Sheet Pan Cranberry Roasted Chicken

Forget about a boring night of the usual. Make your dinner more festive with this easy recipe for sheet pan cranberry roasted chicken!

The holidays are coming, and that means it’s time to get festive in the kitchen! Looking for a festive and easy chicken dish to add to your holiday menu?

This easy sheet pan cranberry roasted chicken recipe is perfect for a quick and easy dinner party dish. The sweet and tart cranberry sauce pairs perfectly with the crispy, juicy chicken.

Serve with some roasted potatoes and green beans for a complete meal that will leave your guests happy and satisfied.

This dish is easy and quick enough for weekday dinners all winter long, but tastes amazing enough to serve guests. The sweet and tart flavors of the cranberry sauce are a perfect match for the crispy, juicy chicken.

So gather up your ingredients and get started on this delicious meal!

How Do you Know When Bone-In Chicken is Cooked Through

It can be hard to tell if chicken is done when you are pan frying. This is where a meat thermometer really comes in handy.

Check after 20 minutes or so, using a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken to check its temperature. Cooked chicken will have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Can You Use Boneless Chicken?

You can use any cut of chicken for this recipe, although bone-in, skin-on chicken will do best. Skinless chicken won’t give the same flavour. We are really relying on the chicken fat to help flavour the dish and without any to render with the cranberries, the cranberry sauce just won’t be as good.

If you do choose to use another cut of chicken, please be mindful that you will need to adjust the cook time and still use a meat thermometer to know when it is cooked through.

How to Prepare Fresh Cranberries for Baking

Look for cranberries that are brightly coloured, have a glossy sheen, and are plump and solid with no soft areas or mould when buying fresh cranberries at the market.

Cranberries, like all other fruits, should be kept refrigerated until ready to use. If cranberries are stored in an airtight container, they will stay fresh for approximately two weeks in the refrigerator.

Cranberries must first be washed and dried before using to prepare cranberry roasted chicken.

Place the cranberries in a strainer and rinse them under lukewarm water for about 20 seconds, removing any stems as you go. Drain the berries and blot them dry on a clean kitchen towel before proceeding.

How to Store Cranberry Roasted Chicken Recipe

Cranberry roasted chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about three to four days.

How to Reheat Cranberry Roasted Chicken

To reheat cranberry roasted chicken, simply preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Remove cranberry roasted chicken from plastic container and transfer to a baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 25 minutes or until cranberry roasted chicken is warmed through.

About the Cranberry Roasted Chicken Recipe Ingredients:

Detailed measurements, ingredient list, and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page. Instructions with photos can be found directly below.

Balsamic Vinegar – Adds some brightness to the dish. Lemon juice is also pretty yummy here.

Olive oil – Be sure to use extra virgin olive oil.

Soya Sauce – Helps bring out the umami of the chicken.

Maple syrup – Helps to counter some of the tartness of the cranberry.

Cranberries – Fresh cranberries are best. You can use frozen cranberries if needed, just thaw and drain them first.

Chicken – Skin-on chicken, preferably bone-in thighs works best here, although drumsticks would work in a pinch.

Rosemary – Fresh rosemary is best but you can use half the specified amount if using dried rosemary.

Looking for more holiday dinner recipes?

Check out some of my favourite holiday dinner ideas:

Cranberry Fluff Salad is an easy holiday side dish perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.  A luscious combination of cranberries, pineapple, whipped topping and marshmallows.

This recipe for bacon and pomegranate roasted Brussels sprouts is tangy, sweet, salty and delicious. It’s a perfect Christmas side dish!

This Cranberry Apple Acorn Squash is a wonderful side dish for any Holiday dinner. It easily compliments turkey and looks as amazing as it tastes.

How to Make Sheet Pan Cranberry Roasted Chicken

Yields: 8 Servings | Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
2 tbsp soya sauce
2 tbsp Maple syrup
2 cups cranberries, divided
8 pieces chicken thighs, bone-in, skin on.
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 Tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped

Directions:

Place the garlic, lemon juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, soya sauce, maple syrup and 1/2 cup of the cranberries in a blender and blend until smooth.

Pat the chicken pieces dry. Season the chicken well with salt and pepper.

Place the chicken and the cranberry marinade together in a bowl or plastic bag, ensuring the chicken is completely covered. Refrigerate for 20-30 min.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper, or lightly grease. Set aside.

Heat a skillet on the stove over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp oil then remove chicken from the marinade into the skillet, skin side down and let brown. Turn over and brown on the other side.  Discard any leftover marinade.

Arrange the remaining cranberries and the browned chicken on the sheet pan. Sprinkle over with the fresh rosemary.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through.