Learn how to make cranberry chicken, an easy yet elevated dish brimming with sweet, tangy flavor.
Cranberry Chicken
Easy and flavorful, cranberry chicken is bound to become one of your weeknight dinner staples. Once you’ve made this dish one time, you can’t help but incorporate it into your repertoire. Start it a couple of hours before dinnertime—this succulent chicken needs at least an hour and a half to roast in the oven. Trust us, that time is worth it. It’s slow-roasting that gives you crispy skin, tender meat and truly delicious flavor.Â
Ingredients for Cranberry Chicken
- Broiler/fryer chicken:Â Save the bones from the chicken to make homemade broth or stock.
- Salt and pepper:Â Use kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper for the best results.
- Butter:Â Browning the chicken in butter first adds richness to the skin and helps it crisp up.
- Onion and celery:Â Take the time to uniformly dice the onion and celery to ensure they cook evenly.
- Whole-berry cranberry sauce:Â You could also opt to make your own cranberry sauce.
- Barbecue sauce:Â Check out our suggestions for the best barbecue sauces out there.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the chicken
Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper; brown in a skillet in butter. Remove the chicken to a greased 13×9-inch baking pan.
Step 2: Add the other ingredients
In the drippings, saute onion and celery until tender. Add the cranberry sauce and barbecue sauce; mix well. Pour over the chicken.
Step 3: Bake
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 and 1/2 hours, basting every 15 minutes.
Chicken and Cranberry Recipe Variations
- Use turkey: As you probably know from Thanksgiving meals, turkey and cranberry pair perfectly together—check out our delicious recipe for cranberry turkey.
- Swap out the veggies: Feel free to substitute carrots or cauliflower if you prefer additional color or different texture.
How to Store Cranberry Chicken
Let your leftover chicken cool completely, then store it in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
How long does cranberry chicken last?
When stored properly, cranberry chicken will last for up to three days.
Cranberry Chicken Tips
What should I serve with cranberry chicken?
We like serving this cranberry chicken with mashed potatoes and steamed greens or a salad for a well-rounded meal.
Can I make this recipe with boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts?
Yes, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking times accordingly. Follow our ultimate guide to how to cook chicken.
What are some other recipes that have a similar flavor profile to cranberry chicken?
If you love this cranberry chicken, check out these recipes for cranberry-stuffed beef tenderloin and cranberry short ribs.
Easy Cranberry Chicken
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
1 hour 15 min
Yield
6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 broiler/fryer chicken (3 to 4 pounds), cut up
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1 can (14 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 1 cup bottled barbecue sauce
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, heat butter in large skillet; cook chicken until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. In same skillet, cook onion and celery in drippings until tender, 3-4 minutes. Add cranberry sauce and barbecue sauce; mix well. Pour over chicken. Bake, uncovered, until chicken is fully cooked, basting every 15 minutes, about 1-1/4 hours.
Nutrition Facts
12 ounce-weight: 425 calories, 19g fat (6g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 675mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (24g sugars, 2g fiber), 29g protein.
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You don't have to wait until the fall to enjoy delicious cranberry flavor. By using a canned sauce, you can get the flavor in this cranberry chicken recipe no matter what time of year.—Kay Simpson, Hull, Quebec
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