Sticky, gooey, and sweet apricot chicken loaded with flavor from a simple combination of seasonings mixed with apricot preserves. This chicken is simple to prepare, making it a wonderful choice for a weeknight or any type of meal.
This is a meal introduced to me by my Dad when he took over most of the cooking during my childhood. Honestly, when I saw it, I cringed. What the heck are apricots and why is it all over the chicken. Just eat it, he would say. So I did. And I loved it.
Of course, his recipe was from a packet mixed with apricot preserves and whatever. Me being me, I had to replicate it because I don’t want all that stuff in the packet in my food. So, here is my version and I have to say, it’s freaking delicious.
Check out the ingredients on those packets and see what you think. Now check out what you'll need to make a homemade version - kosher salt, dehydrated onion (a must for your pantry), granulated garlic, and crushed red pepper. Mix it with Dijon mustard, soy sauce, and apricot preserves. BAM!
It only takes minutes to prepare too. Mix the sauce ingredients in a bowl, coat the chicken, place it in the baking dish and bake. How easy is that?
TOOLS YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE APRICOT CHICKEN:
Since this is a sticky gooey sauce, I lightly coat the baking dish with a little oil. I’ve found that doing this makes cleaning the pan easier. Actually, I make someone else wash the dish so really it’s not a big deal for me! But it does make it easier.
Serve this with rice or potatoes and a salad or vegetables and you’ve got a great meal.
LIKE CHICKEN? THEN YOU SHOULD TRY:
Broiled mustard garlic chicken breasts
Addictive sticky teriyaki chicken wings
Grilled rosemary spatchcock chicken
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee-Rubbed Chicken Thighs
Life is too short for mediocre food.
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Apricot Chicken
PRINT PIN SAVEIngredients
- 8 skin on, bone-in chicken thighs excess skin from underside removed
Apricot sauce:
- ¼ cup soy sauce* low sodium
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 cup apricot preserves
- 1 tablespoon dehydrated onion
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven 425°
- Lightly oil a 9x13 baking dish. Optional, but this makes cleanup a little easier.
- In a large bowl, combine the apricot sauce ingredients.
- Add the chicken thighs into the bowl and coat with sauce. Reserve leftover sauce.
- Place the thighs skin side down into the baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.
- Flip thighs over and spoon leftover sauce over the top of the thighs and bake for another 25 - 30 minutes. I like mine dark and a little charred on top so I go the full 30 minutes.
Notes
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Laura
Could you use orange marmalade in place of apricot preserves??
Natalie
I haven't tried using orange but I bet it would work just fine. Let me know how it comes out. 🙂
Betty H
This was SO good! Does it freeze well?
Natalie
I've never frozen it. There's never any leftovers. 🙂
Crystal
Hi, could you grill this chicken?
Natalie
I've never grilled it and feel it may burn and stick to the grill. If you try it, I would set it over indirect heat. Let me know how it comes out.
Shirley
Love this sauce. I scored chicken breast and put sauce on them. Delicious! Thank you.
Natalie
You're very welcome. Thank you for commenting!