Last Updated on November 21, 2020 by Slow The Cook Down
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!
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Looking for an easy weeknight meal and have some cranberry sauce leftover from Thanksgiving or Christmas? These skillet cranberry chicken breasts are just what you need!
I love how effortless these are to make and with just two main ingredients! 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.
- 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 brown both sides in a skillet (photo 1).
- Add the cranberry sauce and bake in the oven (photo 2).
Cranberry Sauce Notes
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. 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 when it it bakes to keep the moisture in the skillet.
- Use an instant read thermometer to check that the chicken is cooked through. It should register at 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, covered 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.
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.
- 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
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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.
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