Cranberry Orange Chicken

Tender and juicy chicken, cooked to perfection and served with cranberry orange gravy. This chicken recipe is ideal for the holiday season.

If you are not planning on making a Turkey this Thanksgiving, this recipe is your best alternative! It is an easy chicken recipe with a festive twist to it.

You only need to season the chicken then pan fry with butter and serve it with cranberry gravy and sauce on the side. I also make a simple yet tasty and colorful gravy with chicken stock, rosemary and orange zest, in addition to juice and cranberries.

I used my own homemade cranberry sauce to thicken and sweeten the gravy. After that, I poured it over the chicken with some mashed potatoes on the side.
This dish is simple, elegant and very tasty.

Ingredients needed:

For the Chicken you will need boneless, skinless breasts of chicken, seasoning and butter.

For the Gravy you will need butter, flour and chicken stock. You will also need a couple tablespoons of cranberry sauce, some orange zest and the juice of an orange.

how to make cranberry orange chicken

Cooking the Chicken:

Pat dry the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and set aside.

Melt a tablespoon of butter with olive oil in a skillet or frying pan, and cook the chicken for 4–5 minutes on each side until chicken is fully cooked and golden brown on both sides. I like to use butter and olive oil in the pan as I find the combination gives the chicken a rich and flavorsome taste. Transfer from pan to a plate and cover with foil.

Preparing the Gravy:

In the same pan, melt another tablespoon of butter and add flour. Mix for two minutes until they make a paste. Then, add your chicken stock with one rosemary sprig. Bring to a boil, add zest and orange juice, three tablespoons of cranberry sauce and season to taste. Reduce to simmer until sauce thickens. This should take about 5–7 minutes.

Plate your cooked chicken and drizzle the cranberry orange sauce on and around it. Serve immediately with your favorite sides.

how to cut chicken breast lengthwise

If the chicken breasts you are using are thick, cut them in half lengthwise so they become thinner, and they cook faster.

Lay the chicken breast on a hard surface with round side facing you, place one hand on top to keep it firmly in place and with a sharp knife use your other hand to slice your way back and forth starting from the bottom (side closer to you) all the way to the top. Keep the knife at the same angle as you cut to get almost same size pieces.

what to serve with cranberry orange chicken

The options are almost endless on what to serve with this chicken dish.
You can certainly have it with mashed or baked potatoes, or with
Sauteed Green Beans
Beet Salad
Garlic Butter Potatoes
Cranberry Sauce