A sweet and tart cherry chicken summer dish that's built in a single pan, making for minimal cleanup! Tender, juicy chicken thighs with crispy skin are topped with a sweet-sour fresh cherry sauce.
Cherry season has arrived!
Motto: ALL THE CHERRIES ALL CHERRY SEASON LONG!
Why this Recipe Works
- Marinating the chicken.Guarantees two things: flavor and juiciness.
- Roasting the chicken with the skin exposed. Tenderizes the chicken meat underneath while keeping the skin crispy.
- All the flavors. Vinegar and honey give the dish a built-in sweet and sour sauce that pairs perfectly with the fresh cherries and woodsy rosemary.
- One pan. The dish is built in a single pan, making for minimal cleanup.
Cherries have a trifecta of flavor: sweet, tart and bright!
How to Make this Recipe
Dry and season chicken. Mince shallots and whisk marinade. Place chicken in marinade at least 30 minutes and up to overnight in the fridge. Pit cherries. Place chicken thighs, skin side up, onto pan. Tuck rosemary sprigs and cherries in between chicken pieces, leaving most of the skin exposed so it crisps properly. Pour marinade over all and place in the oven.
To use or not to use a cherry pitter, that is the question. If you have, use it! If not, no problem.
Notes on Ingredients
Chicken Thighs: For most flavorful and juiciest results, use bone-in, skin-on chicken.
Any cut of chicken will technically work. Simple adjust cooking times accordingly.
Cherries: They key is to use fresh cherries. All verities and/or a mix work; from bright and bold red Bing to pink and golden yellow Rainer and more.
Keep in mind that each type of cherry ranges on the sweet - tart spectrum; adjust honey accordingly.
Olive Oil: Any mild, extra virgin olive oil. No need to use your best stuff!
Balsamic Vinegar: Pair with the honey to give the give the dish a built-in sweet and sour sauce.
Shallots: Alliums add flavor.
Rosemary: one of the most aromatic and pungent of all the herbs. Because of it’ strong flavor, use a light hand. Other herbs, such as thyme or oregano, pair wonderfully as well.
Want More Chicken Recipes?
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Cooks Tips
- When possible, buy pasture raised organic chicken.
- When possible, buy cherries grown sustainably.
- For best flavor and texture, use bone-in, skin on chicken.
- If marinating chicken overnight in the fridge, let it come to room temperature before placing in the oven.
- Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 3 days.
Have ya tried this recipe? I’d love to hear about it and see it too! Please leave a comment below and take a pic and tag it on Instagram with @DanielaGerson. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to see more colorfully delicious food and awesome adventures!
Let’s make waves in the kitchen!
Cherry Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs possible to use breasts too
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 cup minced shallots about 2 large or 4 medium
- handful fresh rosemary springs
- 2 cups cherries any kind, pitter
- kosher salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs (or breasts) dry with a paper towel and season with kosher salt. Let it sit out while you prep the rest of the ingredients.
- Whisk together the balsamic, honey, olive oil, shallots, salt and pepper. Place the chicken in a re-sealable plastic bag and pour in the marinade. Seal the bag and make sure all the chicken is coated. Let sit at least 30 min and up to overnight in the fridge. Take out of the fridge 30 minutes before placing in hot oven.
- Meanwhile, pit the cherries and set aside.
- To cook chicken: about 30 min before, take it out of the fridge so chicken can come to room temperature. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place chicken thighs (or breasts) skin side up in a shallow roasting dish or cast iron skillet. Nestle the rosemary springs in between the chicken pieces of top with the pitted cherries, moving them around so they fall in between the chicken pieces leaving as much as the skin exposes as possible. The pour the marinade over the chicken. The marinade should generously cover the bottom of the pan.
- Slide the pan into the oven and rotate every 10-12 minutes.
- Cooking times; for breasts: cook 20 minutes; for thighs: cook 45minutes. If using both remove the breasts while the dark meat continues cooking.
- When the dark meat is tender at the bone and cooked through, return breasts to the pan and increase oven to 450 F. Let the sauce reduce and the chicken skin get dark and crispy, about 12 minutes. Move the cherries around again in needed to expose more chicken skin. Brush the chicken with the marinade from the pan every 3-4 minutes to glaze them.
- Serve warm, with crunchy sea salt and freshly grinded black pepper.
Notes
- When possible, buy pasture raised organic chicken.
