Chicken with Apple Cranberry and Bacon

Elevate your weeknight dinner with this irresistible Chicken with Apple, Cranberry, and Bacon recipe—a savory-sweet masterpiece that combines tender seared chicken breasts with caramelized honeycrisp apples, tart dried cranberries, and crispy bacon for a flavor-packed dish the whole family will love. The creamy sauce, infused with garlic, fresh rosemary, and thyme, binds the ingredients together into a luxurious one-skillet meal that’s as comforting as it is elegant. Ready in just 45 minutes, this dish strikes an ideal balance between ease and sophistication, making it perfect for a cozy dinner or an impressive holiday entrée. Serve it with mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables for a well-rounded, restaurant-quality meal that’s sure to impress! Keywords: chicken with apple cranberry and bacon recipe, one-skillet chicken dinner, savory-sweet chicken dish.

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 pieces chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 slices bacon
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 pieces garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large honeycrisp apple, diced
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 0.5 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

Directions

Step 1

Season the chicken breasts on both sides with the salt and black pepper.

Step 2

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Step 3

In the same skillet, add the bacon slices and cook until crisp. Remove bacon and place on paper towels to drain. Crumble once cool.

Step 4

Drain excess bacon fat, keeping about 1 tablespoon in the skillet. Add the unsalted butter and garlic, cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Step 5

Add the diced apple to the skillet and sauté for 3-5 minutes until lightly caramelized.

Step 6

Stir in the dried cranberries, chicken stock, heavy cream, rosemary, and thyme. Bring to a gentle simmer.

Step 7

Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, along with any accumulated juices. Scatter the crumbled bacon over the top.

Step 8

Cover the skillet and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Step 9

Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.

Step 10

Serve the chicken hot, garnished with additional thyme or rosemary if desired, and spoon the sauce over the top. Pair with roasted vegetables or mashed potatoes for a complete meal.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1620.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2890.2

Total Fat 137.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 54.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.6g
Cholesterol 822.8mg	0%
Sodium 3896.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 140.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 15.4g	0%
Total Sugars 119.3g
Protein 244.3g	0%

Vitamin D 7.7IU	0%
Calcium 142.5mg	0%
Iron 8.3mg	0%
Potassium 613.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 44.5%

Protein: 35.2%

Carbs: 20.3%