This easy baked cranberry chicken recipe with rosemary is your ticket to a comforting, show-stopping dinner! You'll love the bold flavors from fresh minced garlic, rosemary, and citrus. Fresh cranberries make a festive, luscious and juicy topping.
Read on for my step-by-step tutorial and suggestions for what to serve along this amazing chicken!
It's hard to go wrong with a comforting baked chicken dinner, but if you're looking to kick things up a few notches, especially during the holidays, this cranberry chicken will bring the wow factor!
This recipe kinda happened without much planning, which I love! I got in my kitchen with the thought of making this rosemary chicken and veggies for dinner. Then, I noticed a bag of fresh cranberries sitting idly on my kitchen counter, so I decided to take a more festive direction and create this cranberry chicken.
This holiday-worth chicken dinner is as tasty as it is beautiful! And it's fairly simple to put together. Let me tell you more about it...
Baked Cranberry Chicken
The flavor stars in this baked cranberry chicken are decidedly Mediterranean: garlic, rosemary, and citrus, complimented by fresh cranberries. Here's how we go about building flavor:
First, lots of fresh garlic, rosemary, and a little paprika make a simple rub for the chicken. Then, for just a few minute, the seasoned chicken sits in a marinade of citrus and extra virgin olive oil with onions and celery.
As far as the pretty fresh cranberries go. To break their tartness, I mixed the cranberries with brown sugar and a hint of white wine vinegar and let them marinate for a bit. The sugar helps the cranberries release their natural sweetness.
Many readers have asked if they can substitute white wine vinegar with other vinegar or with actual wine. Both substitutes work really well. If you are using a white wine, a fruity choice like chardonnay, Riesling, or even a dessert wine would pair well.
Once baked, the cranberries make a luscious, juicy, slightly sweet topping for the chicken. The perfect festive touch for the holidays!
How to Prepare Fresh Cranberries for this Recipe?
Fresh cranberries are ideal for this recipe. Here in the USA, fresh cranberries are typically available around the holidays; I usually find them in the grocery stores in the fall and through December.
Readers often ask how to pick the perfect cranberries in the store. Choose ones that look plump and have a rich, dark color to them. They should also be firm to the touch. Throw out any berries that look shriveled or rotten with brown spots. And by the way, quality fresh cranberries will keep well in the fridge in a tight zip-top bag for up to 2 months
Cranberries are super easy to prepare for cooking. First, be sure to give them a good rinse in water to clean them off and remove any stems that might be still attached. Pat them dry with a kitchen towel before using in this recipe. From there, to help with the extra tartness of fresh cranberries, I like to toss them in a bit of brown sugar with some white wine vinegar before baking with the chicken.
How to Make this Cranberry Chicken: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Prepare the Cranberries
To make this one-pan cranberry chicken, start by macerating the cranberries. Macerating is a technique that is similar to marinating; it refers to soaking fruits in a liquid and sugar mixture to help break down the fruit a bit.
Combine the berries with the brown sugar and vinegar and allow them to sit for about 10 minutes while you prepare helps to break down their tough skins.
Step 2: Season and Marinate the Chicken
I like to rub the fresh minced garlic inside and outside of the chicken skin, which gives the meat so much more flavor. Rub the salt, pepper, rosemary and paprika all over the chicken, again applying some underneath the skin for best flavor. (You can use fresh rosemary here or a smaller amount of dry rosemary.)
Prepare a large bowl or deep dish with extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar and lemon juice. Add the seasoned chicken along with celery and onions. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.
Tip: Remember, if you have the time, allow the chicken to come closer to room temperature before cooking. Cold chicken straight from the fridge tends to become tough when cooking!
Step 3: Brown Chicken
Just before baking, give the chicken pieces a quick sauté in a skillet with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil. Giving the chicken a quick crust before baking will help to seal in juices and keep the pieces nice and moist.
Step 4: Bake Cranberry Chicken
Finally, arrange the chicken with the celery, onions, and lemon halves in a large baking dish. Add about ½ cup chicken broth (or water) and top with the sugared cranberries.
Bake in 425 degrees F heated-oven for 30 to 45 minutes or until chicken's internal temperature registers 165 degrees F.
Can I use Frozen Cranberries Instead?
If you can't find fresh cranberries near you, frozen cranberries will also work in this baked cranberry chicken recipe. To prepare them, make sure to thaw them out ahead of time and be sure to drain them very well. You will not need to use white wine vinegar with frozen cranberries, but do toss them in some brown sugar still before using in this recipe.
Can I use boneless chicken to make this Cranberry Chicken?