- When possible, buy cherries grown sustainably.
- For best flavor and texture, use bone-in, skin on chicken.
- If marinating chicken overnight in the fridge, let it come to room temperature before placing in the oven.
- Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 3 days.
This cherry chicken looks beautiful and I'm sure the flavors are incredible! I'm vegetarian but my husband would love to try this dish! We buy mostly organic as well, we can taste the difference.
Thanks so much for the sweet feedback! And absolutely agreed on organic :). Hope your hubby loves it!
It's cherry season, and we are enjoying them every day! I love this recipe, I will be making it real soon!
Awesome Anne!!! So super stoked to hear that! And please do let me know how it goes after... would love to hear :)!
Love the idea of cherries and chicken together! Our cherry harvest has just finished. I live in a big cherry growing area in N. Italy and the neighbouring farmer lets me pick cherries from the trees! Hopefully, I can still find cherries to make this with! (on the trees or at the market!) Pinning for later!
So stoked to hear that Jacqueline and wow your cherry season def ends earlier than ours in Cali! And how fun that your neighboring farmer lets ya pick his from his tree! Crossing fingers and toes that you still find some left to make this chicken :).
This recipe sounds so interesting and looks really beautiful! I haven't seen a lot of savory recipes using cherries so I will have to try this one out!
Yessss!!!! Super stoked to hear that Kate! All about finding interesting ways to use seasonal produce and please lemme know how it goes after ya make it. I'd absolutely love to hear :)!
This looks absolutely delicious. I love using my cast iron pan, so this recipe would be *ideal* for my next recipe in it! I have honestly never paired cherries with chicken, but I need this in my life ASAP. Love your photos, too! And the tips!
Thanks so much for the super sweet feedback Sara!!! Hope ya love the cherry chicken combo as much as I do! Really appreciate the kind words :).
I never thought of a combo of cherry and chicken, but hey the dish looks amazing! Your pictures are so good.
Thanks so much Jagruti! I absolutely adore cooking, styling and shooting food and really appreciate your super sweet feedback :).
What a fun way to use in-season cherries! I'm always looking for new cherry recipes during the summer, and this is perfect. Thanks for sharing!
Absolute pleasure Amanda and thank you for the sweet feedback! Absolutely adore making this dish during the summer and hope you do too :)!
This is such a gorgeous dish. The perfect chicken supper for celebrating all of the beautiful fresh cherries that are in season right now. I also think cast iron just makes the best, crispiest chicken!
All about celebrating cherry season and thanks so much for the sweet feedback Jenni! Am all about that crispy chicken too :)!
Rosemary and cherries? Oh wow that sounds soooo delicious. Looks delicious that's definitely true. I must give this a try.
Thanks so much for the super sweet feedback Natalie! And I must say that yessssss rosemary and cherries is indeed a very delicious combo :)!
Our neighbor made this for us. It was delicious and the sauce was amazing! But I’m positive that 20 minutes is not enough time in the oven for chicken breast!
Hello Peggy and thanks so much for the feedback! Am going to update the cooking times on the recipe and am so thrilled to hear you enjoyed it :)!
This cherry chicken looks amazing! I let my parents borrow my cherry pitter but when I get it back I want to make this! Yum!
Thanks so much Emily!!! I know you'd make this dish absolutely beautifully too :)!!! Really appreciate your sweet feedback!
Such a delicious summer dish,
Thank you chef daniela gerson for the yummieee recipe! To bad it can only be done in the summer... let’s make it a lot :)!!! 🍒🍒🍒💜😘
I am just drooling with the thought of this Tangy flavors. Super delicious and a unique combination. I love it.
Really appreciate it! So stoked my recipe and pics made ya drool :). So fun playing with the cherry bounty this time of year in all sorts of ways!
It's such a great idea of combining our all time main ingredient (Chicken) and cherry on one to make absolutely stunning recipe. I loved the finish product, it looks so yummy and juicy.
Thank ya so much Amy! Yes exactly I love playing around combining chicken thighs with all sorts of fresh seasonal produce - from fruits to veggies! This cherry chicken was def a hit when I made it for friends and I'm super stoked to share it :)! Really appreciate the sweet feedback!
What a gorgeous dish! I can only imagine the aroma in the house when making this! Between the rosemary and the cherries. I can almost taste the sweet and savory flavors already.
