Kitchen Divas

  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work With Us
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work With Us
  • Subscribe
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Work With Us
    • Subscribe
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Main Courses

    Quick and Easy Apricot Chicken Recipe

    Published: Mar 18, 2023 · Modified: Aug 1, 2023 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. 14 Comments

    Share150
    Pin2.4K
    Post
    Email
    Share
    2.5KShares
    2.5KShares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    You're going to love this Quick and Easy Apricot Chicken recipe! it's basically only two ingredients, ok three when you count the chicken! The perfect chicken dish for any night of the week!  

    Apricot glazed chicken breasts on a plate with cooked green beans.

    I have been making this chicken recipe for years. It involves literally no preparation and minimal clean up which to me means the perfect weeknight dinner recipe!

    I am still in shock at how fabulous this chicken tastes!  It always feels like a chicken dish should be more work than this to have such a tasty result!  Don't you agree?

    This apricot chicken was inspired by these balsamic apricot glazed chicken thighs and goes great with simple air fryer parmesan green beans and some steamed white or brown rice.

    Why You Will Love This Recipe

    • It's simple and quick!
    • Budget-friendly using minimal ingredients.
    • Unique flavor with the combination of apricot jam and onion soup mix makes a great tasting main dish even picky eaters will enjoy.
    • Great for a crowd! This easy chicken recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed more people at once!
    • Perfect for busy weeknights when you don't have much time to prepare dinner but still want something tasty and satisfying!
    • Perfect for entertaining guests since it looks impressive yet takes minimal time and effort on your part!

    Ingredients

    All you need to make this tasty chicken dish are three simple ingredients.

    Ingredients to make apricot chicken on the table ready to cook.
    • Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the quickest option for this recipe.
    • Onion soup mix: This dried spice mixture is usually found on the soup aisle in boxes. If you have any left it's great to use in soups or to make smothered hamburger steaks.
    • Apricot jam: Adds a sweet fruity flavor to the chicken breasts.

    See the recipe card at the end of the post for the exact quantities.

    Substitutions and Variations

    Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this apricot chicken recipe.

    • Chicken Breasts: Swap them out for chicken thighs or pork chops for a quick weeknight dinner variation. You will likely need to adjust the cooking time depending on the meat used and how thick the pieces.
    • Dry Onion Soup Mix: Use any variation of dry onion soup mix such as Golden Onion, Onion Mushroom, Savory Herb and Garlic.
    • Apricot Jam: Use another fruit jam such as apple, fig, strawberry, raspberry, marmalade or peach jam.
    • Spicy: Apricot chicken tastes great with a little bit of heat. Add desired amount of chili pepper flakes, jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the jam mixture for a little bit sweet and spicy flavor.

    How to Make Apricot Glazed Chicken

    Let's get to cooking up this traditional apricot chicken recipe! You're going to love how easy it is to prepare. The full instructions are in the recipe card!

    1. Mix together the soup and apricot jam together in a bowl.
    Apricot jam and onion soup mixed together in a bowl using a metal spoon.
    1. Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in a casserole dish. Pour the apricot jam and soup mixture over the top of the chicken.
    Pouring the jam and soup mixture over the chicken.
    1. Cover the baking dish with tinfoil or lid and bake at 350° for 1 hour or until chicken is cooked.
    Chicken breasts topped with apricot sauce in a baking dish.
    1. Serve up apricot chicken along with your favorite chicken side dishes and the extra juice in the baking dish. Enjoy!
    Cooked apricot glazed chicken in a baking dish.
    A spoon drizzling some of the juices over a piece of chicken on a plate.

    If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy these crispy baked chicken thighs.

    Storage

    Here's how to save leftovers so they don't go to waste.

    • Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to four days.
    • Freezer: Store in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
    • Reheat: Return thawed out chicken and sauce to a baking pan. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F.
    • Make Ahead: Prepare the apricot glaze so you're ready to pour it on top of chicken when you're ready to cook dinner.

