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    Home » Course » Main Course

    Christmas Chicken

    Published: Oct 12, 2019 · Modified: Oct 6, 2022 by Erin Carter · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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    The colours and flavour of this Christmas chicken recipe are perfect for the holidays. Made in one pan with chicken breasts, cranberries, maple syrup and broccoli this is such an easy and simple baked chicken dish that your whole family will love.

    A pan of cranberry maple chicken and broccoli.

    Why did I call this recipe Christmas Chicken? Because the colours reminded me so much of Christmas. I could have also called it cranberry maple chicken or cranberry chicken with maple but I just loved Christmas Chicken so much more.

    Of course you can eat this chicken any time, not just at Christmas, but if you are looking for something other than turkey to have for the holidays this chicken dish would be perfect. It would also be great to serve at Thanksgiving. Not only does it taste amazing, it's also really easy to make and looks so pretty!

    Why you will love this recipe: 

    • This cranberry maple chicken recipe is so good! The combination of maple syrup and cranberries is the perfect mix of sweet and sour flavours to give this chicken recipe the most incredible flavour.
    • The mix of green from the broccoli and red from the cranberries gives it such a pretty, vibrant color.
    • It's so easy and simple to make.
    • It only uses one pan to cook so your clean up is so easy.
    • This chicken recipe makes great leftovers so it's perfect for meal prep. 
    • This recipe is healthy, gluten free, dairy free and paleo friendly. 

    Key ingredients and substitutions:

    • Chicken breasts â€“ boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the meat used to make this Christmas chicken recipe. I recommend using free range chicken if possible for the most health benefits and the ethical treatment of the chickens. 
    • Cranberries â€“ fresh cranberries give this holiday chicken recipe such a pretty color and unique, delicious flavour. The cranberries and maple syrup combine beautifully to give this chicken such a brilliant taste. 
    • Broccoli â€“ fresh broccoli adds vitamins, minerals and fiber to this dish. The green also adds a fun pop of color to contrast with the red cranberries. 
    • Maple syrup â€“ maple syrup adds the perfect amount of sweetness to contrast the tart cranberries. 
    • Balsamic vinegar â€“ balsamic vinegar helps add more sweet flavour to this chicken and it also helps tenderize the meat. 
    • Herbs de Provence spice blend â€“ the combination of fennel, marjoram, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, and thyme blend perfectly to give this healthy chicken a beautiful flavour. 
    Cooked chicken, broccoli and cranberries in a baking dish.

    How to make this recipe:

    Step one:

    First you are going to make the marinade. Simply put the marinade ingredients into a bowl or large measuring cup and stir well.

    A glass measuring cup filled with marinade and a spoon.

    Step two:

    Then place the remaining ingredients into a large glass or ceramic pan. pour the marinade over the ingredients and turn the chicken breasts a few times to ensure they get coated well.

    Raw chicken, broccoli and cranberries in a pan.

    Step three:

    Let the ingredients marinate for 30-60 minutes.

    Step four:

    Then turn on the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover the dish in tin foil and make for 30-35 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Then serve and enjoy!

    Tips and variations:

    • Try to use chicken breasts that are all the same size so that they cook evenly. 
    • If you don’t have fresh cranberries you can use frozen cranberries instead. 
    • Feel free to change up the seasonings on this chicken. Other great options include basil, rosemary, or thyme. 
    • If you are serving a crowd feel free to double or triple this recipe. 
    • Depending on the size of the chicken breasts you are using you may need to adjust the cooking time.

    What to serve with this dish:

    • White rice or cauliflower rice
    • Mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower
    • Roasted potatoes or green beans
    • Cooked squash (butternut and spaghetti are my favourite)

    How to store:

    Store any leftovers in an air tight container for up to 5 days. 

    A baking dish filled with cooked chicken breasts, broccoli and cranberries.

    Frequently asked questions:

    Can I use chicken instead of turkey for Christmas?

    You can easily serve chicken instead of turkey for Christmas.

    What do you soak chicken in to make it tender?

    You can soak chicken in a marinade or brine to help make it more tender.

    How do you make chicken moist and tender?

    To make chicken moist, either marinate it or brine it before cooking it. Also be sure not to overcook it.

    Other recipes you will love:

    • Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry Sheet Pan Meal
    • Meatloaf with Blueberries
    • Healthy Sloppy Joes
    • Maple Cranberry Brussels Sprouts
    • Lemon Bars with Cranberry

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star review before you go!

    Christmas Chicken

    This Christmas chicken recipe is made with cranberries and maple syrup and tastes amazing. Perfect for the holidays and so easy to make!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course, Meat
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Lactose
    Prep Time: 1 hour
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 756kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Ingredients

    Marinade Ingredients

    • 3/4 cup avocado oil (or olive oil)
    • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
    • 1/4 cup maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon herbes de provence spice blend
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon powdered mustard

    Other Ingredients

    • 4 chicken breasts
    • 1 head broccoli, chopped
    • 1 cup fresh cranberries

    Instructions

    • Make the marinade by mixing all the ingredients together in a bowl or large mixing cup.
    • Place the chicken breasts, broccoli and cranberries in a large glass or ceramic baking dish.
    • Pour the marinade over the ingredients, turning the chicken breasts a few times to ensure coated.
    • Let everything marinate for 30-60 minutes.
    • Turn the oven on to 350F.
    • Cover the baking dish in tin foil and place it into the oven.
    • Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked.
    • Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    1. This recipes yields 4 servings but feel free to double or triple it if you are serving a crowd.
    2. Depending on the size of your chicken breasts you may have to alter the cooking time slightly. 
    3. Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 6 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 756kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 31g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 900mg | Potassium: 1412mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 1068IU | Vitamin C: 142mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

    More Healthy Main Courses

    • Mango Chicken Curry
    • Paleo Curried Butternut Squash Soup
    • Denver Steak
    • Blackened Mahi Mahi

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Natalie

      December 03, 2020 at 1:47 am

      Delicious!! The cranberries are such an underrated fruit and I loved adding them to the recipe! I used Primal Kitchen’s Oil & Vinegar Salad Dressing as marinade to make it easier but really the best part is the mixture of baked cranberries and broccoli with the chicken! Great recipe, Erin!5 stars

      Reply
      • Erin Carter

        December 06, 2020 at 2:48 pm

        Oh I am so glad you loved it!!!!

        Reply

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    Hi everyone! My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialities in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

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