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Skillet Cranberry Orange Chicken
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Skillet Cranberry Orange Chicken is a vibrant and easy one-pan dinner combining tender chicken breasts with a zesty cranberry and orange sauce. This dish balances sweet, tart, and savory flavors, all cooked in under 30 minutes for a healthy, flavorful weeknight meal perfect for family dinners or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, rinsed
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice (about 2 oranges)
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth (gluten-free if needed)
- 2 teaspoons fresh herbs (thyme or rosemary)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Zest and juice fresh oranges, rinse the cranberries, and pat the chicken breasts dry. This preparation enhances cooking and flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then sear each side for 4-5 minutes until golden brown but not fully cooked through to lock in the juices.
- Make the Sauce: Remove chicken temporarily and sauté minced garlic in the same skillet until fragrant. Add cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, honey, and chicken broth. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.
- Simmer with Chicken: Return chicken breasts to the pan, nestling them into the sauce. Add fresh herbs, cover the skillet, and simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce thickens.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the herbs, taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Spoon the glossy cranberry-orange sauce over the chicken and serve immediately.
Notes
- Pat chicken dry before searing for a golden crust.
- Use fresh orange juice and zest for bright, natural flavor.
- Monitor cooking to avoid overcooking chicken and keep it juicy.
- Add honey gradually to balance tartness without overpowering the sauce.
- If sauce is thin, simmer uncovered a few extra minutes to reduce and thicken.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 85mg