For those who much prefer using boneless chicken, you absolutely can. Christopher, one of our readers tried it with boneless chicken. Here is what he recommends: bake 26 minutes in the oven after browning the chicken pieces for more like 3 ½ minutes on each side.
What to Serve with this Cranberry Chicken?
If you're using this cranberry chicken as the centerpiece for a special holiday dinner, there are many sides and salads that can go along with it. I'll share a few favorites:
Sides: Greek potatoes; Lebanese Rice; Fried Brussels Sprouts; Herbed Potatoes
Salads: Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad; Mediterranean Orange Salad; Tabouli; Greek Salad
Hungry for More? Join my e-mail list HERE to receive new recipes and my weekly dinner plan!
SHOP OUR ONLINE SHOP FOR QUALITY OLIVE OILS, ALL-NATURAL SPICES AND MORE!
Print
Garlic Rosemary Chicken with Cranberries
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
This easy baked cranberry chicken recipe with rosemary is your ticket to a comforting, show-stopping dinner! You'll love the bold flavors from fresh minced garlic, rosemary, and citrus. Fresh cranberries make a festive, luscious and juicy topping.
Be sure to review my tips and the step-by-step tutorial in the post above.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2-3 tbsp white wine vinegar, more for later
- 6 pieces bone-in, skin on chicken (I used 2 chicken breasts and 4 thighs)
- 6-8 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt and pepper
- 1 ½ tbsp chopped fresh rosemary (or 1 ½ tsp dry rosemary)
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- ⅓ cup Extra virgin olive oil ( I used Private Reserve Greek EVOO)
- 1 lemon, juice of (do not discard used lemon halves)
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- ½ cup chicken broth or water
- More fresh rosemary for garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the cranberries, brown sugar, and white wine vinegar. Set aside for now.
- Pat the chicken pieces dry. Rub the chicken with the minced garlic on both sides (make sure to apply some of the garlic underneath the chicken skins). Season well with salt and pepper. Combine the rosemary and paprika then apply to the chicken pieces on both sides and again underneath the skin.
- In a large bowl or deep enough dish, mix the olive oil, lemon juice and 2 tbsp white wine vinegar. Now add the chicken, celery, onions, and used lemon halves. Work everything together with clean hands. Set aside to marinate just for 15 minutes or so.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet. Place the chicken skin side down to brown on medium-high for 5 minutes. Turn over and brown on the other side.
- Place the chicken, onions, celery, lemon halves and any liquid from the marinade in a lightly oiled baking pan. Add ½ cup water or chicken broth, then add the sugared cranberries.
- Bake in the 425 degrees F heated-oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through. Serve hot with Lebanese rice and your favorite salad.
Notes
- Cook's Tip: For those who much prefer using boneless chicken, you absolutely can. Christopher, one of our readers tried this with boneless chicken. Here is what he recommends: bake 26 minutes in the oven after browning the chicken pieces for more like 3 ½ minutes on each side.
- Visit Our Online Shop to browse our collection of extra virgin olive oils and all-natural and organic spices including paprika and rosemary.
- Category: Entree
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Cranberry Chicken, Chicken with Cranberries, Baked Cranberry Chicken
* This post first appeared on The Mediterranean Dish in 2016 and has been recently updated with new information for readers' benefit.
I had some frozen cranberries left from the holidays and came across your recipe and i am so glad. This was amazing! I halved the recipe for my family and it was perfect. I only made one change, i zested and used the zest and the lemon juice both. Now i am going to be so sad if i have i cannot find cranberries for most of the year!
5 stars!!!
Thank you, Tanya!
I made this dish this evening and it was spectacular. I adapted it to go in the crockpot and I deemed it a success. I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs. I cooked it for 4 hours on high in the crockpot, but I would do it for 3 hours because the chicken was so tender it fell apart. I did brown the chicken and used more paprika ( i say if one tsp, why not 2tsp). This was a delicious recipe and paired perfectly with mashed potatoes to soak up the sauce. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!! It also made alot of food so I have tons of leftovers for the week.
★★★★★
Yay for leftovers!! Thanks for sharing your slow cooker variation!
I would like to compliment you on your precise directions. The presentation was beautiful and my dish looked just like the photo. However, prep was a lot of work and took longer than stated. We love Lebanese and Greek food but didn't care for the flavors of this dish with the cranberries (also love cranberries) . I was intrigued by this recipe and excited to try it but won't make it again. The Lebanese rice was very good and I will make it again in the future. Excited to try some of your other recipes! Thank you for sharing.
★★★
Thanks for your feedback, Grace! Much appreciated.
Excellent. Entire family loved this recipe. I used pear-infused white balsamic vinegar instead. I also cooked the chicken at a lower temperature for a longer period of time and covered with aluminum foil. The steam, slow cooking made the chicken come out extremely tender and really absorbed all the flavors. The cranberries added a wonderful touch. Will definitely make this again.