    What to Serve with Apricot Chicken

    This chicken goes great with a variety of side dishes like rice, potatoes, or vegetables for a complete meal. Here are some of my favorites:

    • Potatoes: Mashed or roasted sweet potatoes and smoked sweet potatoes.
    • Veggies: Simple vegetables such as steamed or this instant pot asparagus go great!
    • Cooked brown rice or quinoa makes a great base to serve the dish over so they soak up all the juices.

    This delicious meal would pair perfectly with a side dish. To find the best one, check out What to Serve With Chicken Marsala.

    Apricot chicken served on a plate with green beans. One chicken breast is sliced three times.

    Tips

    • Make sure to mix the soup and jam together first before pouring it over the chicken to ensure all pieces are covered.
    • If you have time, marinate your chicken overnight in lemon juice or white wine to add more flavor before cooking with the apricot mixture.
    • Make sure not to overcrowd your chicken pieces when placing them in the casserole dish. Leave space between each piece so they cook evenly and absorb maximum flavor from the apricot mixture.

    FAQ

    How should I prepare the chicken before baking?

    When using boneless, skinless breasts there's really no work. Simply place the boneless, skinless chicken in a single layer in a casserole dish. Then mix the soup and preserves together in a bowl and pour it over the chicken as evenly as possible so all is coated.

    Is there a substitute for dry onion soup mix if I don't have any on hand?

    If you don't have dry onion soup mix on hand, you can use one-third cup minced onions, one teaspoon onion powder, one bouillon cube (chicken or beef), one tablespoon parsley flakes and one teaspoon garlic powder instead.

    Do I need to add any seasonings or spices to the chicken?

    No additional seasonings or spices are needed for the chicken when making this Apricot Chicken dish - the flavors of the dry onion soup mix and apricot jam will provide enough flavor and seasoning.

    Apricot glazed chicken breasts on a plate with cooked green beans.

    I made a video for this chicken recipe. Hopefully you will have a moment to watch it!

    How to Cook Chicken Video

    YouTube video

    More Delicious Chicken Recipes to Try

    I am always looking for new ways to prepare chicken and would love to hear how you modify any of my recipes or if you are willing to share some of your favorites I would be truly grateful!

    Do you like chicken breast? Here some recipes you may also like to try.

    • Maple Garlic Glazed Chicken Breasts
      Maple Garlic Glazed Chicken Breasts
    • Reverse Seared Chicken Breast on a baking sheet.
      How to Reverse Sear Chicken Breast
    • Sweet Dijon Chicken Breasts
      Sweet Dijon Chicken Breasts

    Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

    Apricot glazed chicken breasts on a plate with cooked green beans.

    Quick and Easy Apricot Chicken Recipe

    Karin and Ken
    You're going to love this Quick and Easy Apricot Chicken recipe! it's basically only two ingredients, ok three when you count the chicken! The perfect chicken dish for any night of the week!  
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 505 kcal

    Equipment

    • 9x13 Baking Dish
    • Measuring cups and spoons
    • mixing bowl
    • whisk
    • Rubber spatula
    • Aluminum foil

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 chicken breast, boneless, skinless or 8 chicken thigh, boneless, skinless
    • 1 package dry onion soup mix 2 oz or 56 g
    • 12 ounce apricot jam
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Place chicken breasts or thighs in a single layer in a casserole dish.
    • Mix soup and preserves together in a bowl and pour, as evenly as possible, over chicken.
    • Cover with tinfoil or lid and bake at 350° for 1 hour or until chicken is cooked.

    Notes

      • Make sure to mix the soup and jam together first before pouring it over the chicken to ensure all pieces are covered.
      • If you have time, marinate your chicken overnight in lemon juice or white wine to add more flavor before cooking with the apricot mixture.
      • Make sure not to overcrowd your chicken pieces when placing them in the casserole dish. Leave space between each piece so they cook evenly and absorb maximum flavor from the apricot mixture.
    If you're looking for something to serve with this chicken, check out this awesome list that we've created. You'll find your perfect match there!
    What to Serve With Chicken Marsala will give you many side dish ideas. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 505kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 50gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 1441mgPotassium: 1004mgFiber: 1gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 244IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword apricot chicken, apricot glazed chicken, chicken apricot recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    This post was originally published November 2018. It has been updated with new images and content.

