Skillet Cranberry Orange Chicken: A Sweet and Savory Holiday Favorite Recipe
A deliciously sweet and savory skillet chicken dish featuring bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs cooked with tart fresh cranberries and zesty orange flavors. This recipe is perfect for cozy dinners and festive holiday meals, combining the bright citrus notes of orange juice and zest with the natural sweetness of maple syrup, all simmered together in one pan for an easy yet impressive main course.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Chicken
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Sauce
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 small onion, diced
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp rosemary or thyme
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Generously season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides to enhance the natural flavors.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down and cook until the skin is golden and crispy, about 6-7 minutes. Then flip and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet with the residual oils and flavors, sauté the minced garlic and diced onion until they become fragrant and translucent, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the fresh cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, chicken broth, maple syrup, and rosemary. Mix everything together and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer with Chicken: Nestle the seared chicken thighs back into the skillet, skin-side up. Cover the skillet with a lid and let everything cook together for about 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Serve: Once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) and the sauce has reduced to your liking, remove from heat. Serve hot with your preferred side dishes.
Notes
- You can use frozen cranberries if fresh are not available; there is no need to thaw them before use.
- Bone-in chicken thighs are preferred for better flavor retention, but boneless thighs can be used as an alternative.
- For deeper flavor, prepare the cranberry-orange sauce a day in advance and refrigerate before cooking the chicken.
