Weeknight dinners just got a whole lot easier and more delicious with this Cranberry Balsamic Chicken Skillet recipe.

Cranberry Balsamic Chicken Skillet: Easy One-Pan Dinner 16

This dish features tender chicken thighs coated in a vibrant cranberry orange marinade, creating a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors that will liven up any dinner table. It’s a fantastic way to bring a gourmet touch to your everyday cooking without all the fuss.

This one-pan wonder is designed for busy schedules, making it an ideal choice for families and anyone looking for a flavorful meal with minimal cleanup. The simple steps and readily available ingredients mean you can whip this up even on your most hectic days, leaving you more time to enjoy with your loved ones.

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
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This Cranberry Balsamic Chicken Skillet is a true weeknight hero, perfect for families, busy professionals, or anyone who appreciates a delicious meal without a lengthy cooking process. You’ll love how quickly it comes together, making it an excellent choice after a long day at work or school. The tender chicken thighs, infused with the bright and zesty cranberry orange marinade, offer a delightful flavor profile that’s both comforting and exciting. It’s a fantastic way to introduce new flavors to your dinner rotation without needing a long list of exotic ingredients or complicated techniques. This dish is versatile enough for a casual family dinner but also impressive enough to serve to guests.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients for this Cranberry Balsamic Chicken Skillet is straightforward, ensuring a stress-free cooking experience. Most of these items are likely already in your pantry or easily found at any grocery store. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the way a few key ingredients come together to create something truly special.

INGREDIENTS:

1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon orange zest
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Salt to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

For simple substitutions, you can easily adapt this recipe to what you have on hand. If you don’t have fresh oranges, bottled orange juice will work, though you’ll miss out on the zest. Dried cranberries can be used in a pinch if whole berry cranberry sauce isn’t available, but you might need to add a touch more liquid (like water or chicken broth) to the sauce for consistency. Feel free to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs if that’s your preference, just be mindful that breasts may cook a little faster and can dry out more easily. For a different herb profile, dried rosemary or sage can be substituted for thyme.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

This Cranberry Balsamic Chicken Skillet is designed for efficiency, getting a delicious meal on the table without hours of effort.

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

The prep time includes mixing the marinade and getting the chicken ready, while the cook time accounts for searing the chicken and allowing the sauce to thicken. This quick turnaround makes it a perfect solution for busy weeknights when you want a homemade meal without the long wait.

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Making this Cranberry Balsamic Chicken Skillet is incredibly simple, even for beginner cooks. Follow these steps for a perfectly tender and flavorful meal.

Prepare the Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole berry cranberry sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, orange zest, fresh orange juice, dried thyme, garlic powder, and black pepper. Season with salt to taste. This creates the vibrant sauce that will coat your chicken.
Marinate the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Place them in a shallow dish or a large zip-top bag. Pour about half of the cranberry balsamic marinade over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well coated. Reserve the remaining marinade for later use as the cooking sauce. Let the chicken marinate for at least 15 minutes at room temperature, or up to 30 minutes. If marinating longer, place it in the refrigerator.
Sear the Chicken: Heat a large, oven-safe skillet (cast iron or stainless steel works best) over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the marinated chicken thighs to the skillet in a single layer, discarding any marinade that was directly with the raw chicken. Sear for 4-5 minutes per side, until beautifully browned and a nice crust has formed. The browning adds a lot of flavor.
Add the Sauce: Pour the reserved cranberry balsamic marinade into the skillet around the chicken. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. These bits are full of flavor!
Finish Cooking: Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and let it simmer for another 10-12 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) when checked with a meat thermometer. The sauce should also have thickened slightly.
Rest and Serve: Remove the skillet from the heat and let the chicken rest in the sauce for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the chicken tender and moist. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

This Cranberry Balsamic Chicken Skillet is wonderfully adaptable, making it easy to fit into any meal plan or occasion. For a kid-friendly twist, you can reduce the amount of balsamic vinegar slightly and add a touch more orange juice to make the sauce a bit sweeter and less tangy. You can also dice the chicken thighs into smaller, bite-sized pieces before marinating and cooking, which makes them easier for little hands to manage.

To expand this into a more complete meal, consider adding some vegetables directly to the skillet during the last 10-15 minutes of cooking. Brussels sprouts, broccoli florets, or even sliced bell peppers would absorb the delicious sauce and cook alongside the chicken. For serving, this dish pairs beautifully with a variety of sides. Simple white rice or quinoa are excellent for soaking up the flavorful sauce. Roasted potatoes or a light green salad with a vinaigrette dressing also complement the rich flavors of the chicken. For a heartier meal, serve it with creamy mashed potatoes or a side of crusty bread to mop up every last drop of sauce.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Knowing what to watch out for will ensure your Cranberry Balsamic Chicken Skillet turns out perfectly every time.

One common mistake is overcrowding the skillet. If you put too many chicken thighs in the pan at once, they will steam instead of sear, preventing that delicious golden-brown crust from forming. If necessary, cook the chicken in two batches to ensure proper searing.

Another slip-up is not patting the chicken dry before marinating and searing. Excess moisture on the surface of the chicken also hinders browning. Always use paper towels to thoroughly dry the chicken thighs before adding them to the marinade.

Overcooking the chicken is another frequent issue. Chicken thighs are more forgiving than breasts, but they can still become dry and tough if cooked for too long. Use a meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure they are perfectly cooked and juicy.

Finally, not reserving enough marinade for the sauce can leave your dish lacking in flavor. Remember to set aside half of the fresh marinade before it comes into contact with the raw chicken. This ensures a vibrant and safe sauce for the finished dish.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

This Cranberry Balsamic Chicken Skillet is fantastic for meal prep and leftovers, making your week even easier. To store any leftover chicken, allow it to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making it taste even better the next day!

For reheating, the best method is to gently warm the chicken and sauce in a skillet over medium-low heat on the stovetop. Add a splash of chicken broth or water if the sauce has thickened too much. Heat until warmed through, being careful not to overcook the chicken, which can lead to dryness. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave, using short bursts of heat and stirring occasionally, though the stovetop method generally yields better results for maintaining texture.

If you want to make this dish ahead, you can prepare the cranberry balsamic marinade up to 2-3 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator. You can also marinate the chicken for up to 24 hours in the fridge. This significantly cuts down on prep time on the day you plan to cook, allowing you to get dinner on the table even faster.

Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs? Yes, you can definitely use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Just be aware that chicken breasts are leaner and can dry out more easily, so keep a close eye on the cooking time.

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 Balsamic Chicken Skillet: Easy One-Pan Dinner

Table of Contents