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close up view of the completed cinnamon chicken recipe

Cinnamon Chicken

A versatile chicken dish with a surprising burst of complex flavor!
5 from 3 votes
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Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Western
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 291kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 sweet onion peeled, cut in half and sliced
  • 6 chicken thighs bone in and skin on
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 cup (250ml) chicken broth

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F / 204C / gas 6
  • Sauté onions in a skillet until tender, then transfer to a baking dish.
  • Brown the chicken for 2-3 minutes per side and place skin side up over the onions in the baking dish.
  • Combine cinnamon, paprika, salt, pepper, honey (or maple syrup), and chicken broth and pour it over the chicken.
  • Bake 30-35 minutes or until juices run clear and the temperature reaches 165F / 74C

Notes

Tips For Success

  • To really develop the flavor, brown the chicken in a skillet before adding it to a baking dish.
  • Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of at least 165F / 74C.

Budget-Friendly Tips

  • Add a Veggie - Roasted carrots, steamed broccoli, or canned green beans would all make a great accompaniment for this dish.
  • Serve With a Side - Adding rice, potatoes, couscous, or quinoa will add a lot of bulk to this recipe.
  • Make a Flavorful Salad - Toss leftover chicken with leftover rice, couscous, or quinoa and drizzle with a vinaigrette made by combining ⅓ cup cider vinegar, ⅓ cup honey, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ cup canola oil. Serve it for lunch or dinner the next evening.
  • Save With Whole Chicken - Chicken thighs are budget-friendly, but you can often buy a whole chicken for even less. Cut the chicken yourself and use the thighs, wings, and legs for this recipe, and reserve the breasts for another use.
  • Save the Bones for Broth - Save the bones and toss them into a bag in the freezer. When you have enough saved up, fill a stockpot with bones, leftover vegetable ends, and water. Simmer to make a flavorful chicken broth.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 8 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Nutrition

Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 92mg | Potassium: 307mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 254IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg