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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Chicken

    Cranberry Chicken

    Published: Nov 30, 2020 · Modified: Dec 12, 2022 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 19 Comments

    115 shares
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    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Cranberry Chicken with a text title overlay.

    A simple and tasty chicken dish, with all flavours of Christmas. Crispy chicken thighs smothered in a cranberry "gravy" with bursts of fresh cranberries and thyme. Cranberry Chicken is a meal that will impress over the festive season, with very little effort.

    A large round dish containing cooked chicken thighs in a cranberry gravy.

    Minimal ingredients go in to making this cranberry chicken, but it produces maximum flavour. Ready in just 30 minutes, it's perfect for when you want something impressive on the table, but you don't want to make anything too complicated.

    A perfect balance of sweet and tart flavours, this will liven up a boring chicken dinner.

    Looking for other ways to feed a crowd this Christmas? Why not try our Christmas Chicken, Grazing Platter, Honey Roast Duck or Christmas Tree Pizza.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make Cranberry Chicken - step by step
    • Variations
    • What to serve with Cranberry Chicken
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More cranberry recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • A delicious festive meal - Nothing quite screams Christmas like cranberries!
    • A great way to use up leftover cranberries - If you have bought some cranberries to make your own sauce and you don't know what to do with them, this is a good way to reduce waste.
    • Lives up boring chicken - We love chicken, as it is so versatile, but it can get a little boring cooking it the same ways. This cranberry gravy really livens it up.
    • Leftovers are great on a salad or in a sandwich - Make extra so you can make a salad with this chicken on it the next day.

    Ingredients needed

    All the ingredients needed for this recipe laid out with text overlay labels.
    • Chicken - We used skin on and bone in chicken thighs for this cranberry chicken, as we find that it has the mot flavour. The chicken stays really juicy and the skin gets nice and crispy. You could swap for skinless though if you prefer.
    • Cranberry sauce - This is the base of the cranberry "gravy". Quality it key here, and you want to use the best quality cranberry sauce you can find. Don't worry about chunky vs smooth, as it is all going to get blended up anyway.
    • Balsamic vinegar - This not only adds lots of flavour to the cranberry "gravy", but the sweetness of the balsamic really balances of the tartness of the cranberries. Again, quality is key here as you can really taste the difference between a cheap balsamic and a more expensive one. The cheap ones tend to be really runny too.
    • Maple syrup - This also adds some sweetness to the sauce. Use pure maple syrup, rather than the fake kind.
    • Stock - This is what makes the gravy part. We went with a good quality chicken stock, but you could always make your own chicken stock.
    • Garlic - This adds lots of flavour, without adding lots of calories.
    • Thyme - Fresh thyme is the way to go and not only does it add lots of flavour, but it makes the finished dish look beautiful.
    • Fresh cranberries - You can never have too many cranberries, right? This is cranberry chicken after all. As well as the cranberry sauce, we added fresh cranberries not only for presentation, but for little bursts of flavour.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    How to make Cranberry Chicken - step by step

    Prep: Preheat your oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5.
    One: Heat the oil in a large frying and add the chicken, skin side down and cook for 2 minutes. Turn the chicken thighs over and cook for a further 2 minutes.

    Two shot collage of a chicken cooking in a frying pan showing both sides of the chicken.

    Three: Put the cranberry sauce, balsamic, maple syrup, garlic, stock and salt and pepper into a blender and blend until smooth.

    A blender jug containing a cranberry sauce.

    Four: Pour half the sauce in to an ovenproof dish.

    A large round baking dish with a smooth cranberry sauce in the bottom of it.

    Five: Add the chicken to the dish.

    Chicken added to the dish.

    Six: Top with the rest of the sauce, the fresh cranberries and thyme.

    Whole cranberries and sprigs of thyme added to the chicken.

    Seven: Put into the oven for 25-30 minutes.

    Cooked chicken and cranberries in a sauce.

    Variations

    We love an opportunity to add some vegetables to a dish, and you have a couple of options with this cranberry chicken. Once you have crisped up the chicken and added it to the oven dish, you could fry up some shallots, mushrooms and spinach and put it under the chicken in the dish.

