Cranberry Orange Balsamic Chicken | One Pan Meals

The Starving Chef is supported by Hungry People like you. When you make a purchase through an affiliate link on my site, I may earn a little bit of cash on the side (at no extra cost to you) to help keep my kitchen running. Read our disclosures here.

pinterest cranberrychicken

I’m warming up to the holiday season with an easy one pan dish to eat while you plan Thanksgiving dinner. With a tangy, sticky skin and juicy, fall-off-the-bone chicken thighs, this dish might make you even rethink serving turkey on T-day.

First marinated in a cranberry orange balsamic sauce, then roasted with even more cranberries and sweet onions, these chicken thighs end up transformed into something entirely different and amazing. While it may sound super sweet, the balsamic helps cut the sugary tartness of the cranberries and the onion’s savory caramelization helps pull everything together. Once broiled, the sticky, delicious meat practically falls right off the bone.

My all time favorite balsamic vinegar is one that is made locally at BJ Gourmet Garlic in Mogadore, Ohio. It’s a syrupy-thick balsamic infused with garlic and cilantro – and seriously, it’s par none. I actually picked up my current bottle at the Medina farmer’s market over the summer and now the bottle is practically empty. But this recipe made it all entirely worth it.

And if that doesn’t convince you it’s delicious, it only requires one pan for cooking and practically plates itself beautifully without even trying. Topped with a touch of spicy cranberry relish, you’d be hard pressed to find a more delectable dish before Thanksgiving!

cranberry fbsqthumb

Cranberry Orange Balsamic Chicken | One Pan Meals

The Starving Chef
With a tangy, sticky skin and juicy, fall-off-the-bone chicken thighs, this dish might make you even rethink serving turkey on T-day.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Marinate 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Course Dinner, One Pot
Cuisine Dinner, Marinade
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 4 chicken thighs skin on
  • 2 oranges peeled & chopped, reserve 1/2 orange and peel
  • 2 cups cranberries fresh or thawed frozen
  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar divided into 1/4 cups
  • ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin, (EVOO)
  • 2 tablespoons oregano
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 sweet onion cut into 1/2 inch thick rings
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • cranberry relish for serving
  • cooked wild rice for serving

Instructions
 

  • In a small blender or food processor, combine 1/2 cup cranberries, chopped oranges, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), oregano, thyme, pepper and sea salt. Blend until smooth. Place the chicken thighs in a large sealable container or bag. Pour the marinade over the thighs, then seal and chill for at least one hour or overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 F | 190 C. Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade and place face down in a roasting pan. Discard the remaining marinade. Place a sliced, intact ring of the sweet onion on top of each chicken thigh. Generously drizzle on some EVOO and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spread the rest of the cranberries between the chicken thighs.
  • Bake the dish in the oven for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn the broiler on high. While the broiler heats up, flip over the chicken thighs so that the onion is under the thighs and the skin side is facing up. Keep a watchful eye as you broil the chicken for another 5-10 minutes, until the chicken skin begins to bubble and char slightly.
  • Serve the cooked chicken thighs topped with the roasted sweet onion, a drizzle of the remaining balsamic vinegar, a fresh squeeze of orange and a touch of cranberry relish, if you want! Serve with wild rice and broccoli as sides and enjoy!

Video

Keyword balsamic, chicken, cranberry, orange
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!