Description
Apricot chicken brings sweet and savory flavors together in a simple weeknight dinner your family will adore. Tender chicken thighs braised with tangy apricot preserves create a delicious meal that comes together faster than you can order takeout.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 chicken thighs
Main Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 cup apricot preserves
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 green onions
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cooked rice or quinoa
Instructions
- Mix 1 cup apricot preserves, ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon minced ginger, and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes in a medium bowl.
- Whisk marinade ingredients until smooth and slightly thick. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Place 4 chicken thighs in a large resealable bag and pour marinade over them, ensuring complete coverage.
- Refrigerate chicken for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight for deeper flavor.
- Remove chicken from refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking to reach room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 375°F and heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat.
- Carefully place marinated chicken thighs skin-side down in hot skillet. Sear for 5-7 minutes until golden brown.
- Flip chicken and sear other side for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove chicken from skillet and pour remaining marinade into pan, scraping browned bits from bottom.
- Simmer marinade for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Return chicken to skillet skin-side up and coat with sauce.
- Transfer skillet to preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Baste chicken with sauce halfway through cooking time.
- Optional: Broil for 2-3 minutes for extra crispy skin.
- Remove skillet from oven and let chicken rest for 5 minutes.
- Place chicken on serving dish and drizzle with remaining sauce.
- Garnish with 1 tablespoon sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
- Serve immediately with rice or quinoa.
Notes
- Don’t rush the marinating process, as letting the chicken sit in the apricot sauce for longer develops deeper, richer flavors.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to maintain the same savory profile.
- When searing chicken, ensure your skillet is hot enough to create a crispy golden skin without burning the marinade.
- If your family prefers less heat, skip the red pepper flakes or reduce them significantly to create a milder dish that everyone can enjoy.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 408 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 1095 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg