Apple Cranberry Chicken is the perfect late summer, fall, and winter dish, infused with the warm flavors of cinnamon and honey. This one-pan meal comes together in just 30 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights. Its beautiful presentation also makes it a great choice for special occasions or holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Easy and beautiful 30-minute meal
Start by peeling, coring, and chopping the apples into small cubes. Sauté the apples (I used Envy apples) in butter and oil with cinnamon for about 5 minutes until they soften and release their juices. Stir in honey and dried cranberries to create a sticky, syrupy glaze. Sweet, firm apples like Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Gala work best for this dish.
Meanwhile, in a separate pan, prepare the chicken. Lightly coat thinly sliced chicken breasts with flour, salt, and black pepper, then pan-sear them in olive oil until golden. To serve, spoon the apple-cranberry-cinnamon-honey sauce/glaze over the chicken. I do not doubt that this easy, 30-minute, restaurant-quality dinner will become your new family favorite, just like it happened in our household! And if you love this recipe style, don't miss my delicious chicken with apples and maple-lime sauce.
What type of chicken to use
- Skinless, boneless chicken breasts - I used thinly sliced. If you bought large ones, carefully butterfly them. Monitor the cooking time carefully to ensure they're cooked through without becoming dry.
- Skinless, boneless chicken thighs - their dark meat is more forgiving to cook than chicken breasts and less prone to drying out during cooking.
- Chicken tenders or tenderloins work great, too!
- Bone-in chicken is not recommended, as it requires significantly longer cooking times.
Best apples for cooking
- Sweet red apples. Choose sweeter varieties like Gala, Fuji, or Honey Crisp. You may need to add extra honey to balance the sweetness if you use tart apples, such as Granny Smith.
- Firm and crisp texture. Select firm and not overly ripe apples to prevent them from breaking down during cooking. Avoid soft or easily indented apples.
Recipe notes
- Avoid overcrowding the pan. Space the chicken breasts apart to ensure proper searing instead of steaming. Use a large pan or cook in batches. A cast-iron skillet works best for even cooking and great sear marks.
- Use fresh, firm red apples. Firm apples are better for presentation and texture. They also hold up well during cooking. This dish is ideal for late summer, fall, and winter when apples are in season and are at their best. Be sure to peel the apples.
- This 30-minute recipe is perfect for meal prep or making ahead. It uses minimal ingredients, freezes well, and reheats nicely.
Substitutions
- To make it gluten-free, coat the chicken with a couple of tablespoons of gluten-free flour instead of regular flour.
- To make it dairy-free, replace butter with olive oil.
- Use maple syrup as an alternative to honey.
Storage and Reheating Tips
- Refrigerate. Keep leftover apple cranberry chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freeze. Store in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month.
- Microwave. Reheat in the microwave for 40 seconds. If needed, continue reheating in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
- Stovetop. Reheat on medium heat in a skillet. Add a small amount of olive oil to prevent sticking and ensure even heating.
What to serve with apple cranberry chicken
- Roasted spaghetti squash is a low-carb alternative to pasta. It complements the apple cranberry chicken flavors perfectly.
- Wild rice - a fall-inspired side that will pair beautifully with this recipe. Season generously with salt and pepper, or try your favorite version of wild rice pilaf.
- Roasted vegetables. Use your favorites like Brussels sprouts, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, green beans, onions, or mushrooms.
- Pasta. Serve a simple pasta dish tossed with garlic and olive oil or butter. Short-cut pasta works best, such as orzo, fusilli, or farfalle (bow tie).
- Cauliflower rice. Use fresh or defrosted frozen cauliflower rice for a lower-carb side.
Other chicken recipes with fruit
- Chicken with Peaches
- Chicken with Apricots
- Chicken Dinner with Red Currants, Apricots, and Honey-Lime Sauce
Apple Cranberry Chicken
Ingredients
Apple and cranberry glaze
- 2 large apples I used Envy, you can also use Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Gala - firm, sweet apples
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
Pan-seared chicken
- 1.4 pounds skinless boneless chicken breasts (2 large chicken breasts sliced in half lengthwise)
- salt and pepper
- 3 tablespoons flour (you can use gluten-free)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
Make apple-cranberry glaze
- Peel, core, and chop the apples into small cubes. Heat a large, high-sided skillet over medium heat and sauté the apples in butter and oil with cinnamon for about 5 minutes until they soften and release their juices. Stir in honey and cranberries to create a sticky, syrupy glaze.
Pan-sear the chicken
- I used 2 large chicken breasts that I cut horizontally (lengthwise) to turn them into thinner cutlets. Generously season the chicken with salt and pepper, then coat it in flour.
- Heat another large, high-sided skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium heat until hot. Sear the chicken for about 5 minutes on each side, or until it is browned and cooked through.
- To serve, spoon the apple-cranberry-cinnamon-honey sauce over the chicken.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Wonderful blend of flavors! I highly recommend this recipe - you won't be disappointed. It's so easy, and the sweet-savory combo is so good. I served it with quinoa and blanched green beans.