Elevate your weeknight dinner with these delicious cranberry glazed chicken breasts, offering a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.

Cranberry Glazed Chicken Breasts: Easy Dinner Recipe 16

This simple chicken breast recipe is ideal for a festive meal or a cozy family dinner, bringing a touch of gourmet without the fuss. It’s a fantastic way to transform everyday chicken into something special that the whole family will enjoy.

This recipe focuses on ease and flavor, ensuring that even on your busiest days, you can put a wholesome and impressive meal on the table. The vibrant cranberry glaze adds a beautiful color and a delightful tang that perfectly complements the tender chicken.

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Time Needed From Start To Finish
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This cranberry glazed chicken breast recipe is a true weeknight hero, designed for busy individuals and families who crave delicious, home-cooked meals without spending hours in the kitchen. You’ll love how quickly it comes together, making it perfect for a post-work dinner or a last-minute gathering. The combination of sweet and savory notes in the cranberry glaze is universally appealing, making it a hit with both adults and children. It’s also an excellent choice for a cozy family dinner, a casual get-together with friends, or even a simple, elegant meal for two. The vibrant color of the glaze also makes it a visually appealing dish that looks more complex than it actually is.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients ahead of time makes the cooking process smooth and enjoyable. This recipe uses readily available items that you likely already have in your pantry or can easily find at any grocery store.

INGREDIENTS:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs total)
1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce (canned or homemade)
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)

For the cranberry sauce, using a good quality whole berry canned sauce works perfectly and saves time. If you prefer, homemade cranberry sauce can also be used, just ensure it’s not too watery. When choosing chicken breasts, look for pieces that are relatively even in thickness to ensure they cook at the same rate. If your chicken breasts are very thick, you might want to lightly pound them to an even thickness of about 3/4 inch. For the mustard, Dijon adds a nice tang, but a stone-ground mustard could also work in a pinch. Feel free to adjust the amount of brown sugar based on how sweet you like your glaze; some cranberry sauces are sweeter than others.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

This recipe is designed for speed and efficiency, making it perfect for those busy weeknights when you need a delicious meal on the table without a long wait.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
Total Time: 30-35 minutes

These times are estimates and can vary slightly depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts and the efficiency of your kitchen setup. The key is to have all your ingredients measured and ready before you start cooking, which helps streamline the process significantly.

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Creating these delicious cranberry glazed chicken breasts is straightforward. Follow these steps for perfectly cooked, flavorful chicken every time.

Prepare the Chicken: Pat the boneless, skinless chicken breasts dry with paper towels. This helps them brown nicely. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper. If your chicken breasts are very thick, you can lightly pound them to an even 3/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or the bottom of a heavy pan.
Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or oven-safe pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, carefully add the seasoned chicken breasts to the hot pan. Sear for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and a nice crust has formed. The chicken won’t be fully cooked through at this point.
Whisk the Glaze: While the chicken is searing, combine the whole berry cranberry sauce, orange juice, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, dried thyme, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Whisk until all ingredients are well combined and the brown sugar has dissolved.
Glaze and Finish Cooking: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Pour the cranberry glaze over the seared chicken breasts in the skillet, ensuring each piece is coated. Bring the glaze to a gentle simmer.
Simmer to Perfection: Continue to cook the chicken in the simmering glaze for another 10-15 minutes, flipping the chicken occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) when checked with an instant-read thermometer. The glaze should also thicken slightly as it cooks.
Rest and Serve: Once cooked, remove the chicken breasts from the skillet and let them rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the chicken moist and tender. Spoon any remaining glaze from the pan over the chicken. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired, and serve warm.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

This cranberry glazed chicken is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to suit various tastes and occasions.

For a kid-friendly twist, you can reduce the amount of Dijon mustard slightly and add a touch more brown sugar to make the glaze a bit sweeter. Kids often enjoy dipping, so serving extra glaze on the side is a great idea. You could also cut the chicken into strips before glazing for easier eating.

Consider adding a touch of spice by including a pinch of red pepper flakes to the glaze for a subtle kick. For an herbaceous variation, swap out the dried thyme for fresh rosemary or sage, finely chopped, which pairs wonderfully with cranberry. A splash of balsamic vinegar can also add depth to the glaze.

This dish pairs beautifully with a variety of sides. For a quick weeknight meal, serve it alongside steamed green beans, roasted broccoli, or a simple garden salad. Fluffy white rice or quinoa will soak up the delicious glaze perfectly. For a more substantial dinner, consider creamy mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, or wild rice pilaf. It also makes a fantastic centerpiece for a holiday-adjacent meal, accompanied by roasted root vegetables like carrots and parsnips.

As an optional topping, a sprinkle of toasted pecans or walnuts can add a lovely crunch and nutty flavor that complements the cranberries. A dollop of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream on the side can also offer a creamy contrast.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Knowing what to look out for will help you achieve perfect cranberry glazed chicken every time.

One frequent mistake is overcooking the chicken. Chicken breasts are lean and can dry out quickly. Use an instant-read thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the breast. As soon as it reaches this temperature, remove it from the heat. Resting the chicken for 5 minutes after cooking also helps keep it juicy.

Not searing the chicken first can result in less flavor. Searing creates a delicious golden-brown crust and locks in moisture. Don’t rush this step; ensure your pan is hot enough before adding the chicken to get that beautiful caramelization.

Overcrowding the pan is another common issue. If you put too many chicken breasts in the skillet at once, the temperature of the pan will drop, and the chicken will steam instead of sear. Cook in batches if necessary to ensure proper browning.

Not tasting the glaze before adding it to the chicken means you might miss an opportunity to adjust the flavor. Cranberry sauces vary in sweetness and tartness. Taste your glaze mixture and adjust the brown sugar or orange juice if needed to achieve your desired balance of sweet and tangy.

Finally, not patting the chicken dry before searing can prevent a good crust from forming. Excess moisture on the surface of the chicken will cause it to steam rather than brown, so a quick pat with paper towels is a simple but crucial step.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

This cranberry glazed chicken is excellent for meal prepping and can be stored and reheated without losing its delicious flavor or tender texture.

To store leftovers, allow the chicken to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Pour any remaining glaze over the chicken to keep it moist. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

For reheating, the best method is to gently warm the chicken in a skillet over medium-low heat with a tablespoon or two of water or chicken broth, covered, until heated through. You can also reheat it in the microwave in short bursts (30-60 seconds) until warm, but be careful not to overcook it, as this can dry out the chicken.

If you want to make it ahead, you can prepare the cranberry glaze up to 2-3 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to cook, simply sear the chicken and then add the pre-made glaze. This significantly cuts down on

FAQs

Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.

Cranberry Glazed Chicken Breasts: Easy Dinner Recipe

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