Easy Apricot Chicken

Easy Apricot Chicken 

Easy apricot chicken is my newest favorite recipe! This one has a new place in my normal meal rotation, as my husband says I absolutely have to make it again. 

What I love about this recipe is it is so easy to make. It doesn’t dirty up a ton of pans or dishes to make, and just requires a simple basting half way through the cooking. This frees up time to focus on the side dishes that you’re making with dinner. 

I originally developed this recipe while visiting my in-laws last week. Which might not be the smartest place to experiment with new recipes for some people. Luckily mine are great sports about this and let me have free reign of their kitchen. It was totally worth it, because this recipe came out perfectly and everyone loved it! 

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Have you tried this easy apricot chicken recipe yet? Come on in and let me tell you about it! 

Easy Apricot Chicken Ingredients 

Chicken breast, 4-5 you can use chicken thighs if you want to, just keep in mind the cooking time will need to be adjusted. 

Apricot Jam, 1 12 ounce jar you can also use peach jam for this as a substitution or variation. 

Soy Sauce, 2 tablespoons 

Honey, 1 tablespoon 

Dijon Mustard, 1 tablespoon 

Apple Cider Vinegar, 1 tablespoon 

Garlic paste, 1 teaspoon 

Ground Ginger, 1 teaspoon 

Red Pepper Flakes, ⅛ teaspoon 

Parsley, fresh, optional for garnish 

Easy Apricot Chicken Directions 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Trim off any excess fat, bones, or skin from the chicken.

In a mixing bowl make the sauce. This would be the jam, soy sauce, honey, mustard, apple cider vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Whisk it all together until it is well-combined and has a thick sauce-like texture to it. 

Pour the sauce over the chicken and mix it around in a baking dish until each piece of chicken is well coated with the sauce. 

Bake the chicken for 30 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees measured by a meat thermometer. You’ll want to baste the chicken with the sauce once or twice throughout the cooking process. I did it every ten minutes when I made this, and it came out perfectly. Just use a large spoon, it doesn’t need anything special. 

Once the chicken is cooked, baste one more time, and then switch the oven setting to broil. It only takes a few minutes, but this is what creates the beautiful golden brown crust on the top of the chicken. You’ll want to watch it to make sure it doesn’t burn at this point, and not overcook the chicken either. 

Let the chicken rest for at least 5-10 minutes, garnish if desired, and serve. 

Recipe Notes 

You can use chicken thighs if you prefer, just be sure to adjust the cooking time to account for it being dark meat and having bones in it. 

Once the chicken is done and being served, I like to put the remaining sauce in a serving dish so everyone can add more to their chicken as desired. 

I served this recipe with mashed potatoes, parmesan roasted asparagus, and apple cranberry coleslaw when I made it for my husband and in-laws. One of the main comments was that it was a filling yet light meal for everyone to enjoy. 

Why I Love This Recipe 

One of my favorite aspects of this dish is how simple it is. Just mix up the sauce, coat the chicken, and throw it in the oven. That’s it besides basting periodically. This frees up time to work on the rest of dinner as the chicken is cooking, and gives me such a simple meal. 

When I first decided to make this recipe, my husband and I were debating what to make when we went to see his parents. My last meal I made took two hours and dirtied up half their kitchen. So this time I wanted to make something much more simple, and the goal was 30 minutes and just a couple of pans. 

This is an excellent meal for a busy weeknight when things are already hectic and you need a simple yet filling meal for the family. I don’t know about anyone else, but simple is something I’ve come to appreciate more and more as I get older. But simple doesn’t need to equal bland and boring. I want full flavor in a short time frame, and this recipe delivers exactly that! 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I’ve enjoyed making it and sharing it with you! 

Discussion 

Have you tried this easy apricot chicken recipe yet? Did you make any substitutions? Are you a fan of it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

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