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    Home » Recipes » Chicken

    Published: Mar 31, 2022 · Modified: Mar 31, 2022 by Claire · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases · Leave a Comment

    Blueberry chicken

    This blueberry chicken combines sweet fruit with fennel and a touch of maple syrup for a flavourful baked chicken dish that is dairy-free and gluten free. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner for all the family!

    blueberry chicken, sweet potato mash and arugala on a white plate next to a brown plate of blueberries.

    Chicken recipes always work so well for family meals, and the rosemary chicken fillets and ginger chicken pilaf traybake are some of the most popular recipes here on the blog. Perhaps you would like to check them out for another dinner idea!

    This chicken dish is a bit of a twist on more traditional recipes that use fruit, such as chicken with grapes or mango. We use blueberries that bubble down into a delicious sauce, and give a subtle sweetness without being overly sugary. I made this for my mum and she said she would have happily paid for, and enjoyed it, at a restaurant. I think that's a five star review!

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe is so good
    • Ingredients
    • Variations to the recipe
    • Step by step instructions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Equipment needed
    • How to serve
    • More chicken recipes
    • Recipe

    Why this recipe is so good

    The perfect sweetness. Blueberries have a more subtle sweetness than other fruits, giving this sauce so much flavour but without being too sugary.

    Enjoy all year. While blueberries are usually in most stores year-round, you can always use frozen blueberries if you can't get hold of fresh.

    Versatile. Enjoy as a weeknight dinner, or serve with some more fancy sides for a special occasion with friends and family.

    Ingredients

    all the ingredients to make blueberry chicken in small bowls.

    This chicken with blueberry sauce uses fresh poultry and fruit, as well as pantry staples. Some notes on a few of the ingredients (the full list and quantities is in the recipe card below):

    • Chicken breasts - buy fresh, and to the size you prefer for each person. If they are on the larger size, then I tend to cut the chicken into smaller pieces.
    • Blueberries - I tend to use fresh as they are nearly always available, but you can use frozen blueberries also. They may release a little extra liquid, so the sauce could be slightly thinner. Cook down for a few extra minutes if so.
    • Fennel - this gives the sauce that delicious aniseed taste. If you aren't sure how to prepare it, then this tutorial on how to cut fennel should be helpful.

    Variations to the recipe

    I haven't tried it myself, but there's no reason that chicken thighs wouldn't be equally delicious for this recipe.

    Have a sweet tooth? You can always add a touch more maple syrup to the sauce.

    blueberry chicken with sweet potato and arugala on a white plate on a grey and white striped cloth.

    Step by step instructions

    This is quite a simple recipe, and the blueberry sauce is very easy to make in a skillet. Then the oven does the work for you!

    Step 1

    After seasoning the chicken, fry in a little olive oil until light golden brown (you may need to do this in two batches if your skillet is on the smaller size). Once cooked through, remove from the skillet with tongs and set aside on a plate.

    Step 2

    Fry the onion and fennel in olive oil until softened, about 5 minutes. You may need to reduce the heat of the skillet if it was higher to fry the chicken (no need to clean the skillet beforehand).

    chicken frying in a skillet.
    onion and fennel frying in a skillet.

    Step 3, 4 & 5

    3. Add the garlic, blueberries, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper to the skillet.

    4. Bring to a light simmer, and cook for around 10 minutes until the blueberries have broken down into around half liquid, with some whole ones remaining.

    5. Transfer the chicken to an ovenproof dish and then spoon the blueberry mixture over it. Give it a stir so the chicken is well coated with the sauce. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the chicken has an internal temperature of 165F. Serve immediately with sides of your choice and enjoy!

    blueberries and fennel in a skillet with a wooden sppon.
    blueberry sauce in a skillet.
    blueberry sauce over chicken in a white dish.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I use frozen blueberries to make blueberry sauce?

