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If you’re looking for a dinner that’s easy, crowd-pleasing, and full of flavor, this Apricot Chicken is it. It comes together in minutes with just a few simple ingredients, but tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. Whether you bake it, grill it, or toss it in the slow cooker, this sweet and savory chicken is always a hit. Just ask our mom, who’s made it for everything from church parties to wedding receptions!
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This is simple and easy to make top-of-the-line gourmet dish in my opinion!! my new favorite dish!! It’s delicious!! I would give it more stars if I could!! The whole family loves it!!” – Bonnie
“This recipe is amazing!! I have made it numerous times- with and without minor modifications. Shared recipe with friends and family and all have raved about it! Try it- you will love it!” – Diane
“This recipe is just too perfect! SO simple and just DELICIOUS! We have it all the time and just can’t get enough!” – Jennifer
The Potluck Hero
This Apricot Chicken has earned legendary status in our family. Anytime Mom’s asked to bring a main dish to a potluck, this is the one she makes! It’s incredibly easy to throw together, scales perfectly for a crowd, and always gets rave reviews. She’s served it at church Christmas parties, Relief Society dinners, even wedding receptions! And it’s not just for special occasions. This sweet and savory dish is a weeknight lifesaver too. With just a few simple ingredients and hardly any effort, it looks beautiful and tastes amazing. What’s not to love!? Pair this chicken with some Oven Roasted Green Beans or a fresh salad, and some Wild Rice, and you’ve got yourself a gourmet meal worthy of any occasion!
🩷 Erica
Table of Contents
- 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The Potluck Hero
- Key Ingredients to Make Apricot Chicken
- How to Make Apricot Chicken
- Step by Step Instructions
- More Cooking Methods
- Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken
- Instant Pot Apricot Chicken
- Grilled Apricot Chicken
- Try it Bite-Sized
- Getting a Thicker Sauce
- What to Serve with Apricot Chicken
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Additional Tips and Tricks
- More Easy Chicken Recipes
- Easy Apricot Chicken Recipe
Key Ingredients to Make Apricot Chicken
Chicken breasts – I prefer using chicken breasts, but chicken thighs work great too. Just be sure to use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken is properly cooked through (165 degrees F).
Catalina dressing – It doesn’t matter what brand. Russian Dressing also works.
Apricot preserves – You can also use apricot jam.
How to Make Apricot Chicken
Ok seriously you won’t believe how easy this is to make. This is the cooking method I use the most because the prep-work literally only takes a couple minutes.
Step by Step Instructions
- Combine the sauce ingredients. Stir the apricot, dressing, dijon, and soup mix together in a bowl.
- Place the chicken in a greased baking dish. For even easier clean up, line the baking dish with foil and then spray with cooking spray. Make sure to not overcrowd the chicken so it can cook evenly.
- Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes and serve!
More Cooking Methods
I have made this Apricot Chicken recipe FOUR different ways, all with great success. That’s really what I love most about this recipe. You can prepare it pretty much any way you’d like depending on how much time you have or how you are wanting to serve it! You can have your chicken in about 25 minutes in the Instant Pot, or you can have it be cooking for hours in a CrockPot. Want to make it more summer-y? Use the sauce as a glaze and cook it on the grill! I will go into each cooking method in a little more detail so you can decide which method works best for you. No matter how you make this recipe, it is going to be delicious!
Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken
I like this method when I want to shred the chicken and put it over rice. The chicken comes out of the Crock Pot nice and tender and shreds easily. I also like this method for when I want to get dinner prepped earlier in the day. I love coming home and having dinner DONE.
Instant Pot Apricot Chicken
This method is great when you are in a pinch and need dinner done, like now. I have gotten the burn notice before when I haven’t put the water at the bottom of the Instant Pot first. Adding water to the bottom seems to fix this problem. You can serve the chicken shredded or as whole pieces.
Grilled Apricot Chicken
This one of my favorite ways of preparing the chicken in the summertime. The apricot mixture makes for an excellent glaze. Just combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer until it thickens. Then brush it onto the chicken ask it is being grilled. We have also tried it over kabobs and it really brings out the flavor of the vegetables. Try it with peppers, onions, pineapple, and, of course, apricots! You won’t regret it.
Try it Bite-Sized
Since my kids are still pretty little and like to have their chicken cut into pieces, sometimes I will cut up the chicken into bite-sized pieces before baking. This will also cut down on the cooking time if you are in a hurry. Prepare it in the baking dish the exact same way as in the recipe. Just place the chicken pieces in a greased baking dish and pour the sauce over the top. Check the chicken at around 20 minutes for doneness. Serve it over rice as you would your favorite Asian-inspired chicken recipes, like sweet and sour chicken. My kids are more willing to eat it this way because they feel like they are eating Chinese take-out.
