This cranberry roasted chicken is super fragrant and bursting with flavor. It’s tender, juicy chicken infused with balsamic and fresh rosemary, served with a cranberry-orange sauce. It’s a simple recipe that’s perfect for weeknights or special occasions, and it will fill your home with the most amazing aromas!
This easy cranberry roast chicken is one of those recipes that looks impressive but couldn’t be simpler to make. I coat the chicken in a balsamic-rosemary butter, which keeps it tender and juicy as it roasts.
As it cooks, the cranberries soften and simmer into a beautiful sauce right in the pan. With minimal prep and just one dish to clean, it’s perfect for a special holiday meal when you want something memorable without spending all day in the kitchen.
Ingredients needed
This recipe uses just a few easy-to-find ingredients. Here’s everything you need for the cranberry roast chicken :
- Whole chicken : we use a 3 pound whole chicken for this recipe. If you’re cooking for a crowd, you could easily make two chickens or use turkey (and allow it to cook longer).
- Cranberries : fresh cranberries or frozen cranberries both work. As they cook, they turn into a juicy sauce you can spoon over the chicken when you serve it.
- Fresh rosemary : a sprig of fresh rosemary adds a herbaceous element to the chicken as it cooks.
- Large orange : orange is sweet and fragrant and marries wonderfully with the cranberries.
- Rosemary balsamic butter ingredients : butter (we like salted), balsamic glaze, rosemary, salt, pepper, and orange zest.
What to serve with cranberry roasted chicken
This cranberry roasted chicken makes a show-stopping centerpiece on a holiday table. Pair it with delicious sides like our roasted garlic mashed potatoes , roasted root vegetables , and our festive Christmas salad with herbs, walnuts, and pomegranate.
For an easy weeknight meal, serve it with our kale apple salad or a side of garlic butter rice .
How do I store leftovers?
Store any leftover chicken and cranberries in your refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can also store leftover chicken in your freezer for up to a month.
Help! Why does the skin look burned?
Don’t worry! Black skin doesn’t equal burned skin. It’s just the balsamic vinegar that turns the skin black (like you see in the picture). The first time we made it, we panicked, too. Just keep this in mind so you don’t worry when you open the oven. The black skin is very delicious, balsamic skin.
Where did you get the inspiration for this recipe?
This recipe was inspired by our friend Lindsay’s cranberry balsamic chicken thighs recipe.
Can I use other fresh herbs instead of rosemary?
Of course! Fresh thyme is another wonderful herb that works well with the flavors of this dish.
Cranberry Roasted Chicken Recipe
- Pin
Ingredients
- ▢ 3 lb whole chicken
- ▢ 2 cups cranberries (fresh or frozen)
- ▢ A few sprigs of rosemary
- ▢ 1 large orange
Rosemary Balsamic Butter
- ▢ ¼ cup butter (softened)
- ▢ 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- ▢ 2 teaspoons rosemary
- ▢ 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ▢ Zest from 1 orange (use the orange you’ll use for the chicken)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Dry the skin of the chicken with paper towels. Place the cranberries and rosemary in a small roasting pan. 3 lb whole chicken, 2 cups cranberries, A few sprigs of rosemary
- Mix the rosemary balsamic butter ingredients in a small bowl. Spread the butter under the skin of the chicken, being careful not to break the skin. ¼ cup butter, 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze, 2 teaspoons rosemary, 1 teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, Zest from 1 orange
- Lay the chicken on the cranberries. Cut the orange into quarters and squeeze the juice over the chicken then nestle the quarters around the chicken. 1 large orange
- Roast the chicken for 45 minutes and then reduce the heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and continue roasting for another 45 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and serve with the cranberries spooned over the top.
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
Did you make this?
We love to see what you made! Tag @theendlessmeal or hashtag #theendlessmeal !