Thanks so much Dana! Cherries just may be my all time favorite stone fruit around! They're season is so short... gotta make the most of them in both sweet and savory ways! And yes absolutely this chicken dish will fill your home with the most wonderful of aromas :).
Yum! This Oven Roasted Cherry Chicken with Rosemary is making me totally hungry! I can't wait to have this on our table. My husband will love this.
Awesome Maggie I'm so happy to hear that! Can't wait for your hubby to try it and would love to see how yours comes out :).
Wow, what a fantastic dish! With cherries coming to the season, this would be such a great way of enjoying them! The combination of flavours must be very unique and so flavoursome!
Thank ya so much for the super sweet feedback Anna! I absolutely adore cooking with all the cherry bounty this time of year... both sweet and savory style! Lemme know if ya try this chicken cant wait to hear whatcha think of it ~ it's unique and flavorsome indeed :)!
Yes yes yes! Finally a savory dish to use up summer cherries...Love the crispy skin that comes with the chicken thighs combined with the slightly sweet and tart flavor of the cherries, thank you so much!
Absolute pleasure Chandice!!! I adore cooking with all the cherry bounty this time of year... sweet and savory style! And yes exactly the crispy chicken thighs combined with the sweet n'tart cherries is soooooo good :)!
Yum! I'm so glad I came across this recipe! We live near tons of cherry orchards and I'm always looking for fun ways to use them. Chicken and cherries are a surprisingly great combo, we were so happy we tried them in a savory way this time. Delicious, thank you!
Absolute pleasure Mikayla and that's so super rad that yo live by tons of cherry orchards! I'd love to hear some of your other fav savory cherry recipes too! I also have a simple roasted cherry recipe on here if ya want any more ideas :). And please take a pic next time ya make it I'd absolutely love to see :)!
This is a great way to use cherries for savory dishes. The combination of flavors is so up my alley! Can't way to try it. And put my cherry pitter to use, haha!
Hehehe yesssss put that cherry pitter to use :)! Thanks so much for the sweet feedback Paula ~ I really appreciate it and please let me know your thoughts after you make it I'd absolutely love to hear :).
Just tried this recipe today and it's so amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Absolute pleasure!!! Soooo stoked to hear that + thanks so much for the super sweet feedback Will :)!
Wow! I have never left a comment on a recipe before, but I had to with this one! The honey and balsamic caramelize beautifully! There is nothing to be changed, and it is most certainly a dish I will make again soon.
Wowie Allison I'm so super honored and flattered by your feedback! Stoked to hear ya loved this chicken dish as much as I did! And please take a pic next time yo make it I'd absolutely love to see :)!
Have my cherries pitted and chicken is marinating. Can’t wait. What are you favorites side to serve with this?
Out of all these reviews I think there was only one that had actually made the dish. How can you review something when you haven't even made it? Most people read the reviews to see how others enjoyed the dish. I just don't get it.
Hi Sunny! Not sure I can be helpful here. I wrote the post and anyone on the internet is welcome to comment on it! You're welcome to make the chicken dish and add a comment after :). Hope you love it!
Restaurant quality! I served it over mashed potatoes, with a side of garlic green beans and it felt like a holiday meal. I followed your instructions and didn't cover the chicken with the cherries and the skin roasted nicely.
Thank you so much for sharing this great recipe!
Absolutely pleasure Paula and I am so super stoked to hear that! Yes exactly leaving the skin exposed makes sure it stays nice and crispy! Thanks so much for the sweet feedback I really appreciate it :)!
I'm going to try this, but I'd like to make it a complete dish with rice. Had anyone tried adding rice and some checked stock to the bottom of the pan, then adding the chicken and cherries?
I haven't tried that myself Mayra but there's def a way to cook this dish with rice! Please let me know how it comes out ~ I'd love to hear :).
I made this recipe last night. It was fantastic! If I could give this recipe 10 stars, I would!
I used 12 chicken tenderloins and cut them into large bite-sized pieces instead of using chicken thighs, since I didn't have chicken thighs. I let the chicken marinade for only 30 minutes, which was the perfect amount of time. I didn't have shallots, so I used about 1/4 cup dried minced onion in the marinade, which worked fine.