★★★★★
Thanks for sharing! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Fantastic recipe! Thank you so much for sharing. This made for a beautiful and delicious Christmas dinner. I followed the instructions exactly, used BLSL breasts and thighs. Will absolutely make again!
★★★★★
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Natasha!
Can I use skinless chicken breast for this? Any changes to the recipe if I do?
Sure! No real adjustments to make, unless using boneless breasts (they will cook faster, so keep and eye on them).
Can you prepare this meal a day in advance? Or, will it get too dried out?
Hi, Peggy. It is possible to prepare this in advance. Cover well and store in the fridge. Take it out of the fridge a few minutes before reheating in the oven at 325 degrees F. I'd add a very little bit of liquid to the baking dish and cover with foil. Uncover and very briefly broil if you feel the skin has lost it's crispiness. If your worried about it drying out, though, I'd really recommend preparing everything the day before, but waiting to actually bake until just before serving.
HI, I'm from the caribbean and i've been making for Christmas every year the last three years and it's always amazing. my variations however are I use dried cranberries because it's more affordable and easier to get than the frozen or fresh kind, but its still great I find. I still soak in the sugar and wine vinegar also. and with the chicken i season with our traditional ' caribbean green seasoning' because as a trinidadian its a crime not too, however i use less of it than usual to allow the rosemary and garlic flavors the shine through.
★★★★★
Thank you so much for sharing your adaptations here, Kyle! Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!
I have no lemons!!!! Should I use an orange or just lemon juice? I can't believe I forgot them lemon 🙁
You can use lemon juice, Mary. Enjoy
Excited to try this for the gathering I’m hosting! Can white wine be substituted for white wine vinegar?
Sure!
Hi! I tried the cranberry rosemary chicken recipe and it was so yum! But I have 2 qns:
1. After baking, the cranberries were sour... is it supposed to be that way or were they supposed to be sweet? I followed the recipe to soak them in brown sugar and I substituted with Riesling instead of the vinegar.
2. I had a lot of liquid in my baking tray after I roasted the chicken in the oven. my chicken was like swimming in liquid...is that right cause in the pic it doesn’t seem to have that much liquid.
Hope you can help me out cause I want to make it again for Christmas!
★★★★★
Hi, Deepa! The cranberries will have some tartness, even after soaking them. I can't say that my chicken has ever been "swimming in liquid", but there is definitely some in the pan after cooking.
I love this recipe, thank you! I cook chicken and potatoes once a week and love this variation with the cranberries. I also added potatoes and Brussels for a whole meal. I’ll be making this again 🙂
★★★★
Thanks, Sherry! So glad you enjoyed it!
Made this and the Italian Oven Roasted Vegetables for Thanksgiving - there were only 2 of us. The only change I did was to only use 2 pieces of chicken. Everything was so good. In fact, my hubby asked that I make this again for Christmas.
★★★★★
That's great to hear, Jill! So glad you both enjoyed it.
This looks delicious. Can is use a whole chicken and use either my IP/ air fryer lid?
I have a whole chicken thawing but want to make it as simple as possible.
thanks!
Angie
Hmmm... I have never tried this one with a whole bird in an IP/Air Fryer, so I can't really advise. If you give it a go, please let us know how it turned out!
This was awesome. I butterflied my chicken breast because they were quite thick. Will definitely make again!
★★★★★
Wonderful! So glad you enjoyed it.
Hi, Can I use Cornish Hens for this recipe? How would the cooking time change?
Thanks,
SK
Hi there, we have a cornish hen recipe here that may help you as far as the cooking method and you can then use the flavors from this recipe if you like. Cornish hen recipe: https://www.themediterraneandish.com/cornish-hen-recipe-spice-rub/
Made it last night for dinner and it was DELICIOUS!!! Because it is the season, I have purchased fresh cranberries to freeze so I can make this when cranberries won't be in season. Truly a winner. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Carol!
I made this for the first time last night and we loved it! I followed the tips for using boneless chicken and it was delicious! And visually appealing too. I appreciate the easy to follow instructions that take out any guesswork. This chicken recipe will definitely be added to our dinner rotation.
★★★★★
Yay! Thanks, Ann!
Made this for Sunday dinner and it was absolutely delicious! I used frozen cranberries and the colors in the recipe were absolutely beautiful. Thank you for posting this!
★★★★★
My pleasure, Irena! So glad you enjoyed it!
Insanely delicious! I followed the recipe exactly and this was a huge hit with the family.
★★★★★
That's so great to hear! Thanks, Jennifer!