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This Skillet Glazed Apricot Chicken Recipe is made with tender chicken breasts in a delicious apricot glaze. An easy recipe for busy weeknights that the whole family loves!
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This apricot preserves chicken recipe is a quick and easy 30 minute dinner made with your favorite apricot jam and just a few other ingredients.
I know I’ve said this before, but we eat a ton of chicken for dinner. So, I’m always looking for new chicken recipes to make, or more accurately, new ways to disguise chicken so that my family will eat it!
We had a jar of apricot preserve in the fridge, so I just mixed that with a few other ingredients, and the result was a simple but completely delicious chicken dinner.
Note that there is no Russian dressing or Catalina dressing in this recipe.
Try my Instant Pot Apricot Chicken, Instant Pot Cranberry Chicken or Baked Cranberry Chicken for more easy chicken recipes and recipes with salad dressing.
Ingredients for Apricot Glazed Chicken
You only need a few simple ingredients for this easy meal. They should be easy to find in your local grocery store.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts — I use chicken breast halves since they cook faster and more evenly. You can also pound the chicken lightly if needed. Sub chicken thighs if you like.
- Apricot preserves — Just one cup apricot preserves or apricot jam to make the tangy glaze
- Dijon mustard — adds flavor
- Orange juice — thins the glaze and adds a bright citrusy flavor
- Seasonings — sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, dried minced onions
- Olive oil
How to Make Glazed Apricot Chicken
First, pat chicken dry with a paper towel. Next, season chicken with salt and pepper.
Then, add a little olive oil to a large skillet over medium high heat.
Mix the glaze ingredients in a small bowl. You can set the apricot mixture aside while the chicken cooks.
Cook chicken over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown on both sides.
The chicken won’t be completely cooked. It will finish cooking in the apricot sauce.
Next, remove the chicken to a clean plate, and cover with aluminum foil while you cook the sauce.
Then, add the sauce to the pan, and let it simmer on medium heat and thicken up a little.
Add the cooked chicken back to the pan. Spoon the sticky apricot glaze over the chicken as it cooks.
The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. You’ll want to use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.
Cooking Time
The chicken is ready in a little less than 30 minutes, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights.
Just drizzle that amazing apricot sauce over the chicken when you plate it, and dinner is served.
What to Serve with Apricot Preserves Chicken
The beauty of this skillet glazed apricot chicken is that you can serve the chicken over rice, pasta, quinoa or even have it with salad.
I served the chicken over couscous, and we had salad as a side dish. Broccoli or green beans are also great side dish suggestions.
I call this a simple chicken dinner because that’s exactly what it is. It’s not a one dish pasta dinner or a sheet pan dinner with veggies. It’s just chicken by itself.
How to Store Leftovers
Refrigerate leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container. It should keep for up to 4 days. You can freeze the leftover for longer storage, up to 3 months. Reheat chicken in the microwave.
Cooking Tips
Add more orange juice if the sauce reduces too much or if you want more apricot sauce.
Add a teaspoon soy sauce for more umami flavor.
If you can’t find apricot jam or preserves, substitute peach preserves, instead.
Skillet Glazed Apricot Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts or halves
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup apricot jam
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onions
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup orange juice
Instructions
- Season the chicken evenly with sea salt and pepper
- In a small bowl, mix the apricot jam, mustard, garlic powder and minced onions together, and set aside
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet, and cook chicken for 2 to 3 minutes per side on medium high heat
- Remove chicken from skillet, place on a plate, and cover with foil
- Add the orange juice to the pan, and stir well to deglaze and remove any brown bits
- Stir in the apricot jam mixture, and heat until bubbling
- Add the chicken back to the pan, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 degrees, according to meat thermometer. Spoon glaze over chicken while cooking and when serving
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The idea for this apricot chicken came to me when I was trying to come up with a different way to cook chicken. My son wanted me to make his favorite one pan chicken bacon ranch pasta, and my daughter requested chicken with barbecue sauce. This was the compromise.
If you’re looking for a delicious quick and easy dinner, I hope you’ll give this skillet glazed apricot chicken a try.
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Recipe published in 2017 and updated in 2023.
I have made this multiple times and am shocked it only has a few reviews. This is so yummy! Easy enough that my toddler can help make it, and delicious enough that Mr. I-Only-Eat-Mac-And-Cheese asks for seconds! I followed the recipe – except increased the amount of sauce. Just trust me – you’ll want extra. <3
Thanks for the wonderful review, Beth. I’m so glad you like the recipe!
Great week night recipe! Was easy and quick and both the boyfriend and I enjoyed it with couscous and a kale salad. Thank you!
So glad you liked the recipe. Thanks for the wonderful review!
This is awesome! Was looking for anew way to do chicken when I saw this! This will be a new family favorite!
This recipe is fantastic! Easy and delicious. Chicken can get boring but even my picky toddler will eat this! 🙂
Thank you so much! I’m glad you liked it!