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Cranberry Orange Glazed Chicken

Juicy Cranberry Orange Glazed Chicken That Will Wow Your Tastebuds

Experience the irresistible Cranberry Orange Glazed Chicken that brightens your meal with citrus and cranberries.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 4 pieces chicken thighs or breasts bone-in for extra juiciness or boneless for quicker cooking
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Glaze
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons orange zest
  • 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
  • 2 cloves garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme or rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • Baking dish
  • Small saucepan

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Pat the chicken pieces dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and let rest 10 minutes while you preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with a bit of oil. Place chicken skin-side down and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes, stirring herbs into the pan.
  3. Transfer the seared chicken to a baking dish and roast at 375°F until it reaches 165°F internal temperature, about 18–20 minutes for juicy, tender meat.
Making the Glaze
  1. In a small saucepan, combine cranberries, fresh orange juice, zest, honey (or maple syrup), garlic cloves, and thyme. Simmer over medium heat until berries burst, about 8–10 minutes.
  2. Use the back of a spoon to gently mash the cranberries. Continue simmering until the mixture becomes syrupy and coats the back of a spoon, about 2–3 minutes.
  3. Generously spoon the warm cranberry-orange glaze over the roasted chicken. Return to oven for 5 minutes to lock in that glossy, sweet-tart finish.

Notes

Letting chicken rest for a few minutes after glazing keeps it juicy and lets flavors meld deliciously. Reapplying a drizzle of freshly made cranberry orange glaze before serving enhances the flavor and freshness.