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.
Easy Cranberry Chicken Recipe
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 cranberry sauce.
- 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 skinless 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 like asparagus, green beans, Brussel sprouts etc…
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.
More Cranberry Recipes You’ll Love:
- Cranberry Apple Coleslaw
- Turkey Cranberry Sliders
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Air Fryer Cranberry Turkey Legs
- Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
Cranberry Chicken
Ingredients
- 8 ounce bottle Catalina salad dressing
- 1 packet dry onion soup mix (about 1.25 ounce)
- 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 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.
- Serve the chicken and sauce over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles.
Last Step:
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105 comments on “Cranberry Chicken”
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.
I am wondering exactly the same!
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?!