Getting a Thicker Sauce
If you want a thicker glaze/sauce to serve with your chicken, there are a couple ways this can be accomplished. You can remove the chicken from the sauce, cover, and set aside. Take the leftover sauce and put it in a saucepan and simmer until it is reduced to your liking. My favorite way (and the faster way) is to combine a couple tablespoons of cornstarch with about ¼ cup water to create a slurry. Bring the sauce to a simmer on the stovetop and add the cornstarch mixture a little at a time, whisking constantly, until the sauce thickens to your liking.
What to Serve with Apricot Chicken
Apricot chicken can be served with all kinds of side dishes. We usually serve it with white or brown rice (we love spooning the extra apricot sauce over it). You can also serve it with quinoa, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, or even just serve with with some steamed or grilled vegetables. Here’s some more great ideas to serve with apricot chicken:
Read Next: 25+ Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas
Frequently Asked Questions
It easily can be! Onion soup mix and Catalina dressing are the only ingredients in this recipe that can contain gluten. Both of these ingredients are available gluten free. Check the labels at the store.
Absolutely! Place the raw chicken in a freezer bag with the apricot mixture. Carefully press the air out of the bag so it will lie flat. Seal the bag. Using your hands on the outside of the sealed bag, shake or squeeze the contents of the bag to distribute the sauce evenly. Freeze for up to six months. When you are ready to use it, place the bag in the refrigerator for 24 hours, or until chicken is thawed. Prepare according to recipe.
Add a splash of water or broth before reheating in the microwave or oven. Cover loosely to trap moisture. A pinch of salt also helps revive flavor after microwaving.
Add red pepper flakes, a dash of hot sauce, or a bit of sriracha for heat. For more savory depth, toss in a splash of soy sauce or Worcestershire.
Additional Tips and Tricks
- Brown the Chicken: For extra flavor, sear the chicken in a hot skillet with a bit of oil until it’s nicely browned on both sides. This extra step adds depth to the final dish.
- Use Fresh or Quality Apricot Preserves: Opt for good quality apricot preserves or jam for a rich apricot flavor. You can also use fresh ripe apricots if they are in season.
- Garnish Creatively: Garnish the dish with chopped fresh herbs or toasted nuts, like almonds or pistachios, for added texture and visual appeal. I love the added crunch and it just takes the dish to the next level.
- Let It Rest: Allow the cooked chicken to rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps the juices redistribute throughout the meat.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
Did you try this Apricot Chicken? I’d love to hear what you think! What method did you use to cook the chicken? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out. If you made any tasty twists or served it with your favorite sides, share those too! And if you enjoyed it, don’t forget to leave a star rating. 🍑🍗
Easy Apricot Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 1 cup apricot preserves
- 1 cup Catalina salad dressing (or Russian dressing)
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 ounces dried onion soup mix
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine apricot preserves, Catalina dressing, onion soup mix, and Dijon mustard. Mix well.
Baked Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375℉. Place chicken in a greased 9×13 baking dish. Pour apricot mixture evenly over chicken and bake 40-45 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Place chicken in slow cooker. Pour apricot mixture over chicken and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low heat for 4-6 hours. Serve as whole pieces or shred.
Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot) Instructions:
- Put ⅓ cup water in the Instant Pot. Place chicken in the water and then pour the apricot mixture over the top. Place lid (make sure release tab is set to "sealing") and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes and allow to natural release for additional 5 minutes.
Grilled Instructions:
- Place chicken in a large sealing freezer bag. Place half of the apricot mixture in a bowl and set aside. Pour the rest of the apricot mixture in the bag with the chicken and place in refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Remove chicken from bag and discard marinade.Grill chicken over medium-high heat for about 5-6 minutes on each side or until chicken is completely cooked through (internal temp of 165℉), brushing with remaining apricot mixture while grilling.
My mother made this when I was a kid! Oh the nostalgia! I’ve made it a few ways, but the best has been using bone-in, skin-on breasts. It’s juicier and the sauce tastes better for some reason.
Nostalgic recipes are the best, so many memories attached.
Do you use all the ingredients? I don’t see where the ingredients are measured.
Right, and yes you don’t need to measure, just dump it straight in from the containers. 🙂
Can you use low sugar apricot preserves? No sugar apricot preserves? We have family members who can’t have too much sugar. Thanks!
I think that would be fine!
Does searing the chicken before baking it change the oven cook time?
I would imagine so – you probably wouldn’t have to cook it as long if you sear it first.
I have made variations of this for years. This is now my go to recipe with one minor suggestion. I have a grill pan with ridges and I get grill marks on the chicken before I bake it.
Oh I bet that is delicious!
absolutely delicious!
I have made this recipe for years now. I lost it when my last computer crashed. I’m excited to have it again.