    Yes definitely! Frozen blueberries can easily be used to make a blueberry sauce. They will likely release a little more liquid than fresh, so you may wish to cook the sauce down for a few minutes.

    Instead of apple cider vinegar can I use another vinegar?

    You can also use balsamic vinegar for this sauce. However, this wouldn't be suitable for my low histamine readers who may wish to either use white distilled vinegar or leave out vinegar completely from the sauce.

    Can I use another herb instead of thyme?

    Rosemary would also be good!

    Equipment needed

    Skillet - to fry the chicken and make the blueberry sauce.

    Ovenproof dish - to bake the chicken. You want one that is suitable for two chicken breasts (or more if you are increasing quantities).

    Kitchen tongs - to remove the chicken from the skillet.

    Meat thermometer - to check for an internal temperature of 165F for the chicken.

    How to serve

    This chicken dish can be served with a variety of sides. I suggest the following as tasty options:

    • Sweet potato mash
    • Potato cauliflower mash
    • Rice or couscous
    • Vegetables of your choice
    baked blueberry chicken in a white ovenproof dish next to a small plate of blueberries.

    More chicken recipes

    There are lots of tasty ideas on my chicken recipes page, but some recent recipes for you to try out:

    • Pesto chicken tray bake
    • Rosemary chicken fillets (pan fried)
    • Turmeric chicken soup
    • Maple ginger chicken tray bake

    I’m always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes. And please do leave a star rating if you tried the recipe!

    Recipe

    blueberry chicken with sweet potato mash and arugala on a white plate on a white and grey cloth.

    Blueberry chicken

    Claire
    This blueberry chicken combines sweet fruit with fennel and a touch of maple syrup for a flavourful baked chicken dish that is dairy-free and gluten free. Perfect for a family meal!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 50 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Dish
    Cuisine American, British
    Servings 2 servings

    Equipment

    • Skillet
    • Ovenproof dish
    • Kitchen tongs
    • Meat thermometer

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 chicken breasts cut into smaller pieces, if required
    • 1.5 cups blueberries
    • ½ small white onion diced
    • 1 small fennel diced
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 garlic cloves minced or finely diced
    • 2 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
    • 2 tablespoon maple syrup
    • 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • pinch salt
    • pinch black pepper optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 200C (400F).
    • Cut the chicken breasts into smaller pieces if required. Season with salt and pepper (if using). Add a tablespoon of olive oil to your skillet and fry the chicken each side until light golden brown (you may need to do this in two batches if your skillet is on the smaller size). About 10-12 minutes overall depending upon the size of the fillets. Set aside on a plate.
    • Reduce the heat to low and, in the same skillet, fry the onion and fennel in olive oil until softened, about 5 minutes.
    • Add the garlic, blueberries, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper. Bring to a light simmer, and cook for around 10 minutes until the blueberries have broken down into around half liquid.
    • Add your chicken to an ovenproof dish and then spoon the blueberry sauce over it. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the chicken has an internal temperature of 165F.

    Notes

    • Cut the chicken breasts into smaller fillets if required.
    • Heat the blueberry mixture until the berries break down and are around half dissolved into liquid. If needed, you can press on them with the back of a wooden spoon to help them along. Be careful though, they may spatter!
    • Check the chicken has an internal temperature of 165F at its thickest point to ensure it is thoroughly cooked through.
     
    Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance (SIGHI) food compatibility list for histamine
    All ingredients score 0 on the SIGHI list, with the exception of:
    • apple cider vinegar, which scores 1.
    • garlic, which scores 1.
    • black pepper, which scores 2.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Hi, I’m Claire. After a diagnosis of MCAS I began to follow a low histamine diet, which has helped me manage my symptoms. Here I hope to show that a restrictive diet can still be full of flavourful meals, and help you enjoy being creative in the kitchen.

    More about me →

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    As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Please see my disclaimer. I am not a doctor or healthcare professional. All posts are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice in any way.

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