Orange Cinnamon Chicken
Juicy chicken breasts marinated in fresh orange, honey, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves before being pan-seared and finished with a fragrant citrus sauce.
Equipment
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Mixing bowl
- Saucepan
- skillet
- Tongs
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest from 1 orange
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk the orange juice, orange zest, honey, olive oil, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, salt, and black pepper together in a mixing bowl.
- Add the chicken breasts and turn them until evenly coated with the marinade.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and reserve the remaining marinade.
- Place the chicken breasts in the hot skillet.
- Cook for 6–7 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Pour the reserved marinade into a small saucepan.
- Bring the marinade to a full boil for at least 1 minute.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 5–7 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Check that the thickest part of each chicken breast reaches 74°C (165°F).
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Drizzle the cooked orange cinnamon sauce over the chicken before serving.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Suggestions
Serve the orange cinnamon chicken with couscous, steamed rice, roasted sweet potatoes, or seasonal vegetables. A crisp dish from our salad recipes provides a fresh contrast to the warm citrus sauce.Recipe Notes
The reserved marinade has been in contact with raw chicken and must be boiled before it is served as a sauce. Pound very thick chicken breasts to an even thickness so they cook at the same rate. Browse our chicken recipes for more dependable dinner ideas.Variations
Add chili flakes for gentle heat or replace the honey with maple syrup. Lemon juice can replace part of the orange juice for a sharper sauce. Explore our Spices & Seasoning recipes for more ways to adjust the cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.Wine Advice
A fresh Pinot Grigio complements the bright orange flavor, while an off-dry Riesling balances the honey and warming spices.Nutrition values
Serving: 1 chicken breast with sauce | Calories: 285 kcal | Carbohydrates: 11 g | Protein: 39 g | Fat: 9 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Sodium: 390 mg | Sugar: 9 g