Cranberry Chicken is the perfect one dish chicken dinner! Tender and juicy chicken thighs baked in a flavor-packed sauce of Catalina dressing, whole berry cranberry sauce, onion soup mix, and red pepper flakes for just a hint of spice. Serve over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles.
Cranberry Chicken
Of all the great one dish dinner recipes, this might just be our new favorite! It took mere minutes to toss the ingredients together and then it baked for an hour while homework was being done. Such a simple dinner recipe! You’ll love the sweet and savory cranberry sauce and fork-tender chicken.
Finding new and delicious yet easy to make dinner recipes can be a challenge, but we’ve got you covered! Here are a few of our favorites: Homemade Hamburger Helper | Slow Cooker Shrimp and Corn Chowder | Easy Air Fryer Pizza | Cheesy Taco Spaghetti | Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
The Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make Cranberry Chicken (the exact measurements and full recipe instructions are below in the easy to print recipe card):
- Catalina salad dressing – use any brand you like.
- Dry onion soup mix – this ingredient adds wonderful savory flavor to the sauce.
- Whole-berry cranberry sauce – use canned or homemade.
- Red pepper flakes – this ingredient is optional. It added just a little bit of heat to the sauce.
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs – this recipe can also be made with chicken breast.
- Salt and pepper
How to Make Cranberry Chicken
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Grease a 9×13-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine the Catalina dressing, dry onion soup mix, cranberry sauce, and red pepper flakes. Mix well, then pour into the prepared baking dish.
Season the chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper then place in the baking dish in a single layer.
Turn the chicken thighs over to coated all sides well with the sauce.
Bake the chicken uncovered for 1 hour or until the chicken has an internal temperature of 165°F.
What to Serve with Cranberry Chicken
- Steamed white or brown rice
- Mashed potatoes
- Buttered egg noodles
- Tossed salad
- Oven roasted vegetables
How to Store Leftovers
Store the leftover chicken in an airtight food storage container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The chicken can also be frozen for up to two months.
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Cranberry Chicken
Ingredients
- 8 ounce bottle Catalina salad dressing
- 1 packet (about 1.25 ounce) dry onion soup mix
- 15 ounce can whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Grease a 9x13-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine the Catalina dressing, dry onion soup mix, cranberry sauce, and red pepper flakes. Mix well, then pour into the prepared baking dish.
- Season the chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper then place in the baking dish in a single layer. Turn the chicken thighs over to coated all sides well with the sauce.
- Bake the chicken uncovered for 1 hour or until the chicken has an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serve the chicken and sauce over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles.
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76 comments on “Easy Cranberry Chicken”
I love the s it was a real hit with my family. I served it with rice so good
My family enjoys this dinner so much I have it on my dinner rotation!
We make this when w have company never has failed us they love it
How long would you bake a couple large but not terribly thick boneless skinless chicken breasts?
For two breasts I would check at 30 minutes or so. Looking for an internal temp of 165.
Wonderful change from regular baked chicken
Bright flavor
I made this for the 1st time tonight (with chicken breasts). What a hit! The chicken literally fell apart with my fork. Served it over rice and will definitely be making this again!
Excellent!!!
Used kraft honey catalina and wow its just sooooo tasty.
Gunna try this with a turkey tenderloin.
Could you make this in a slow cooker with chicken breasts?
I haven’t tried it with this recipe but yes. You may have to adjust the portions depending on the size of your slow cooker and cook on low for 4-5 hours checking on internal temp towards the end.
I tried it and it was great. The only downside was I didn’t have the crusted skin shown in the pictures.
This dish was delish. Was bored with the same old same old. Saw the recipe / and made it tonight for dinner. Everyone loves it. Will definitely make it again.
I do this recipe when I am having guest over. SO easy and taste great. I serve with crusty rolls to soak up the sauce. Yummy.
A 15oz can or cranberry sauce equates to how much home made sauce? Perhaps 2 cups?
Hi Jenifer. Yes 2 cups would be equivalent.
Fantastic & very easy
When my mom made this she would put the chicken and sauce in a ziploc bag and let it marinate 4 to6 hrs then pour into dish to bake.❤It
I try alot of your recipes I tried the Cranberry chicken loved it so much made it 3 times already!
Glad you like it Toni!
Delicious will make again
Works great on pork too!
Does it do well with tenderloin slices?
Made this tonight for dinner and followed the recipe exactly as written. I really liked it with the thighs but my husband is a white meat lover so next time I will try chicken breasts.
Excellent!
I love one pot meals
Every recipe looks so good!
Has anyone made this with chicken breasts?
I only ever use chicken breasts and it turns out wonderful. I also have made this in the crockpot. You just cook the chicken first and drain any liquid. Then pour the mixture over chicken about 30 mins before serving.
I’m think pour over meatballs…..
i’m forever getting recipes from here and every one i’ve tried has been a BIG success I wouldn’t look anywhere else for recipes
Thank you Freda! We are glad you are here!
This is quite good. I was surprised!
Lil tart for us added a bit of Brn sugar
Can this be made in the crock pot ?
I haven’t tried it with this recipe but should work fine. You may have to adjust the portions depending on the size of your slow cooker and cook on low for 4-5 hours checking on internal temp towards the end.
Can I used homemade cranberry jellied sauce with cinnamon instead of whole berry kind?
I have been making this exact recipe for over 40 years. It quick, flavorful and always a hit. Everything old is new again, I guess
Cooked twice so far, nI’m doing it in the crock pot right now.
Very tasty n’ super easy to fix.
It’s your new go to for an easy meal to fix.
How long on high or low in crockpot please
The red pepper flakes are a must for us. It’s not too spicy but gives that much needed zing.
Can’t wait to make this running to the store tonight to get everything. I was just wondering. I have French onion soup dried. Could I use that for the onion soup?
Yes that would work as well.
I am not a cook and so I found this recipe very easy for me to make. My husband(the chief cook and bottle washer in our house) liked it too. I used boneless skinless chicken breasts and he is already coming up with ideas for refining for the next time he cooks it.
One of my favourites! Been making this for many years ! So easy and very tasty
My husband told me that this is literally the best thing I have ever made and I have made some pretty darn good things
WAS DELICIOUS, I ADDED STRIPS OF 3 COLOR BELL PEPPERS AND ONIONS THE LAST 15 MIN
SERVED ON CHICKEN FRIED RICE!!
This is had kind of a Chinese/sesame chicken taste! Delicious!
Hi! I’m wondering can I use bone in thighs with skin and how would I alter cooking time
Thank you!
Hey Ashley, yes you could use bone-in. Cooking time will likely increase and may be best to use a meat thermometer to determine. Let me know how it turns out!
This was amazing! I made my own Catalina dressing (recipe on Allrecipes) and followed recipe, except I used skinless, boneless chicken breasts. Didn’t have celery flakes but did have celery salt so I used that. This would be wonderful with Pork Tenderloin or leftover holiday Turkey. Just fabulous! Used the leftover Catalina on a salad.
Where does the recipe call for celery flakes,
Hi Jill
Just wondering if I can use French Dressing as I have this on hand. This will save me some money.
Thank you.
Hey Jean, That should work although it may change the flavor somewhat. Let me know how it turns out!
I’ve been making this chicken recipe for over 37 years! So simple, and so moist and delicious! I use boneless chicken breasts instead of thighs, as that is my husband’s preference. Goes great with rice and cooked carrots or green beans. Yummy!
My mom has made this for years minus the red pepper flakes. Its a great quick easy meal to put together.
Made this for dinner tonight. Added garlic salt instead of red pepper flakes. It was delicious!
Can you make the cranberry chicken recipe in the crock pot from Kelly ganley
Thank you so much for that brilliant suggestion! I’m allergic to red pepper flakes and the garlic salt was a great alternative!
Absolutely wonderful recipe! It’s amazing how these ingredients blend together to give such an awesome flavor! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Does it come out sweet???
Maybe I missed it but I’m wondering how many people this recipe will feed?
Hi Melissa, we list the servings in the recipe box. It’s 6 servings. Thanks.
Excellent! I didn’t use the onion soup mix, but I did add 1/2 tsp of onion powder. The crushed red pepper gave it the right amount of kick! I served it over brown rice. I will definitely make it again!
I’ve made this for 30+ years but also add a drained can of mandarin oranges – and no pepper flakes
It looks really good. Going to try it soon. Thank you.
I wonder if it would be good with dressing/stuffing. I love cranberry sauce with my chicken and dressing.
Can’t wait to try this. Without the pepper flakes though.
I’ve been making this dish for several years with a difference. I use Russian dressing. I have never used onion soup mix but it sounds good so will try it.
This is a fast tasty meal.
Can I cook in crockpot?
I’m thinking the chicken would shred and it would generate too much liquid in a covered crock pot. Cooking it uncovered in the oven allows the “sauce” to thicken and cling to the chicken thighs. Just my 2 cents!
I am thinking this might he good with pork as well
I did a bonless pork loin in this tonight and it was beyond amazing!!
This sounds easy and delicious except for the Pepper flakes. Going to try this one!
OMG SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO delicious! A few too many calories to have often, but when we need something special, this is my go-to! Any suggestions on cutting back calories?!