This Apricot Chicken recipe cooks up tender chicken thighs in an easy, flavorful apricot sauce made with five ingredients, most of which you may already have on hand. This delectable chicken recipe is made in one easy skillet. It is a family favorite and I love to serve it with Oven Roasted Garlic and Parmesan Asparagus and Lemon Rice.
Sweet and savory Apricot Chicken is a perfect weeknight recipe! A good chicken recipe is always a treat, but a great chicken recipe is worth its weight in gold. This easy apricot chicken skillet comes together quite quickly and is really such a cinch to prepare that even the novice cook can handle it. This recipe works best with either bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, or legs.
How do you make Apricot Chicken?
First in a large skillet or pan over medium heat cook the chicken thighs on both sides until they are a nice golden brown. Then place them on a plate and remove any excess grease from the skillet except for about one tablespoon.
Over low heat add the garlic and ginger. Cook for about one minute stirring constantly. Now add the apricot preserves, soy sauce, ketchup, and crushed red pepper. Whisk to combine the mixture while simmering over low heat. Season with more kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Add the chicken thighs back to the skillet and spoon the sauce over the chicken. Finally, simmer loosely covered for about 30-40 minutes checking on it frequently to make sure you do not have the heat too high. If the sauce becomes too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of water. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and if desired more crushed red pepper.
Recipe Notes and helpful tips
- This recipe is best with skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs or legs.
- Use a large non-stick skillet for ease in browning the chicken and for cleanup.
- Don’t be afraid to get the chicken skin crispy and golden brown. This may require several minutes and a little bit of snapping, crackling, and popping.
- Once the chicken is browned, cover loosely with aluminum foil as you want the chicken to stay crispy.
- For optimal flavor simmer the sauce with the chicken in it over low heat loosely covered with a piece of aluminum foil. Check on it several times to make sure the heat is not too high and to stir it a little bit.
- If the sauce becomes too thick add 1-2 tablespoons of water.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
More chicken recipes you will love!
Skillet Apricot Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken thighs or chicken breasts bone in skin on
- kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 cup apricot preserves or apricot jam
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 pinches red pepper flakes
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt and fresh ground black pepper. Heat the oil in a skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken thighs until golden brown on both sides. Place on a plate and cover loosely.
- Drain all but 1 tablespoon of oil from the skillet. Turn the heat to low. Add garlic and ginger. Cook for 1 minute; stirring constantly. Add apricot preserves, soy sauce, ketchup, and crushed red pepper. Whisk to combine while simmering over low heat. Add chicken thighs back to the skillet and spoon the sauce over the chicken.
- Cover loosely with aluminum foil and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until tender. Check on the dish frequently; stirring the sauce several times. Sprinkle with green onions and serve promptly.
Notes
- If the sauce becomes too thick add 1-2 tablespoons of water.
- This recipe is best with skin on bone-in chicken thighs or legs.
- Use a large non-stick skillet for ease in browning the chicken and for cleanup.
- Don't be afraid to the get the chicken skin crispy and golden brown. This may require several minutes and a little bit of snapping, crackling and popping.
- Once the chicken is browned cover loosely with aluminum foil as you want the chicken to stay crispy.
- Simmer the sauce with the chicken in it over low heat loosely covered with a piece of aluminum foil. Check on it several times to make sure the heat is not too high and to stir it a little bit.
Nutrition
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Jeannette
Sweet and salty is always such a winning combo. Adding apricot is such a wonderful idea and this recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners!
Gail
Looks like. a very tasty dish and love the apricot flavor. Need to try this!
Beth Pierce
Yes you can! Happy cooking!!
Toni
This has been a favorite at my house! Always a hit!
Valentina
This simple skillet chicken is so easy to make and so GOOD! The perfect weeknight dinner idea!
Matt
This looks amazing! I love apricots. I grew up with two large apricot trees in my backyard, and I love chicken, this is perfect, I can’t wait to try it.
Betsy
This is perfect for Chinese food night! Yum! Sweet, tangy…love this! <3
Katie
This looks like something my family would go crazy for. Can’t wait to try this one!
Bridgett
This is one of our favorite weeknight meals!
LaTrice
The Apricot Chicken Thighs is absolutely delicious. Since I wanted to enjoy this dish for lunch at work, I used boneless skinless chicken thighs. I cut them up into strips, cooked them halfway, prepared the apricot sauce and finished cooking the chicken thighs in the sauce. I served it with Lemon Rice. Despite the change that I had to make, it was very simple to make. ☺️
Beth Pierce
Thanks LaTrice! So glad that you liked it and you were able to adapt it to what you needed.
Jacque
I bet that this chicken has out of this world flavor. I can’t believe that this dinner comes together with minimal ingredients.
Kelly
What a great recipe for busy weeknights! Adding this to my dinner line up, indeed!
Norma
This is absolutely amazing! Everyone at my house loved it!
katerina
Oh my, this chicken looks terrific!! I can’t wait to try it!
Andrea
This Apricot Chicken looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Chrissie
My family eat a ton of chicken. This is a great addition to our chicken dinners rotation!