cooked to perfection in a tangy and sweet cranberry orange sauce, making a vibrant and flavorful main dish perfect for any dinner occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Cranberry Orange Sauce
- 1 ½ cups (150 g) cranberries, fresh or frozen
- ⅔ cup (166 g) orange juice
- ¼ cup (79 g) pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup (50 g) light brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons orange zest
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Orange slices, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine salt, paprika, and black pepper. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken thighs.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once hot, place the chicken thighs in the skillet in a single layer, working in batches if necessary. Cook for 5 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove the chicken from the skillet and place on a plate, tenting with aluminum foil to keep warm.
- Make the Cranberry Orange Sauce: Reduce heat to medium-low. In the same skillet, add cranberries, orange juice, maple syrup, brown sugar, orange zest, minced garlic, and salt. Cook the mixture for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and gently mashing the cranberries with a spoon or spatula to release their juices and thicken the sauce.
- Combine and Heat Through: Nestle the cooked chicken back into the skillet, spooning the sauce over each piece. Cook for about 1 minute or until the chicken is thoroughly heated.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the chicken and sauce with orange slices if desired. Serve warm as a delightful main course.
Notes
- Use fresh cranberries for the best flavor, but frozen cranberries work well too.
- Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less maple syrup and brown sugar to suit your taste.
- If preferred, chicken breasts may be substituted but will require adjusting cooking time to avoid drying.
- For extra zest and flavor, add a splash of fresh lemon juice to the sauce.
- Serve with rice, quinoa, or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