    What to serve with Cranberry Chicken

    You have lots of options when it comes to how to serve Cranberry Chicken. We served it with our BEST Ever Creamy Mashed Potatoes and Slow Cooker Green Beans. However, here are some other options for delicious side dishes that go perfectly with this chicken:

    • Roasted Lemon Asparagus
    • Garlic Spring Greens
    • Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli
    • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
    • Baked Carrot Fries
    • Vegetable Mash
    • Roasted Garlic and Herb Mushrooms
    • Beetroot and Goats Cheese Salad
    • Air Fryer Fries
    • Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
    • Baked Polenta Fries
    • Garlic Potato Wedges
    Cooked chicken thighs in a sauce with cranberries and thyme.

    FAQs

    Is cranberry chicken healthy?

    Chicken is a great source of lean protein (even more so if you use chicken breasts) there are loads of health benefits of cranberries. They are a good source of vitamin C, E and K1 as well as fibre. 

    How to tell that your chicken is cooked.

    This dish cooks in the oven for around 25 minutes, but the exact cooking time will depend on your oven. It will be cooked when the juices run clear, but that is a bit hard to tell with the cranberry sauce. The best way to ensure that it is cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. Chicken is cooked when it has an internal temperature of 75°C/167°F.

    Can you use homemade cranberry sauce?

    Yes, you can use any cranberry sauce you like, as this recipe really is quite forgiving. 

    Do you have to add fresh cranberries?

    No, if you can't find any fresh cranberries (if you are making this out of season), then you can leave them out. They are just thrown in to the dish before cooking to add a little extra burst of flavour.

    Can you use chicken breasts?

    Yes, you can swap the chicken thighs for breast in this recipe, although cooking times will vary. Chicken breast does tend to dry out a little more, but with all the sauce that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

    Can you make cranberry chicken in the slow cooker?

    Yes, this recipe works really well in the slow cooker. We would still recommend crisping the chicken up in a frying pan first, but then you can add everything to the slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours.

    Can you make it in advance?

    Yes, you can make part of this in advance by making up the sauce and then keeping it in the fridge (for up to 2 days) until you are ready to make the dish.

    How to store cranberry chicken.

    You can keep leftovers in the fridge in an air tight container for 2 days.

    What to do with leftovers.

    Leftovers are amazing in a sandwich or salad. If you are making a sandwich with it, then take all the meat off the bone and then load it in between your favourite bread, with some slices of brie, a handful of rocket lettuce (arugula) and some more cranberry sauce. When if comes to salad, then a bed of spinach and watercress works well and then load it up with the chicken taken off the bone, some crumbled goats cheese and some fresh cranberries and a sprinkle of pine nuts.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • You can use a chunky cranberry sauce with whole cranberries, or smooth one. It doesn't really matter because it is all going to be blended anyway.
    • Add some extra flavour with some grated orange zest added at the same time as the cranberry sauce.
    • We used chicken stock for this dish, however you could use vegetable stock instead. If you are making this for younger kids, then use a reduced salt stock.
    • You could swap the thyme for fresh rosemary instead.
    • Test the cranberry sauce before you add it to the dish. If it is still a little too tart for you, you could add some more maple syrup and blend it up again.
    • Use a meat thermometer to ensure that your chicken is cooked fully throughout.
    • You could skip the first steps of frying the chicken and just do it all in the oven. You wouldn't get as crispy skin and cooking times would vary.

    More cranberry recipes

    • Cranberry Brie Bites
    • Cranberry Orange Muffins
    • Cranberry Smoothie
    • Dark Chocolate and Cranberry Granola

    If you’ve tried this cranberry chicken recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Cranberry Chicken in a large round baking dish.

    Cranberry Chicken

    A simple and tasty chicken dish, with all flavours of Christmas. Crispy chicken thighs smothered in a cranberry "gravy" with bursts of fresh cranberries and thyme.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    4.96 from 22 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine: British, Christmas
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a cow's head.
    Meat
    An illustration of a wine glass.
    Sulphites
    Servings: 3 servings
    Calories: 692kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 6 chicken thighs - (about 150g/5oz each)
    • 180 g Cranberry sauce
    • 150 g fresh cranberries
    • 2 Garlic clove
    • 10 g Fresh thyme
    • 2 tablespoon Olive oil
    • 80 ml Balsamic vinegar
    • 100 ml chicken stock
    • 2 tablespoon Maple syrup
    • 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5.
    • Heat the oil in a large frying and add the chicken, skin side down and cook for 2 minutes. Turn the chicken thighs over and cook for a further 2 minutes.
      2 tablespoon Olive oil, 6 chicken thighs
    • Put the cranberry sauce, balsamic, maple syrup, garlic, stock and salt and pepper in to a blender and blend until smooth.
      180 g Cranberry sauce, 2 Garlic clove, 80 ml Balsamic vinegar, 100 ml chicken stock, 2 tablespoon Maple syrup, 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper
    • Pour half the sauce in to an ovenproof dish.
    • Add the chicken to the dish.
    • Top with the rest of the sauce, the fresh cranberries and thyme.
      150 g fresh cranberries, 10 g Fresh thyme
    • Put into the oven for 25-30 minutes.

