🎉 Introduction
If you’re looking for a festive, flavorful, and incredibly juicy holiday chicken recipe, this Skillet Cranberry Orange Chicken is the perfect star of your Christmas or Thanksgiving table. It’s warm, bright, tangy-sweet, savory, colorful, and packed with holiday flavors like fresh cranberries, orange zest, honey, garlic, and herbs.
This dish brings together the perfect balance of flavors:
- Sweetness from honey or maple syrup
- Tartness from fresh cranberries
- Bright citrus notes from orange
- Richness from chicken broth
- Savory depth from garlic and herbs
It cooks in one skillet, making it easy, fast, and ideal for busy holiday cooking. The glaze becomes sticky and glossy, coating each piece of chicken with a festive ruby-red shine that looks stunning on any holiday table.
Serve it with mashed potatoes, rice, roasted vegetables, or Christmas salads, and you have a complete meal bursting with holiday magic.
🧰 Equipment Needed
- Large skillet (nonstick or cast-iron)
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring spoons & cups
- Citrus zester
- Knife & cutting board
- Spatula or tongs
- Spoon for glazing
🛒 Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 chicken breasts or thighs, boneless & skinless
- Salt and pepper to taste
Fruit & Aromatics
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 large orange (zested + juiced)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp fresh thyme or rosemary
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (halal-friendly)
- ½ cup chicken broth or water
For Cooking
- 1 tbsp olive oil
👩🍳 Directions
Step 1: Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper, then heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Step 2: Sear the chicken on both sides until golden brown, then remove it from the skillet and set aside.
Step 3: Add garlic, fresh cranberries, orange zest, and herbs to the skillet and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
Step 4: Whisk together orange juice, honey, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, and chicken broth, then pour the mixture into the skillet.
Step 5: Return the chicken to the pan, spoon the cranberry-orange sauce over it, and simmer for 10–15 minutes until cooked through and glazed.
Step 6: Garnish with fresh herbs and extra orange zest, then serve warm with your favorite holiday sides.
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 4
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20–25 minutes
- Total Time: 30–35 minutes
Perfect for weeknight dinners and festive holiday meals.
🧊 Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator
Keeps for 3–4 days in an airtight container.
Freezer
Freeze for 2 months, thaw overnight before reheating.
Reheating
- Skillet: 5 minutes on medium heat
- Microwave: 60 seconds
- Oven: 350°F for 10 minutes
🥄 Variations
⭐ 1. Spicy Cranberry Chicken
Add red pepper flakes or chili powder.
⭐ 2. Maple Orange Chicken
Use maple syrup instead of honey.
⭐ 3. Creamy Cranberry Chicken
Add ¼ cup heavy cream after simmering.
⭐ 4. Herb Lovers’ Version
Add extra thyme, rosemary, and parsley.
⭐ 5. Garlic Orange Chicken
Increase garlic and add orange slices.
⭐ 6. Pomegranate Glazed Chicken
Replace cranberries with pomegranate arils.
⭐ 7. Slow Cooker Version
Cook 4 hours on LOW, thicken sauce at the end.
❓ 10 FAQs
1. Can I use frozen cranberries?
Yes — use straight from frozen.
2. Can I use bone-in chicken?
Yes, but increase cooking time.
3. What sides go best with this dish?
Mashed potatoes, rice, salads, roasted veggies.
4. Is balsamic vinegar halal?
Yes — it’s simply aged vinegar, non-alcoholic.
5. Can I use orange marmalade?
Yes — 1 tbsp adds amazing flavor.
6. Do cranberries soften completely?
They soften and burst slightly into the sauce.
7. Can I use lemon instead of orange?
Yes — but it will be more tart.
8. Does this dish freeze well?
Very well — freeze in sauce for best results.
9. Can I make it ahead?
Yes — warm gently before serving.
10. Can I double the sauce?
Absolutely — many people love extra glaze.
🏁 Conclusion
This Skillet Cranberry Orange Chicken is the perfect holiday main course — juicy, glossy, aromatic, and bursting with Christmas flavor. With sweet-tart cranberries, bright orange zest, honey, herbs, and a rich skillet glaze, every bite delivers a beautiful balance of festive flavor.
It’s easy, fast, and cooks in one pan, making it ideal for Christmas dinner, holiday gatherings, or cozy winter meals. Serve it with warm mashed potatoes, rice, holiday veggies, or a Christmas salad — and enjoy a restaurant-quality dish at home.
A must-try Christmas recipe for anyone who wants flavor, color, and elegance on the table!
Skillet Cranberry Orange Chicken (Christmas & Thanksgiving Recipe)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Notes
Refrigerator Keeps for 3–4 days in an airtight container. Freezer Freeze for 2 months, thaw overnight before reheating. Reheating Skillet: 5 minutes on medium heat Microwave: 60 seconds Oven: 350°F for 10 minutes 🥄 Variations
⭐ 1. Spicy Cranberry Chicken Add red pepper flakes or chili powder. ⭐ 2. Maple Orange Chicken Use maple syrup instead of honey. ⭐ 3. Creamy Cranberry Chicken Add ¼ cup heavy cream after simmering. ⭐ 4. Herb Lovers’ Version Add extra thyme, rosemary, and parsley. ⭐ 5. Garlic Orange Chicken Increase garlic and add orange slices. ⭐ 6. Pomegranate Glazed Chicken Replace cranberries with pomegranate arils. ⭐ 7. Slow Cooker Version Cook 4 hours on LOW, thicken sauce at the end. ❓ 10 FAQs
1. Can I use frozen cranberries? Yes — use straight from frozen. 2. Can I use bone-in chicken? Yes, but increase cooking time. 3. What sides go best with this dish? Mashed potatoes, rice, salads, roasted veggies. 4. Is balsamic vinegar halal? Yes — it’s simply aged vinegar, non-alcoholic. 5. Can I use orange marmalade? Yes — 1 tbsp adds amazing flavor. 6. Do cranberries soften completely? They soften and burst slightly into the sauce. 7. Can I use lemon instead of orange? Yes — but it will be more tart. 8. Does this dish freeze well? Very well — freeze in sauce for best results. 9. Can I make it ahead? Yes — warm gently before serving. 10. Can I double the sauce? Absolutely — many people love extra glaze. 🏁 Conclusion This Skillet Cranberry Orange Chicken is the perfect holiday main course — juicy, glossy, aromatic, and bursting with Christmas flavor. With sweet-tart cranberries, bright orange zest, honey, herbs, and a rich skillet glaze, every bite delivers a beautiful balance of festive flavor. It’s easy, fast, and cooks in one pan, making it ideal for Christmas dinner, holiday gatherings, or cozy winter meals. Serve it with warm mashed potatoes, rice, holiday veggies, or a Christmas salad — and enjoy a restaurant-quality dish at home. A must-try Christmas recipe for anyone who wants flavor, color, and elegance on the table!