    Share150
    Pin2.4K
    Post
    Email
    Share
    2.5KShares
    2.5KShares

    More Main Courses

    • A piece of tomato basil chicken on a plate with a bite cut off.
      Tomato Basil Chicken
    • Slow cooker baked beans with sausage being served in a bowl with a fork.
      Slow Cooker Baked Beans with Sausage 
    • Turkey club wrap served in two halves.
      Turkey Club Wrap
    • Big mac egg rolls cut in half and stacked on top a pile of others.
      Big Mac Egg Rolls

    Comments

    1. Manda says

      August 15, 2023 at 1:22 pm

      5 stars
      I didn’t know if I would like this but I make some rice and mixed the rice and chicken and added some green beans… it was really good!

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        August 15, 2023 at 2:07 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Such an easy recipe! Thank you for letting me know. All the best. Karin

    2. Kayla says

      April 15, 2023 at 11:17 am

      5 stars
      This is so great. My little one is just starting to eat solids and he loves this. There are simple ingredients and I love that. Thank you so much.

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        August 15, 2023 at 2:09 pm

        I’m so happy to hear that. My grandson loves it too! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much. All the best. Karin

    3. Anonymous says

      September 20, 2021 at 4:02 pm

      5 stars
      My Aunt has been making this dish for the past 20 years and it’s a staple dish in my home for my family now.
      Her recipe calls for the same ingredients you use but she adds in Milani 1890 French dressing.
      It’s delicious!

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        September 21, 2021 at 6:46 pm

        I can't thank you for taking the time to comment. I've been making this recipe for so long! Thank you for the suggestion. I'm going to try it myself! All the best. Karin

    4. Danita says

      August 19, 2020 at 7:45 pm

      5 stars
      This is delicious!! I have tried several apricot chicken recipes and this one is my favorite!!! I will definitely be making it again. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        August 20, 2020 at 7:54 am

        As always you are most welcome! I’m so happy to hear you will be making this recipe again. It’s definitely an old favorite! Thank you for taking the time to let me know! I’m most grateful. Take care and enjoy your day. Karin

    5. P.White says

      March 16, 2019 at 3:34 pm

      My Mom made this with Apricot Preserves,onion soup mix and russian dressing.Sooo good!!!My husbands favorite!!

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        March 17, 2019 at 10:09 pm

        Russian dressing. What a brilliant idea. I’m going to try that myself. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to suggest that. I have been making this recipe for so long that a change would be nice! Thank you and take care. Karin

    6. Sherry says

      November 14, 2018 at 3:34 pm

      5 stars
      Easy weeknight dinner Kids and hubby loved it will definitely make again Thx

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        November 14, 2018 at 4:15 pm

        Glad everyone enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to let me know! You truly made my day! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! All the best. Karin

    7. Karen says

      November 14, 2018 at 3:33 pm

      5 stars
      Can’t believe how simple this recipe is and how delicious it tastes. Family loved it will be making again

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        November 14, 2018 at 4:16 pm

        Happy to hear you all enjoyed it! Can’t thank you enough for taking the time to let me know! You honestly made my day! All the best. Karin

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    Welcome!

    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life, Ken.

    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

    More about us

    Most Popular Recipes!

    • A fork holding pieces steak in crockpot next to mashed potatoes on a white plate, garnished with chopped herbs.
      Ribeye Steak in Crockpot
    • Air Fryer Haddock
    • A slice with a fork in it.
      Easy Hobo Casserole
    • A rack of beef ribs in the oven on a piece of parchment brushed with bbq sauce.
      The Best Beef Ribs Recipe

    Discover More Dinner Recipes ➡️

    Summer Favorites

    • A plate of pancake batter fried fish with sauce on the side garnished with lemon slices.
      Pancake Batter Fried Fish
    • A slice of Oreo delight on a white plate garnished with an Oreo cookie.
      No-Bake Oreo Delight
    • A slice of Funfetti ice cream cake on a blue plate.
      Funfetti Ice Cream Cake for Birthdays & More
    • A crispy fried tomato cut it half stacked on top of one other.
      Crispy Fried Tomatoes

    More Easter Sweet Treats and Side Dishes ➡️

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Us

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Kitchen Divas All Rights Reserved