Creamy cranberry chicken is a sweet-and-savory dish featuring tender fall off the bone chicken with baby potatoes and Brussels all covered in the most delicious cranberry cream sauce. Not only is this dish worthy of serving company it’s Paleo and Whole30 friendly! Roasted chicken dishes are my ultimate comfort food! If you love them too try some of our other chicken bakes! Roasted Lemon Thyme Chicken, Chicken Vegetable Sheet Pan, or Easy Peruvian Chicken.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Sweet & Savory Balance: The bright, tart flavor of the cranberries cuts beautifully through the rich, creamy sauce.
Highly Versatile: You can serve warm cranberry chicken thighs mashed potatoes or rice, or use it leftover as a cold cranberry chicken salad for wraps, or on a bed of greens.
It’s Paleo and Whole30: Having no gluten, grains, or dairy, it is the perfect dish if you need to keep it Paleo or Whole30 friendly.
Ingredients You Will Need
Chicken thighs: always come out juicy and tender from the extra fat that comes from the thighs. I love Grass Roots Coop for all of my meats.
Baby Whole Potatoes: are a starchy root vegetable that are small, bite sized potatoes that have a more concentrated flavor making them ideal for salads, baked, roasted or pan fried.
Brussels Sprouts: are a member of the cabbage family and are grown for their edible buds. They are high in vitamin C and beneficial for your immune system and your heart!
Ghee: adds a rich, nutty flavor. I love Fourth and Heart ghee.
Coconut Cream: is ideal for dairy-free dishes, providing a creamy texture with a taste that is very mild and usually hidden by other flavors.
Garlic: adds a savory note that enhances the dish with its bold and aromatic flavor.
Medjool Dates: provides a natural sweetness, and imparts a rich, caramel-like flavor in this creamy cranberry chicken.
Dried Cranberries: are made by partially dehydrating fresh cranberries which gives them a chewy texture much like raisins.
Chicken Bone Broth: can be used or regular chicken broth; the bone broth offers enhanced health benefits along with a richer flavor profile. I like Kettle & Fire.
Onion Flakes: comes in two forms, flakes and minced. It is made by dehydrating fresh chopped white onions.
Thyme: is a pungent herb that can withstand longer cooking times in stews and soups and adds a depth of flavor.
Salt and Black Pepper: salt enhances and balances flavors. Meanwhile, ground black pepper adds a gentle heat.
Instructions
Preheat oven: to 350˚.
In a high speed blender: add the coconut cream, chicken broth, garlic, dates, cranberries, and spice, blending till creamy.
Heat the ghee: in a large skillet.
Brown the chicken: skin side down for 5-7 minutes, or until golden, flip and cook 5 minutes more. Searing adds a beautiful color and crisp for this creamy cranberry chicken bake.
Move the chicken: to an oven safe casserole, large enough to hold the potatoes and Brussels too.
Add the potatoes: and the Brussels around the chicken pieces.
Pour the sauce: over and bake for 60 minutes.
Garnish with: dried cranberries.
Enjoy!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Use full fat coconut cream: as it results in a creamier sauce.
Don’t Skip Searing: For deeper flavor and a beautiful color, sear your chicken in a skillet over medium-high heat before adding your cranberry sauce and baking it.
Recipe Variations
The Creamy Base: Swap out heavy cream for coconut cream, if you are not concerned about keeping the recipe Paleo and Whole30 friendly.
Chicken broth: In place of the bone broth will work just as well.
Mashed potatoes: Make the best side for soaking up all of the delicious sauce in this creamy cranberry chicken dish.
Storage Tips
You can store this creamy cranberry chicken in the fridge for 4 days when placed in an airtight glass container.
FAQ’s About Creamy Cranberry Chicken
What to serve with it?
Mashed potatoes, rice or cauliflower rice, green beans, Brussels sprouts, or baby whole potatoes are all excellent pairings.
Do I have to sear the chicken first?
While not mandatory to sear the chicken in a skillet it does add a beautiful color and depth of flavor from the ghee before baking it off.
Creamy Cranberry Chicken
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350˚.
- In a high speed blender, add the coconut cream, chicken broth, garlic, dates, cranberries, and spice, blending till creamy.
- Heat the ghee in a large skillet.
- Brown the chicken skin side down for 5-7 minutes or until golden, flip and cook 5 minutes more.
- Move the chicken to an oven proof casserole, large enough to hold the potatoes and Brussels sprouts.
- Add the potatoes and Brussels around the chicken pieces.
- Pour the sauce over and bake for 60 minutes.
- Garnish with dried cranberries.
- Enjoy!
