If you have some leftover cranberry sauce or just looking for a quick, simple and easy meal, give this 2 ingredient recipe a go! These cranberry chicken breasts are cooked in one skillet and oven baked for the juiciest piece of chicken. Just 5 minutes to prep!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my privacy policy here.
Looking for an easy weeknight meal and have some cranberry sauce leftover from Thanksgiving or Christmas? These skillet cranberry chicken breasts with delicious sauce are just what you need!
I love how effortless this cranberry chicken recipe is to make and with just two main ingredients! There's no need to marinade, so it's super quick too! They have a great balance of flavor and work well with tonnes of veggie and potato side dishes.
I made these with my homemade brown sugar cranberry sauce, but you can easily use this with whatever cranberry sauce you have to hand, even canned!
For more one skillet chicken dinners, be sure to check out my Marinated Honey Mustard Chicken and Creamy Tomato and Turmeric Chicken.
Ingredients
- Chicken breast: Because this is such a simple recipe, be sure to get some good quality chicken, it really does make all the difference. If you can, buy organic and air chilled chicken, and at a minimum chicken raised without antibiotics. I used boneless skinless chicken breasts.
- Cranberry sauce: Nothing quite beats the flavor of a fresh homemade cranberry sauce and this is a great recipe to use up any leftovers!
- Salt, pepper and oil: For seasoning and cooking.
How to make cranberry chicken breasts
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Season the chicken and sear til golden brown on both sides in a skillet (photo 1).
- Add the cranberry sauce and place chicken in the oven til cooked through (photo 2).
Serving Suggestions
This baked cranberry chicken recipe is great to serve along sides like potatoes and veggies, and it's great with some plain rice or crusty bread too. Try it with some of these delicious sides:
Recipe Variations
It's easy to make this recipe your own! Soften some onions, garlic, or other veggies and add them to the skillet before topping with the sauce and baking. A little orange zest for garnish is a great way to brighten up the dish too, or a sprig of fresh rosemary.
Cranberry Sauce Notes
To make this recipe extra easy, we use cranberry sauce, rather than fresh cranberries, so all you have to do is warm it through. You can make this with any cranberry sauce you have. I used a sauce with brown sugar, and if you like something a bit more boozy then try my Cranberry Sauce with Port and Orange.
You can also make this with canned or jarred sauce, just give it a good mix to break it down before adding it to the chicken.
Ideally your cranberry sauce should also be at room temperature before you add it to the skillet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this is a super versatile recipe and you can use chicken thighs if you have those. You can also make this with bone in or skin on breasts or thighs. Just be aware that the cooking time will vary.
Chicken breast is low in fat, so it can be pretty easy to dry it out. No one wants dry chicken! Follow these steps to keep your breasts juicy and succulent:
- Sear them first. This helps to lock in the moisture.
- Place the cranberry sauce right on top of the breasts so they are well covered.
- Cover the chicken with aluminum foil when it it bakes to keep the moisture in the pan.
- Use an meat thermometer to check that the chicken is cooked through. It should have an internal temperature of 160-165F / 71-75c.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This will help the juices to redistribute.
Ideally, these cranberry chicken breasts are best enjoyed once it is made so that the chicken is nice and juicy. If you have leftovers, they will keep well, in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Reheat the chicken covered in the oven at 350F / 180c for 15 to 20 minutes until warmed through.
This dish is not suitable for the freezer.
This easy baked cranberry chicken recipe is so simple and loved by the whole family. It's a great option for an easy weeknight dinner. I'm sure this will become a family favorite for you!
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Season the chicken breast well before searing it.
- Let the chicken come up to room temperature before searing it. This will help it to be more tender. Take the chicken out of the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before you want to cook it.
- Bake the chicken in a preheated oven so that it cooks through evenly.
- Cover the chicken during baking so that it doesn't dry out.
- Cooking times will vary depending on the thickness of your chicken.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
- Creamy Chicken Mushroom Pasta
- Spicy Buttermilk Chicken Nuggets
- Caprese Stuffed Chicken
- Chicken Coconut Thai Curry
I love hearing from you!! If you have tried these baked cranberry chicken breasts, be sure to scroll down, give them a star rating and let me know what you thought!
For more tasty treats, food inspiration and fun, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest – come say hi!
Be sure to keep in touch and sign up to Slow The Cook Down to grab your free e-book ‘Stress Free Recipes Made For Sharing’
Baked Cranberry Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- salt and black pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (250g-300g)
Instructions
- Pre heat the oven to 350F / 180c.
- Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat the oil in an oven proof skillet on a medium high heat.
- Once the oil is hot, brown the chicken breast on both sides (about 4 to 5 minutes on each side).
- Take the skillet off of the heat, and top the chicken breasts with the cranberry sauce.
- Cover the skillet tightly with foil and bake in the oven for 30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Season the chicken breast well before searing it.
- Let the chicken come up to room temperature before searing it. This will help it to be more tender.
- Cooking times will vary depending on the thickness of your chicken.
Leave a Reply