Description
Sweet and Savory Cranberry Glazed Chicken: Juicy chicken glazed with cranberry sauce, a crowd-pleasing dish that’s quick and comforting! 🍗🍒 #cranberryglazedchicken
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds/900g) or 6-8 chicken thighs
- 1 cup (250ml) fresh or frozen cranberries
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) honey or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
- 1 tablespoon (15g) fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 teaspoon (5g) orange zest
- 1/2 cup (120ml) chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon (5g) salt
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5g) black pepper
- 1 tablespoon (15g) butter (optional, for richness)
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This crucial step ensures proper browning. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place the chicken presentation-side down in the hot pan, being careful not to overcrowd. Cook undisturbed for 5-6 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 4-5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and tent loosely with foil.
- Step 2: Make the Cranberry Glaze In the same skillet (don’t clean it—those browned bits are flavor gold!), add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the cranberries, honey, balsamic vinegar, orange zest, and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. The cranberries will begin to burst as they cook—help this process along by gently mashing some of them with the back of your spoon.
- Step 3: Reduce and Finish the Glaze Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the cranberry mixture for about 8-10 minutes until it thickens slightly and reduces by about one-third. The natural pectin in the cranberries will help thicken the sauce as it cooks. Stir in the chopped rosemary and butter (if using). The butter will add a beautiful shine and richness to your Sweet and Savory Cranberry Glazed Chicken sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Step 4: Finish Cooking the Chicken Return the chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the cranberry glaze. Spoon some of the glaze over each piece of chicken. Cover the skillet and cook on medium-low for another 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). If the glaze becomes too thick during this process, add a splash of chicken broth or water.
- Step 5: Serve Let the chicken rest in the pan for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring maximum tenderness. Transfer to plates and spoon additional glaze over each piece. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and orange zest if desired for a beautiful presentation that highlights your Sweet and Savory Cranberry Glazed Chicken.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast or 2 chicken thighs
- Calories: 320 per serving
- Sugar: 12 grams
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 12 grams
- Saturated Fat: 3 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 20 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Protein: 30 grams
- Cholesterol: 95 mg