Description
Cherries Jubilee Chicken is a delightful main course featuring tender boneless skinless chicken breasts marinated in a flavorful blend of cream sherry, olive oil, spices, and dark cherries, then baked with a sweet and tangy chili sauce and cherry mixture. This dish offers a perfect balance of savory and sweet flavors, making it an impressive yet easy-to-make dinner for four.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup cream sherry
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 1 (12 oz) bottle chili sauce
- 1 (13.5 oz) jar dark cherries in juice, pitted
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a mixing bowl, combine the cream sherry, olive oil, minced onion, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until well blended.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a large baking dish. Pour the marinade mixture over the chicken, turning the breasts to coat them evenly on all sides. Cover the dish and refrigerate the chicken for 3 to 4 hours to let the flavors develop fully.
- Preheat the Oven: When you are ready to cook, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
- Prepare the Cherry Chili Sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the chili sauce and the drained dark cherries along with their juice, stirring to combine the flavors.
- Bake the Chicken: Remove the marinated chicken breasts from the fridge. Pour the cherry chili sauce mixture evenly over the chicken. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to retain moisture during cooking.
- Cook Until Done: Place the covered dish in the oven and bake for 55 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from oven and let rest briefly before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider searing the chicken breasts in a hot skillet before marinating to lock in juices.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, remove the foil in the last 10 minutes of baking to allow some reduction.
- You can substitute fresh pitted cherries if in season; just add a bit of sugar to balance tartness.
- This recipe can be prepared a day ahead by marinating and then baking before serving.
- Serve with steamed rice or roasted vegetables to complete the meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
