Description
A flavorful Cranberry Orange Chicken featuring tender boneless skinless chicken thighs cooked in a tangy and sweet homemade cranberry orange sauce, perfect for a vibrant and comforting meal.
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
- Season the chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine kosher salt, paprika, and black pepper. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken thighs to ensure balanced seasoning.
- Cook the chicken: Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once hot, place the seasoned chicken thighs in a single layer in the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes on one side without moving them, then flip and cook for another 5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove the chicken and place it on a plate, tenting with aluminum foil to keep warm.
- Prepare the sauce: Reduce the skillet heat to medium-low. Add cranberries, orange juice, pure maple syrup, light brown sugar, orange zest, minced garlic, and kosher salt to the same skillet. Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally and gently squishing the cranberries with a spoon or spatula to release their juices, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
- Finish the dish: Nestle the cooked chicken thighs back into the skillet with the thickened cranberry orange sauce. Spoon the sauce generously over each piece and cook for about 1 minute more, allowing the chicken to warm through and absorb some sauce.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish the chicken with fresh orange slices if desired. Serve the Cranberry Orange Chicken warm for a delicious and vibrant meal.
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen cranberries depending on availability; frozen works just as well.
- Adjust sweetness by modifying the amount of maple syrup and brown sugar according to taste.
- You can substitute chicken thighs with chicken breasts but reduce cooking time accordingly.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the seasoning.
- Serve with rice, quinoa, or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
