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Easy Smoky Orange Chipotle Chicken: Best 30-Min Dinner

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A quick and flavorful 30-minute dinner featuring smoky chipotle peppers balanced with bright orange and honey. Perfect for busy weeknights, this one-pan chicken dish delivers bold, restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 large breasts)
  • 1 large navel orange (juice and zest)
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced, plus 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and black pepper. If thick, slice horizontally into thinner cutlets.
  2. Zest the orange to get about 1 teaspoon of zest, then squeeze ⅓ cup of fresh juice. Set aside.
  3. Mince the chipotle peppers and measure 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce.
  4. In a small bowl, combine orange juice, orange zest, minced chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, honey, and minced garlic. Stir until honey dissolves.
  5. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until deeply golden brown. Transfer to a plate.
  6. Reduce heat to medium. Pour chicken broth into the skillet and scrape up browned bits. Simmer for 1 minute.
  7. Add the orange-chipotle mixture to the pan and stir. Return the chicken to the skillet, spooning sauce over it.
  8. Cover and cook for 6-8 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  9. Remove chicken to a plate and cover loosely with foil. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer sauce uncovered for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in butter until melted.
  10. Spoon sauce over chicken, garnish with cilantro if desired, and serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t skip drying the chicken for a good sear. Adjust chipotle peppers to control heat. Use an instant-read thermometer for perfect doneness. Let chicken rest 5 minutes before slicing. Double the sauce if serving with rice or vegetables.

Nutrition

Keywords: smoky orange chipotle chicken, 30-minute dinner, easy chicken recipe, chipotle chicken, one-pan chicken, weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://chloeplate.com/easy-smoky-orange-chipotle-chicken-best-30-min-dinner/