    Notes

    • You can use a chunky cranberry sauce with whole cranberries, or smooth one. It doesn't really matter because it is all going to be blended anyway.
    • Add some extra flavour with some grated orange zest added at the same time as the cranberry sauce.
    • We used chicken stock for this dish, however you could use vegetable stock instead. If you are making this for younger kids, then use a reduced salt stock.
    • You could swap the thyme for fresh rosemary instead.
    • Test the cranberry sauce before you add it to the dish. If it is still a little too tart for you, you could add some more maple syrup and blend it up again.
    • Use a meat thermometer to ensure that your chicken is cooked fully throughout.
    • You could skip the first steps of frying the chicken and just do it all in the oven. You wouldn't get as crispy skin and cooking times would vary.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 692kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 222mg | Sodium: 261mg | Potassium: 637mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 390IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 3mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Emily Dennick

      December 18, 2022 at 7:20 pm

      Would this work in a slow cooker?

      Reply
      • Dannii

        December 19, 2022 at 7:11 am

        Yes, it would but you would need to reduce the amount of liquid used as it doesn't cook off in the slow cooker.

        Reply
    2. Tammy

      September 15, 2022 at 7:19 pm

      Absolutely divine
      I used juicy infused dried cranberries instead of fresh… delishcious

      Reply
    3. Debbbie

      December 13, 2020 at 2:20 pm

      Looking forward to trying this it looks delicious. One small point though, your method does not state what to do with the maple syrup and garlic? Video confirms my assumption it goes into gravy.

      Reply
      • Dannii

        December 14, 2020 at 5:55 pm

        Yes, it does. Sorry, will edit that.

        Reply
    4. Noelle

      November 30, 2020 at 9:38 pm

      5 stars
      Such great flavors added to this chicken! Loved it

      Reply
    5. rika

      November 30, 2020 at 9:34 pm

      5 stars
      What a great combo. I love chicken and cranberry! Yum!

      Reply
    6. Beth

      November 30, 2020 at 9:28 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! My wife is going to love this recipe! I can't wait to show her this!

      Reply
    7. Shanna

      November 30, 2020 at 8:35 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so delicious! What a great way to keep the holiday spirit.

      Reply
    8. Maria

      November 30, 2020 at 8:17 pm

      5 stars
      That looks scrumptious! Will definitely give it a try this weekend!

      Reply
    9. Tara

      November 30, 2020 at 6:57 pm

      5 stars
      Such a beautiful meal with all of those cranberries! I love the minimal prep and how the chicken comes together in 30 minutes.

      Reply
    10. Cathleen

      November 30, 2020 at 6:34 pm

      5 stars
      You just made chicken so much more festive!! I am definitely making this over the holidays, thank you so much for this recipe!!

      Reply
    11. Ben M

      November 30, 2020 at 6:01 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe tastes really good and it is such a great recipe for celebrating cooler months and getting the most out of those cranberries. It looks beautiful and tastes really good. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    12. Michelle

      November 30, 2020 at 5:41 pm

      5 stars
      Looove this for using up leftover cranberry sauce. Goes so beautifully with the chicken

      Reply
    13. Katie

      November 30, 2020 at 5:35 pm

      5 stars
      Looks so good! I know my family will love this!!

      Reply
    14. Angela

      November 30, 2020 at 4:06 pm

      5 stars
      I have cranberry sauce in the refrigerator. This recipe looks so tasty! I can't wait to try it.

      Reply
    15. Kushigalu

      November 30, 2020 at 3:43 pm

      One of the best holiday recipe with cranberries so delicious. Thanks for sharing

      Reply
    16. Jenn

      November 30, 2020 at 2:44 pm

      5 stars
      I'm still on a cranberry kick and can't wait to try this recipe! It looks so herby and delicious!

      Reply
    17. Beth

      November 30, 2020 at 2:24 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy! This looks so delicious and tasty! I can't wait to give this a try! My family is going to love this recipe!

      Reply

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    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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