Easy Apricot Chicken Only 5 Ingredients

Whenever our mom is asked to bring a “main dish” to a potluck, she almost always brings this apricot chicken. It is SO EASY to whip up and easy to scale for a crowd. She has made it for church Christmas parties, Relief Society dinners, and even wedding receptions! It is also a great weeknight meal that the whole family loves. It is a sweet and savory dish that looks beautiful but requires few ingredients and very little effort. There’s no reason NOT to love this chicken!

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.

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:

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.