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Cranberry Orange Chicken Thighs

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Juicy chicken thighs simmered in a tangy-sweet cranberry orange sauce, made easily in a skillet for a cozy, flavorful dinner. This recipe is quick, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for weeknights or festive gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 lbs)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • Zest from 1 large orange (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 teaspoon rosemary (fresh or dried, optional)
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water (optional, for thickening)

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs, skin-side down, and sear for 5-6 minutes until skin is golden and crispy. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
  3. Lower heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the pan and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Add cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, honey (or maple syrup), chicken broth, and rosemary. Stir well, scraping up browned bits.
  5. Return chicken thighs to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Spoon some sauce over each thigh. Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes on medium-low, until chicken is cooked through (internal temp 165°F).
  6. If sauce is thin, mix cornstarch with water and stir into the pan. Simmer uncovered for 2 more minutes until sauce is glossy and thickened.
  7. Pierce chicken near the bone to check for doneness; juices should run clear.
  8. Sprinkle with extra orange zest and fresh rosemary if desired. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Spoon sauce over each thigh when plating.

Notes

For extra-crispy skin, finish chicken under the broiler for 1-2 minutes. Taste sauce before serving and adjust honey for sweetness or add lemon juice for tartness. Boneless thighs or breasts can be used; reduce simmer time by 5-8 minutes. Sauce can be thickened with cornstarch slurry if desired. Leftovers taste even better the next day and can be used for sandwiches.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry orange chicken, skillet chicken thighs, easy chicken dinner, holiday chicken recipe, gluten-free chicken, citrus chicken, cranberry sauce chicken

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