My parents have a large sour cherry tree in their yard, so I have a freezer full of pitted tart cherries at my disposal. As a result, I used 2+ cups thawed sour cherries instead of Bing cherries. (I love Bing cherries, but they are sweet.) I love the combination of the sour cherries and the marinade and the rosemary. Fabulous flavor combination! I used fresh rosemary twigs and then sprinkled dried rosemary lightly over all of the chicken. The cooking time is accurate- about 20 minutes for chicken breasts at 400F, and then an additional 12 minutes at 450F.
I served this with a side of seasoned couscous: plain couscous cooked in chicken broth. The broth was seasoned generously with honey and garlic powder, and lightly seasoned with ground ginger and kosher salt. Also served with roasted broccoli. My daughter liked it so much that she gave me a "Hollywood handshake". 😉 I've already printed this recipe for future use, and I made a notation that this recipe is so good that I could serve it when company comes. Hope you enjoy it too!
Wowie Kimberly I'm so honored and stoked to hear your feedback! Thanks so much for sharing + thats so super rad your parents have a cherry tree! I did enjoy it and really appreciate the sweet feedback :).
Had cherries on hand today and thought I wonder if they'd pair well with chicken. And darned if they do. They're great with chicken, and this recipe proved it. Tastes AMAZING!!!! Didn't have rosemary, only Mccormick Italian seasoning which worked great. Added fresh garlic too too the marinade. Delicious!!!
So super stoked to hear that Raven + thanks so much for taking the time to leave this sweet feedback! Love the addition of fresh garlic! I know cherries & chicken sounds like a funky combo but they somehow work :).
I made this yesterday for a birthday party and it was so delicious. Very pleased to have a new go to recipe for a savory cherry meal. My guests were surprised to see cherries and chicken together. I used huckleberry honey from Yellowstone park to add to the confusion. Thank you!!!
Absolute pleasure Robin and thank you so much for taking the time to leave this super sweet feedback! Stoked to hear your and your guest were pleased + love the huckleberry honey addition :).
Unlike so many of the people who made comments without making this chicken I made it! It is a match made in my tastebuds heaven. The aroma alone to die for. Thank you for this easy cleverly creative fabulous dish with fresh CA picked cherries! LOVE I wish I could attach photo for you all but dont see option to.
So happy to hear that Michelle! So stoked you made the chicken and enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing + wish you could attach a photo too :).
Made this for dinner tonight with fresh cherries we picked from a local farm. It was delicious and my kids even loved it (which is saying a lot. Ha!) The only thing we changed was leaving out rosemary (just because we didn't have any) and we used boneless skinless chicken thighs so reduced cooking time. Served it with rice and roasted broccoli. Thanks for the great recipe! My husband wants to try it again exactly as you suggest!
So stoked to hear that Kara and so honored it received your kids approval! Thanks so much for sharing your sweet feedback! I really appreciate it and am so happy to hear :).
This was really good! I love cherries and was looking for recipes to take advantage of fresh cherry season. The few ingredients needed I had mostly on hand (except the cherries). I did add another shake of salt before putting them in the oven to brown better and was generous with the cherries. We have two left over thighs that my husband and I are negotiating over!
So super stoked to hear that Molly! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave your sweet feedback and hope you & the hubby sorted the cherry chicken thigh negotiations out ;-).
these are the best looking food photos I've ever seen , totally inspired, thank you . Colours are SO rich
Thank you Deborah!!! Picked up a camera about 5 years ago and never knew I was artistic until then. Your comment put a HUGE smile on my face :-):):).
Just made this. Had skinless boneless thighs so had to adjust cook time etc. BUT the result was fantastic. We have loads of cherries this year and are now planning on inviting our family over for dinner next week and this will be their main dish. Fabuloso!!!!!
So super stoked to hear that Garrad and thank ya so much for sharing! Excited for your family to try it next week :). 🍒🍒😘
I had some fresh cherries to use before the went bad and gave this receipt a shot. So glad I did! Flavor was amazing and I marinated in the same dish I baked with so very little mess I’ll be adding to the rotation!
So super stoked to hear that Jackie and thanks so much for the sweet feedback! This dish is always a hit and love that it's added to the rotation :).
I added garlic because you can never have enough garlic!! Absolutely delicious!
Absolutely agreed on the garlic Denise! Sounds even more delicious and thanks so much for sharing 🙂
A definite winner. Only thing I changed was reduced the olive oil a bit as the chicken fat will naturally make up for it
Love it Michal, thanks for sharing and agreed! Eye ball my olive oil and the exact amount varies depending on how much chicken fat there is :).