Description

This Cranberry Chicken recipe features tender, juicy boneless skinless chicken thighs baked in a tangy and slightly sweet sauce made from Catalina salad dressing, dry onion soup mix, and whole-berry cranberry sauce. The dish combines savory and fruity flavors, enhanced with optional red pepper flakes for a mild kick. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, it pairs wonderfully with rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles.

Ingredients

Scale

Sauce 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)

Chicken

3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
Salt and pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking during baking.
Make the Sauce: In a medium bowl, thoroughly combine the Catalina dressing, dry onion soup mix, whole-berry cranberry sauce, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir well until all ingredients are evenly mixed, then pour the sauce into the prepared baking dish.
Season and Arrange Chicken: Season the chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper. Arrange them in a single layer in the baking dish. Turn the chicken pieces in the sauce to coat all sides well for maximum flavor infusion.
Bake the Chicken: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 1 hour, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) ensuring it is fully cooked and juicy.
Serve: Remove from the oven and serve the cranberry-glazed chicken along with the sauce over your choice of rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles for a hearty and delicious meal.

Notes

Check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure food safety.
Using boneless skinless chicken thighs ensures tenderness and even cooking.
You can adjust the amount of red pepper flakes based on your desired spice level or omit if preferred.
This dish pairs well with simple sides like steamed vegetables, salad, or crusty bread.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently.