Savory Cranberry Herb Chicken (Printable)
Juicy roasted chicken breasts topped with a tangy cranberry and herb blend, perfect for anytime dining.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5.3 oz each)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Cranberry Herb Topping
05 - 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
06 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
07 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
09 - 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme
10 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped
12 - Zest of 1 orange
13 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish or line with parchment paper.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry. Rub each breast with olive oil, then season evenly with salt and black pepper. Arrange in a single layer in the prepared dish.
03 - Combine cranberries, honey or maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, thyme, garlic, shallot, orange zest, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and the mixture thickens slightly.
04 - Evenly spoon the cranberry herb mixture over the chicken breasts.
05 - Roast in the oven for 20–25 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the topping is bubbling.
06 - Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Optionally, spoon extra sauce from the pan over the chicken.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Chicken stays ridiculously juicy because the cranberry topping keeps it moist while it roasts.
- The tangy-sweet-herby combination tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen, but it's genuinely 45 minutes start to finish.
- One pan means less cleanup, which honestly matters more than any food blogger wants to admit.
02 -
- Don't skip patting the chicken dry; wet chicken will steam instead of roast, and the whole dish suffers.
- If your cranberry sauce looks too thin when you're done cooking it, let it bubble for an extra 2 minutes—it thickens more as it cools slightly and sits on the chicken.
03 -
- Make the cranberry mixture while your oven preheats and your chicken comes to room temperature—this shaves 10 minutes off your total time.
- If you're cooking for guests and nervous about timing, you can assemble everything up to the roasting step an hour ahead; just add 2 to 3 minutes to the roasting time if the chicken was refrigerated.