🍗🍒 Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken
A sweet, savory, and incredibly easy slow cooker meal featuring tender chicken simmered in a flavorful cranberry sauce with hints of orange, garlic, and herbs. This cozy dish is perfect for holidays, family dinners, or busy weeknights.
5
⏱️ Time
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4–6 hours
- Total Time: About 6 hours
- Servings: 6
🛒 Ingredients
🍗 Chicken
- 2½–3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, for searing)
🍒 Cranberry Sauce
- 1½ cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- ¾ cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- ½ cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- ⅓ cup brown sugar (adjust to taste)
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Garnish
- Fresh rosemary or parsley
- Orange slices
- Fresh cranberries
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Season the Chicken
- Pat chicken dry.
- Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- For extra flavor, quickly sear chicken in olive oil for 2–3 minutes per side (optional).
2. Make the Cranberry Sauce
In a bowl, combine:
- Cranberries
- Cranberry sauce
- Orange juice
- Orange zest
- Brown sugar
- Honey
- Garlic
- Dijon mustard
- Soy sauce
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Red pepper flakes
Mix well.
3. Slow Cook
- Place chicken in the slow cooker.
- Pour cranberry mixture over the top.
- Cover and cook:
LOW: 5–6 hours
HIGH: 3–4 hours
Cook until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) and is tender.
4. Thicken the Sauce (Optional)
For a thicker glaze:
- Remove chicken and set aside.
- Pour sauce into a saucepan.
- Simmer for 5–10 minutes until reduced.
Or mix:
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
Stir into the slow cooker sauce and cook until thickened.
5. Serve
Spoon the cranberry sauce over the chicken and garnish with herbs.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Pairs beautifully with:
- 🥔 Mashed potatoes
- 🍚 Wild rice or rice pilaf
- 🥕 Roasted carrots
- 🥦 Green beans
- 🍞 Dinner rolls
- 🥗 Winter salad
💡 Tips & Variations
- Chicken thighs stay juicier, but chicken breasts work well too.
- Add sliced apples or pears for a festive fall flavor.
- Use leftover cranberry sauce after Thanksgiving for an easy holiday leftover meal.
- Add chopped pecans at the end for crunch.
- For a sweeter glaze, increase honey; for more tang, add extra Dijon mustard.
🧊 Storage
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze chicken with sauce for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Warm gently on the stovetop or microwave with extra sauce to keep the chicken moist.
🍴 Approximate Nutrition (Per Serving)
- Calories: 390
- Protein: 38 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fat: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken is a beautiful balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors—an effortless dinner that tastes special enough for a holiday table. 🍒🍗✨