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Whether you’re celebrating your first little Thanksgiving as a family, hosting a small friendsgiving meal, or keeping things low key due to COVID-19, many people are looking for alternatives to cooking up a big turkey this year. And what better replacement than a classic chicken Thanksgiving dinner? 

But like most people, for a holiday, you don’t want just a plain roast chicken! So that’s why I created this delicious recipe to dress up your chicken Thanksgiving dinner with a homemade sangria stuffing. 

Not only do you get to enjoy a scrumptious, boozy holiday sangria, you can incorporate your leftovers into a festive meal too! 

 

Why Opt For A Chicken Thanksgiving Dinner?

There are so many reasons to opt for a chicken Thanksgiving dinner over a traditional turkey or ham- and I’ve personally done it several times over the years so for many different reasons!

It’s Cheaper:

Buying a whole chicken is a much more cost effective route than a whole turkey, especially if you aren’t feeding a crowd!

It Cooks Quicker:

On a time crunch, or just don’t feel like having to keep an eye on a bird all day? Making a chicken Thanksgiving dinner instead of a turkey one will shave hours off of your overall cook time!

A Chicken Thanksgiving Dinner Is Predictable:

More often than not, a chicken will turn out perfect each time! Turkey on the other hand, can easily become overcooked or dried out in several spots, or the whole bird of you’re unlucky. There is also always a chance your turkey could suffer from freezer burn if it has been stored too long or improperly. 

No Defrost Time:

It happens every year. All across America on the morning of Thanksgiving, many families realize they forgot to pull the dang bird out of the freezer! Chicken is typically bought fresh with no defrost time, or if you have a frizen chicken it takes WAY less time to defrost than a turkey. 

You Can Cook Multiple:

Unlike a turkey, you can usually fit multiple chickens in the oven at once! This is really nice if you wanted to have a different flavor options, or you wanted to cook an additional bird to take to someone this holiday season. 

 

Chicken Thanksgiving Dinner With Sangria Stuffing

Ingredients:

Chicken

• 1 whole chicken
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon dried sage
• Salt and pepper

Sangria

• 1 bottle of red wine
• 1 bottle of prosecco
• 2 cups of orange juice
• 2 cups sparkling water
• 1 cup brandy
• 1 cup Mulled simple syrup ( ½ cup white sugar, ½ water, bring to boil with mulled spices, strain)
• 2 diced green apples
• 2 diced pears
• 2 cups cranberries, slightly crushed
• 1 cup sliced oranges
• 3 sliced limes

Stuffing

• Standard cornbread stuffing mix
• Apple and cranberry mix from sangria

Directions:

• The day before, combine all sangria ingredients and chill overnight
• Set oven to 400 degrees
• Place chicken on a sheet pan, smother with butter and herbs
• Cook for approximately an hour and a half or until browned and juices run clear
• Follow package instructions for a standard cornbread stuffing mix, fold in approximately 2 cups of apple and cranberry sangria fruit.
• Serve and enjoy.