Cozy up to sweet, savory, tangy flavor with this Cranberry Chicken Casserole. Made with rice, chicken, and an incredible cranberry, orange juice, soy sauce, maple syrup combo, this dish is a winner for any night of the week.
A filling and nutrient rich meal
Chicken casserole recipes are. the. BEST! Who’s in agreement?! There’s something about them that I just love. Coziness is key with fall recipes, and any chicken casserole seems to accomplish the cozy factor so beautifully.
Especially this one.
Today we’re whipping up a delicious cranberry chicken casserole, which gets an A+ for flavor and an A++ for warm, autumn vibes. It’s the perfect dinner to enjoy on a relaxing Sunday evening as you mentally prepare for the work or school week ahead!
Flavored with a citrusy mixture of cranberries and orange juice, this chicken casserole dish is filled with sweet, savory flavor in each bite. If a big bear hug could take the form of a casserole, it would be this dish.
Cranberry Chicken Casserole
Cozy up to sweet, savory, tangy flavor with this Cranberry Chicken Casserole. Made with rice, chicken, and an incredible cranberry, orange juice, soy sauce, maple syrup combo, this dish is a winner for any night of the week.
Prep: 20 ; Cook: 70 ; Total: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups uncooked wild rice blend (or brown rice)
- 4 cups chopped butternut squash
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 5 small chicken breasts (about 2 lbs)
- 12 oz cranberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 large orange, juice + zest
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 3/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Cook rice according to package. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 400F. In a 9×13 casserole dish, add butternut squash, avocado oil, and salt. Toss until coated.
- Bake squash for 35-40 minutes or until fork tender. Take out of oven.
- Add cooked rice to squash and mix. Place chicken breasts on top of rice mixture.
- Make cranberry sauce by combining cranberries, the zest and juice of 1 large orange, maple syrup, soy sauce, and sesame oil over medium high heat. Continue to stir occasionally, the cranberries will eventually burst and thicken, after about ten minutes. Test your sauce. If it is too tart for your liking, add 1/4 cup more maple syrup.
- Once thick, turn the heat off. Spread the cranberry mixture evenly over the chicken breasts.
- Top with almonds and bake for 25-30 minutes or until internal chicken temperature reads 165F.
- Sprinkle with dried cranberries and serve immediately.
Author: Erin Morrissey ; Category: dinner, lunch, meal-prep, gluten-free ; Method: oven ; Cuisine: American ; Diet: Gluten Free