More cozy chicken recipes
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Chicken Provençal (Coq au Vin Blanc)
Creamy Boursin Chicken
French Onion Chicken with Gruyère and Crispy Croutons
Cranberry Roasted Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lb whole chicken
- 2 cups cranberries , fresh or frozen
- A few sprigs of rosemary
- 1 large orange
Rosemary Balsamic Butter
- ¼ cup butter , softened
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- 2 teaspoons rosemary
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Zest from 1 orange , use the orange you’ll use for the chicken
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Dry the skin of the chicken with paper towels. Place the cranberries and rosemary in a small roasting pan. 3 lb whole chicken, 2 cups cranberries, A few sprigs of rosemary
- Mix the rosemary balsamic butter ingredients in a small bowl. Spread the butter under the skin of the chicken, being careful not to break the skin. ¼ cup butter, 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze, 2 teaspoons rosemary, 1 teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, Zest from 1 orange
- Lay the chicken on the cranberries. Cut the orange into quarters and squeeze the juice over the chicken then nestle the quarters around the chicken. 1 large orange
- Roast the chicken for 45 minutes and then reduce the heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and continue roasting for another 45 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and serve with the cranberries spooned over the top.
https://www.theendlessmeal.com/orange-cranberry-roast-chicken/
This cranberry roasted chicken is super fragrant and bursting with flavor. It’s tender, juicy chicken infused with balsamic and fresh rosemary, served with a cranberry-orange sauce. It’s a simple recipe that’s perfect for weeknights or special occasions, and it will fill your home with the most amazing aromas!
This easy cranberry roast chicken is one of those recipes that looks impressive but couldn’t be simpler to make. I coat the chicken in a balsamic-rosemary butter, which keeps it tender and juicy as it roasts.
As it cooks, the cranberries soften and simmer into a beautiful sauce right in the pan. With minimal prep and just one dish to clean, it’s perfect for a special holiday meal when you want something memorable without spending all day in the kitchen.
Ingredients needed
This recipe uses just a few easy-to-find ingredients. Here’s everything you need for the cranberry roast chicken :
- Whole chicken : we use a 3 pound whole chicken for this recipe. If you’re cooking for a crowd, you could easily make two chickens or use turkey (and allow it to cook longer).
- Cranberries : fresh cranberries or frozen cranberries both work. As they cook, they turn into a juicy sauce you can spoon over the chicken when you serve it.
- Fresh rosemary : a sprig of fresh rosemary adds a herbaceous element to the chicken as it cooks.
- Large orange : orange is sweet and fragrant and marries wonderfully with the cranberries.
- Rosemary balsamic butter ingredients : butter (we like salted), balsamic glaze, rosemary, salt, pepper, and orange zest.
What to serve with cranberry roasted chicken
This cranberry roasted chicken makes a show-stopping centerpiece on a holiday table. Pair it with delicious sides like our roasted garlic mashed potatoes , roasted root vegetables , and our festive Christmas salad with herbs, walnuts, and pomegranate.
For an easy weeknight meal, serve it with our kale apple salad or a side of garlic butter rice .
How do I store leftovers?
Store any leftover chicken and cranberries in your refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can also store leftover chicken in your freezer for up to a month.
Help! Why does the skin look burned?
Don’t worry! Black skin doesn’t equal burned skin. It’s just the balsamic vinegar that turns the skin black (like you see in the picture). The first time we made it, we panicked, too. Just keep this in mind so you don’t worry when you open the oven. The black skin is very delicious, balsamic skin.
Where did you get the inspiration for this recipe?
This recipe was inspired by our friend Lindsay’s cranberry balsamic chicken thighs recipe.
Can I use other fresh herbs instead of rosemary?
Of course! Fresh thyme is another wonderful herb that works well with the flavors of this dish.
Cranberry Roasted Chicken Recipe
- Pin
Ingredients
- ▢ 3 lb whole chicken
- ▢ 2 cups cranberries (fresh or frozen)
- ▢ A few sprigs of rosemary
- ▢ 1 large orange
Rosemary Balsamic Butter
- ▢ ¼ cup butter (softened)
- ▢ 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- ▢ 2 teaspoons rosemary
- ▢ 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ▢ Zest from 1 orange (use the orange you’ll use for the chicken)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Dry the skin of the chicken with paper towels. Place the cranberries and rosemary in a small roasting pan. 3 lb whole chicken, 2 cups cranberries, A few sprigs of rosemary
- Mix the rosemary balsamic butter ingredients in a small bowl. Spread the butter under the skin of the chicken, being careful not to break the skin. ¼ cup butter, 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze, 2 teaspoons rosemary, 1 teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, Zest from 1 orange
- Lay the chicken on the cranberries. Cut the orange into quarters and squeeze the juice over the chicken then nestle the quarters around the chicken. 1 large orange
- Roast the chicken for 45 minutes and then reduce the heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and continue roasting for another 45 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and serve with the cranberries spooned over the top.
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
Did you make this?
We love to see what you made! Tag @theendlessmeal or hashtag #theendlessmeal !
