One Pan Rosemary Chicken Thighs with Cranberry Sauce

One pan cranberry chicken thighs is the perfect easy and healthy weeknight dinner.  This delicious and easy dinner has crispy chicken thighs, fresh rosemary, and a sweet cranberry sauce made with fresh, tart cranberries. This festive one skillet dish comes together quickly with the perfect combination of ingredients.

Recipe Inspiration

I was looking for a way to use fresh cranberries and created this delicious cranberry sauce.  The sauce, which is cut with a bit of red wine vinegar, is used to deglaze the pan after the chicken has been cooked.  It’s perfect for getting all those browned bits of chicken and garlic from the bottom of the pan.

This is a great recipe for a busy weeknight, easy weekend dinner, or even meal prep! I'd pair this with an easy vegetable, rice, or orzo.

If you are looking for more chicken recipes, check out our: Chicken Pastina Soup, Chicken Limone, or Tuscan Chicken Pasta.

Jump to:

• Recipe Inspiration
• Why You'll Love this Recipe
• Ingredients
• Directions
• Expert Tips and Tricks
• Kitchen Equipment
• Recipe Substitutions/Variations
• What To Serve With
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Recipe Storage and Reheating
• Other Recipes to Try
• One Pan Rosemary Chicken Thighs with Cranberry Sauce

Why You'll Love this Recipe

One pan - The chicken and the cranberry sauce are all made in one skillet.  This makes for a super easy clean up and a perfect meal for busy weeknights!

It’s beautiful - This meal looks so gorgeous with the red cranberries, the green from the rosemary and the golden brown chicken.  Serve this in the cast iron skillet that you cook it in and it makes a perfect centerpiece to your dinner table!

Delicious - One of my favorite things about this dish is that it is both savory and sweet.  The fresh cranberries in the sauce provide the perfect pop of tartness in the sweet cranberry sauce.  The rosemary, garlic and juicy chicken add the savory goodness that, all together, is just so good!

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you will need for this easy dinner recipe: 

• Red wine vinegar
• Cranberry juice 
• Cranberries: Use fresh cranberries.
• Salt & black pepper
• Chicken: You will want to use chicken thighs for this.  I prefer to use boneless chicken thighs.
• Olive oil: Use a good quality olive oil for the best flavor.
• Garlic
• Rosemary: Use fresh rosemary.
• Butter: You could use salted or unsalted butter for this.

Directions

Let's make this easy recipe together!  

Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine the vinegar, cranberry juice, cranberries, salt, and pepper.  Set aside.

Step 2: Liberally season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.

Step 3: Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat for 4-5 minutes.

Step 4: Add the olive oil to the skillet and then add the chicken.  Cook the chicken for 8-10 minutes.

Step 5: Flip the chicken and continue to cook for 5 more minutes.  Remove the chicken from the pan and keep warm.  

Step 6: Add the garlic and rosemary to the pan until fragrant, about 1 minute.  

Step 7: Add the combined cranberry mixture to the  skillet, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen and bits of chicken.  Let the sauce come to a simmer and simmer for 5 minutes.

Step 8: Add the chicken back to the pan and spoon the cranberry sauce over the top of the chicken.  Add the butter and allow it to melt before removing the skillet from the heat and serving.  

Expert Tips and Tricks

Here are some expert tips to make this simple recipe: 

• Once you add the chicken to the skillet, allow it to cook for about 10 minutes without moving it.  You will want it to get a crispy, golden brown color and moving it around will prevent that from  happening.
• Use a meat thermometer to check the doneness of the chicken.  You will know it is done when the internal temperature has reached 165°F.
• Serve mashed potatoes on the side and drizzle a bit of the cranberry sauce over the top.

Kitchen Equipment

Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.

Cast iron skillet - You definitely want a good cast iron skillet for this recipe. If you don't own a cast iron skillet, I highly recommend you buy one! Check out this one on Amazon - it's a great price.

Meat thermometer - A meat thermometer is helpful in knowing when the chicken is fully cooked.  

Recipe Substitutions/Variations

Here are some common recipe substitutions and variations for this cranberry chicken recipe.

Chicken - You can use either boneless or  bone-in chicken thighs. It’s really whatever you prefer!

Herbs - Substitute 1 teaspoon dried rosemary for the fresh. You could also substitute fresh thyme or sage for the rosemary.

What To Serve With

Here are some recipes to serve alongside these cranberry chicken thighs:

Simple Red Skin Mashed Potatoes - These Simple Red Skin Mashed potatoes are easy, delicious, and have only 5 ingredients!

Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts - These Honey Sriracha Brussels sprouts only have a few simple ingredients and come together in about a half hour!

Roasted Carrots with Yogurt, Walnuts, and Mint- These are sweet and savory, have lots of texture, and a whole lot of unexpected deliciousness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recipe Storage and Reheating

Here are storage and reheating instructions for this recipe:

Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight container, or covered in plastic wrap, and eat leftovers within 4-5 days. Reheat according to instructions below or serve at room temperature.

Freezer Storage: Freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container and keep for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as instructed below.

Reheating Instructions: The best way to reheat this recipe is to heat in a skillet with a little olive oil over low heat until warm.

Other Recipes to Try

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