This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Crock Pot Cranberry Chicken is an easy slow cooker recipe and brings together the flavors of tender chicken breast, tangy cranberry sauce, zesty orange juice, sweet brown sugar, fragrant rosemary, and a blend of spices!
This slow-cooker cranberry chicken has a tangy sauce, yet it takes little effort to make this chicken dinner because the slow cooker does all the work. It truly is the easiest crock pot recipe I have made in a while, and I have made a lot of Slow Cooker Recipes.
This Cranberry Rosemary Chicken is a chicken dinner that the whole family will love, including the cook. It is an easy dinner and easy crock pot recipe with simple ingredients, including chicken pieces and cranberry sauce as the main ingredients. It is one of the simplest Chicken Recipes.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy Crock Pot Recipe – Cranberry Chicken is an easy one-pot meal made in the slow cooker. There’s very little prep but lots of delicious flavor.
- Slow Cooker Chicken – This Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken recipe allows the chicken to cook low and slow to free you up for a few hours while the tender chicken slowly coos.
- Delicious Chicken Dinner – With the rosemary spice blend combined with tender chicken, this will be one of the best-tasting chicken dinners that you have tried.
Equipment
The affiliate links below will allow you to see the product on Amazon.com. If you purchase one of the items, I will receive a very small commission on the product, which does not increase the price.
- Slow Cooker
- Tongs
- Meat Thermometer
- Small bowl
- Casserole Dish
Ingredients
Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don't have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.
- Chicken breast – Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You could also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce – Use whole berry cranberry sauce, or you could make your own cranberry sauce by using one of your favorite cranberry recipes or use canned cranberry sauce.
- Orange juice – Use orange juice made from frozen or freshly squeezed orange juice.
- Apple cider vinegar
- Brown sugar – I used light brown sugar to not make the cranberry sauce too dark.
- Dried minced onion – You can chop a little fresh onion instead. No onion soup mix is required for this recipe.
- Salt – I used 1/2 a teaspoon. However, you can increase or decrease the amount, or omit completely, depending on your preference.
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Orange zest
- Rosemary – fresh or dried
- Cranberries – optional
Instructions
- Place the chicken breast in the bottom of the crockpot.
- In a medium bowl, combine all the remaining ingredients together and pour over the chicken. Add the fresh rosemary on top if you don't use the dried.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours. Internal temperature should reach 165° F. Remove any rosemary stems.
- Garnish with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs.
- Serve over mashed potatoes or rice.
Recipe Tips
- Orange zest makes this dish really stand out, so don't skip. Use the smallest side on a grater if you don't have a zester. Ensure not to grate into the white, or it will be bitter.
- You can use homemade cranberry sauce if you want, as well.
- You can marinate the meat for an hour or more in the sauce before cooking. This is optional, but it does add flavor.
What To Serve With Cranberry Chicken
- Green Beans – or other vegetable side dishes like asparagus, carrots, or Brussels sprouts
- Mashed Potatoes
- White Rice or Brown Rice
- Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake
FAQs
Yes, place the chicken in a freezer-safe, airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Yes, if you want to make a cranberry barbecue sauce, you could add 1/3 cup of the whole cranberry sauce to 1 cup of barbecue sauce.
More Cranberry Recipes
- Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- Cranberry White Chocolate Creme Brulee
- Banana Cranberry Bread
- Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip
If you like this recipe or make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment, rate the recipe, and follow us on:
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1 cup whole cranberry jelly
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons dried minced onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary (cut into pieces, or ½ teaspoon dried rosemary)
- Fresh cranberries (for garnish, optional)
- Sprigs fresh rosemary (for garnish)
Instructions
- Place the chicken breast in the bottom of the crockpot.
- Combine all the remaining ingredients together and pour over the chicken. Add the fresh rosemary on top if you don't use the dried.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours. Internal temperature should reach 165° F. Remove any rosemary stems.
- Garnish with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs.
- Serve over mashed potatoes or rice.
Christine Savinelli says
Easy delicous dinner, made & ate with jasmine rice.
Michele says
Hi Christine,
I’m glad you liked it.
Michele