Cranberry Orange Chicken Breasts – Great Alternative To Turkey

These Cranberry Orange Chicken Breasts – Great Alternative To Turkey is just that.  The sweetness of the cranberry paired with the savory of the chicken makes this the perfect holiday recipe. Since everyone is going to be making ham and turkey this year, why not try something new and different instead? 

 

Maybe having a small dinner after Thanksgiving, you will be tired of turkey so let’s go with this.

 

 

For chicken to be considered cook, it needs to be at an internal temperature of 165 degrees. 

 

• 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil
• 2 lbs. bone-in chicken breasts, with skin
• 1½ teaspoons of fresh sage, chopped
• 1½ teaspoons of fresh thyme leaves
• Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
• ½ c. fresh (or frozen) cranberries
• 2 T. freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 T. honey, preferably local
• ¼ t. ground cinnamon
• ½ t. ground ginger
• ¼ t. ground cloves
• 1/8 t. ground nutmeg

How to Make Cranberry Orange Chicken Breasts

1. Place top oven rack in the center position and pre-heat oven to 400°
2. Melt the coconut oil in a large, ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with sage, and thyme. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Place seasoned chicken in hot skillet skin-side down and cook until browned, approximately 4-5 minutes, or until it releases easily from the bottom of the pan. Turn the chicken and continue cooking another 4-5 minutes on the remaining side.
3. While the chicken is browning, add the cranberries, orange juice, honey, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg to a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and bring it to a gentle boil. Cook until the cranberries pop open and the sauce becomes slightly thickened around 4-5 minutes.
4. Pour the orange-cranberry sauce over the browned chicken and transfer the skillet into the preheated oven. Roast until the chicken is fully cooked through and the sauce is bubbly around 25-30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 160°*
5. Remove from oven and transfer chicken to a serving platter. Cover loosely and let rest for 5 minutes before serving topped with the warm orange-cranberry pan sauce and your choice of sides. Enjoy!*Internal temperature will continue to rise to 165°F as it rests.

Have fun with this tasty dish. It’s a great way for your holiday table or just a delicious dinner to have during any night of the week.