Apricot Chicken Recipe

Apricot Chicken is a quick dinner you can prepare in just 10 minutes.  Tender and juicy with a yummy mixture of mustard and apricot jam, this meal is easy and makes for a perfect weeknight dinner.

Searching for tender healthy chicken breasts that take no time at all?  Look no further. I have a fabulous Ten-Minute recipe that took so little time to prepare that it wasn’t worth timing.  

No complicated recipe, no chopping, just mix the sauce add chicken and bake.  I have to say, I’m surprised I even liked this recipe. While I love apricots, I really am not a fan of mustard and use it in small doses.  I used a Grey Poupon Country Dijon which is a whole grain mustard that is not too robust and has some texture to it for the sauce.

What is the difference between mustards:

Not quite sure which mustard to use?  It all depends on your taste, but here is a quick guideline. 

• A Dijon will have a medium spicy taste and is great for salad dressings.
• A spicy brown mustard will pack a bit more punch and works well on a pastrami sandwich where it can stand up to the meat. 
• For a mild flavor, go with the traditional yellow mustard.
• Try a whole grain for something in between.

To learn more, check out this great guide on mustards from Serious Eats.

Why you’ll love chicken with apricots

• This recipe has just 4 ingredients that turn plain chicken into a juicy, flavorful meal.
• the chicken is baked for a healthier meal.
• This can be served with a simple salad, over a bed of rice.
• It makes great leftovers, so throw in a couple of extra pieces of chicken.

What you’ll need

• Whole grain dijon mustard – adds a distinct flavor but won’t overpower the glaze
• Apricot jam – select a brand with chunks of fruit and low in sugar for more apricot flavor
• Chicken breasts- you can marinate these in buttermilk for super tender chicken. You can also use thighs, you may have to adjust the cooking time.
• Fresh thyme – this adds a great punch of flavor, if you don’t have fresh, sprinkle just a little bit over the chicken.
• Pantry staples – olive oil, salt and pepper

How to choose a jam for your glaze

You can adjust the recipe based on the amount of chicken you have, just use an equal amount of jam and mustard.  I used a good quality jam with large chunks of apricots, like St. Dalfour Apricot Conserves. It is equally good with Peach Vanilla Jam or Bonne Maman Peach Preserves.  What I like about all three of these jams is that they are mostly fruit and low in sugar which is what I recommend for whatever type you select.

How do you make this apricot chicken recipe?

Step 1: Preheat oven to 425º. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.

Step 2: Whisk together the mustard and jam in a large bowl. Add chicken pieces and stir to coat the chicken. Add salt and pepper.

Step 3: Place chicken mixture into prepared pan and drizzle with olive oil. Scatter thyme sprigs on top. Bake until thermometer reads 160º to 165º, about 12 minutes for thighs and 15 for thicker breasts. Cover with foil and let rest for 5 minutes.

Pro tip: If you have time, you can make the chicken even more tender by marinating it in buttermilk either overnight or at least for 30 minutes. If you don’t have buttermilk, here are three methods to make your own buttermilk depending on what you have in your pantry.

Some chicken breasts are pretty thick so test them at 12 minutes with a meat thermometer. When it reads 160º take them out and cover them with foil for a good 5 minutes.  These are so tender and juicy and the sauce is amazing over rice. If you need to make something quick and still want a healthy meal, you’ll love this recipe. 

Recipe notes for apricot glazed chicken

• If you want to use drumsticks, this is a good glaze for those as well and most kids love a good drumstick!
• These can be grilled for a great flavor if you prefer to baking.
• Add 1 ½ tablespoons of honey for an extra bit of sweetness against the dijon.
• If you prefer spice, a tablespoon of hot sauce mixed in will give this glaze a kick!
• You can easily make this a sheet pan meal by chopping up some bell peppers, asparagus, onions and potatoes, swirl in some onion soup mix to the veggies and spritz with olive oil. Bake them all together!

FAQs and tips

Need some ideas for some other quick chicken dinner meals, give these a try:

Adapted from The Yellow Table