Description
This Cranberry Orange Chicken Bake features tender chicken breasts stuffed with creamy brie cheese and tart fresh cranberries, seasoned with sage and baked to perfection. Served alongside sweet potatoes, it’s an elegant yet simple dinner that’s perfect for holidays or any special occasion.
Ingredients
For the Chicken and Filling:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 per person)
- 1 small brick brie cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
For Seasoning and Sides:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh sage, to taste
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Sweet potatoes (for serving alongside)
Instructions
Oven goes to 350°F. Get paper towels and dry off your chicken. Skipping this means soggy chicken that won’t brown.
Grab your best knife. Make a horizontal slice on the fat side of the chicken breast, then push the knife in sideways to hollow out a pocket. Don’t cut all the way through the other side. My first attempt looked like I murdered the chicken because I went too fast and hacked through it. Go slow.
Chop brie into random chunks. Rind stays on. Push pieces of brie and 4-6 cranberries into each pocket. I used to overstuff and then wonder why cheese lava flowed all over my pan. Less is more here.
Rip off parchment paper, line your pan. Put chicken on it. Pour olive oil over the top. Rip up sage leaves with your hands, throw them on. Salt and pepper like you mean it because under-seasoned chicken is depressing.
Put it in the oven. Set timer for 35 minutes. Walk away. Check it when the timer goes off. If juices run clear and it’s not pink inside, you’re done. My breasts are usually medium-sized so 35 minutes works. Giant ones take longer, maybe 40-45 minutes.
Do not cut into this immediately. I’ve made that mistake exactly once and watched an entire breast worth of brie slide onto my counter. Set a timer for 5 minutes and leave the kitchen if you have no self-control. Then slice and serve with whatever sweet potatoes you made.
Notes
- The pocket is everything! Cut deep enough to hold plenty of filling, but be careful not to pierce through. Think of it like a little purse inside the chicken.
- Pound thicker breasts slightly if they’re uneven. This helps them cook at the same rate.
- Save those pan juices! They’re incredible drizzled over the sweet potatoes or spooned over the chicken.
- Common mistake to avoid: Overstuffing! If you pack too much in, it’ll leak out during baking. A generous amount is perfect, but leave a little room.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American