Skillet Cherry Chicken
Juicy chicken thighs glazed with a sweet and tart cherry sauce, seasoned with warm spices, perfect for a comforting yet elegant meal for family or guests.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Blend cherry preserves, lemon juice, cloves, salt, mace, and allspice. Set aside.
- Combine flour and salt in a paper or plastic bag. Add chicken pieces and shake to coat.
- Brown chicken in oil over medium heat, turning with tongs until golden.
- Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Drain off excess fat.
- Add cherry sauce to the skillet. Cover and simmer over very low heat, skin side up, for 15 minutes.
- Turn chicken and simmer an additional 15 minutes or until tender.
Tips & Substitutions
For a richer flavor, consider using homemade cherry preserves or adding a splash of balsamic vinegar to the sauce. If you're out of mace or allspice, you can substitute with nutmeg and cinnamon. To save time, you can also use pre-cut chicken pieces. Remember to adjust the cooking times as necessary based on size.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Skillet Cherry Chicken over a bed of fluffy rice or alongside roasted vegetables for a complete meal. It pairs beautifully with Easy Cherry Delight for dessert. For a fresh touch, add a side salad with a light vinaigrette. Consider serving with crusty bread to soak up the delicious cherry sauce.
Storage & Reheating
Leftover Skillet Cherry Chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the chicken in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water or broth to prevent drying out. Cover and heat until warmed through. You can also microwave it in short intervals, covered, to retain moisture.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Skillet Cherry Chicken contains roughly 348 calories, with 6g protein, 72g carbohydrates, and 19g fat. It is an excellent source of dietary fiber (122% of the Daily Value), iron (67% of the Daily Value), and calcium (50% of the Daily Value), and a good source of protein. Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 2096mg per serving (91% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a way to make this recipe healthier?
To make Skillet Cherry Chicken healthier, consider using skinless chicken breasts and reducing the amount of preserves used. You can also add more vegetables to the skillet, such as bell peppers or spinach, to enhance the dish's nutritional value.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).