Description
A flavorful and festive Skillet Cranberry Orange Chicken recipe featuring juicy, bone-in chicken thighs cooked with a tangy and sweet cranberry orange sauce. This one-pan dish combines aromatic spices, fresh cranberries, and citrus for a perfect holiday or weeknight meal that’s both comforting and vibrant.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Sauce and Aromatics
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- Fresh thyme sprigs for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a small bowl, mix salt, black pepper, dried thyme, ground cinnamon, and ground ginger. Rub this seasoning mixture evenly over the chicken thighs to coat them completely.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down in the skillet and cook for 5-6 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crisp. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 3 minutes to brown the other side. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, add the diced onion and sauté for about 2 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- Prepare the Sauce: Stir in the chicken broth, orange juice, honey, and balsamic vinegar into the skillet. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Add Cranberries and Orange Zest: Add the cranberries and orange zest to the skillet, stirring to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Simmer with Chicken: Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, placing them skin-side up in the sauce. Reduce the heat to low and cover with a lid. Let the chicken cook for 20-25 minutes, allowing it to cook through and the cranberries to soften and burst.
- Thicken the Sauce: Remove the lid and continue simmering uncovered for another 5 minutes to slightly thicken the sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the dish with fresh thyme sprigs if desired. Serve the chicken warm with the cranberry orange sauce spooned over the top.
Notes
- Substitute boneless chicken thighs or breasts if preferred, but reduce cooking time accordingly.
- Fresh cranberries provide a bright tartness, but frozen cranberries work just as well.
- For deeper flavor, marinate the chicken in orange juice and spices for 1 hour before cooking.
