Tender and Juicy Apricot Chicken Recipe

Apricot Chicken is a quick dinner you can prepare in just 10 minutes with just four ingredients. This tender and juicy chicken dish is first coated in a mixture of Dijon mustard and apricot jam, then baked so that dinner is on the table in less than 30 minutes.

 

Simple Apricot Dijon Chicken for Dinner in a Hurry

Searching for tender chicken breasts that take no time at all?  Look no further. This is a fabulous Ten-Minute recipe that you can prepare before your oven preheats! Baking time included, the total time is less than 30 minutes.

No complicated recipe, no chopping, just mix the sauce add chicken and bake. While I love apricots, mustard can be a little strong in some dishes. However, in this recipe I used Grey Poupon Country Dijon which is a whole grain mustard that is not too robust and has some texture to it which gives the sauce some texture without overpowering the apricot jam. It’s the perfect balance and tastes amazing.

If you’re using thick chicken breasts, to make sure they are tender and juicy, soak them in buttermilk overnight or for at least 30 minutes. If you’re using chicken tenderloins, a marinade is not really needed, the cooking time will be less so they shouldn’t dry out.

Pro Tip: If you don’t have buttermilk, it’s simple to make your own buttermilk with items you probably have in your pantry.

Chicken recipes are always a favorite in our house. I love crispy thighs with lemon and old fashioned chicken and dumplings, but when you want a recipe that takes no brain power and that you can just throw in the oven, this is the recipe I reach for.

Just because it’s simple doesn’t mean that it’s boring or bland. The sauce is amazing and you can have everything on hand but the chicken in your pantry.

This Will Become a Favorite Weeknight Dinner

• This recipe has just 4 ingredients that turn plain chicken into a juicy, flavorful meal.
• The chicken is baked so no messy pans to clean.
• This can be served over a bed of rice to capture any extra sauce.
• It makes great leftovers, so throw in a couple of extra pieces of chicken.

The Four Ingredients You’ll need

• Whole grain dijon mustard – adds a distinct flavor but won’t overpower the glaze.
• Apricot preserves – select a brand with chunks of fruit and low in sugar for more apricot flavor
• Chicken breasts- If using thick breasts, marinate them in buttermilk for super tender chicken. You can also use chicken thighs, but will need to adjust the cooking time.
• Fresh thyme – this adds a great punch of flavor.
• Pantry staples – olive oil, salt and pepper

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 homemade Peach Vanilla Jam or Bonne Maman Peach Preserves.  What I like about all three of these jams is that they are mostly fruit so they provide more apricot flavor.

Super Simple Steps to Make A Delicious Weeknight Dinner

Step 1: Preheat the oven

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

Step 2: Make the apricot sauce

Whisk together mustard and jam and pour over the chicken pieces in a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Step 3: Bake

Place the chicken breasts onto the prepared pan and drizzle with olive oil. Scatter thyme sprigs on top. Bake until thermometer reads 160º to 165º, about 15 minutes for thick breasts. If thin breast, check them starting at 10 minutes. You don’t want to overcook them. Cover with foil and let rest for 5 minutes.

Try serving these over white or brown rice to capture any extra sauce. If you need to make something quick and still want a delicious meal that everyone will love, add this to your weeknight rotation.

Salads are great to make this a complete meal. You can get all your veggies by making a 7 layer salad the night before or throw together a broccoli salad.

A Few Recipe Notes

• These can be grilled for a great flavor if you prefer to baking, just use this recipe for grilled chicken and substitute the sauce.
• If you prefer spice, a tablespoon of hot sauce mixed in will give this glaze a kick!
• Marinating in buttermilk will always make your chicken more tender and juicy.

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.