Why You’ll Love This Apricot Chicken Recipe 💛
✅ Quick & Easy – Minimal prep, one pan, and simple steps!
✅ Budget-Friendly – Uses affordable pantry staples!
✅ Kid-Friendly – Sweet and mild, perfect for little taste buds.
✅ Perfect for Meal Prep – Tastes even better the next day!
✅ Rich & Creamy – That apricot-infused sauce is next-level.
This is the kind of no-fuss recipe that brings everyone to the table—seconds guaranteed! Let’s get into what makes this Apricot Chicken so special.
Watch me cook up apricot chicken—sweet, sticky, and full of retro vibes!
The Secret to the Best Apricot Chicken 🧡
The magic of this dish comes from a combination of simple but bold flavours:
🍑 Apricot halves & juice – The natural sweetness from canned apricots adds a beautiful depth of flavour.
🧅 French onion soup mix – A flavour bomb that balances out the sweetness with a savoury hit.
🍗 Chicken thighs – Tender, juicy, and perfect for soaking up that delicious sauce.
🥄 Thickened cream – Gives the dish its rich, silky texture.
🌿 Fresh thyme & garlic – Optional, but adds extra warmth and earthiness.
By letting these ingredients simmer together, you get a glossy, flavour-packed sauce that clings to every bite of tender chicken.
Best Ingredients to Use for Apricot Chicken 🛒
To make sure your Apricot Chicken is packed with the best flavour, here’s what I recommend:
✔️ Chicken Thighs – They stay moist and tender, but if you prefer leaner meat, you can swap for chicken breast.
✔️ Canned Apricot Halves in Juice – The juice is key to that sticky, sweet sauce! Avoid apricots in syrup as it can be too sweet.
✔️ French Onion Soup Mix – ALDI’s version works perfectly, but any brand will do.
✔️ Thickened Cream – Adds richness and balances the acidity of the apricots.
✔️ Butter & Olive Oil – For perfectly golden, juicy chicken.
If you want to boost the flavour, add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or a teaspoon of Dijon mustard—it takes the sauce to another level!
Tips & Tricks for the Perfect Apricot Chicken 🍽️
🔥 Brown the Chicken First – Searing the chicken locks in flavour and adds a delicious golden crust.
🍑 Don’t Skip the Apricot Juice – It helps create that rich, sticky sauce.
🧄 Use Fresh Garlic & Herbs – While optional, they add an extra depth of flavour.
⏳ Let It Simmer – The longer it cooks, the better the flavours meld together.
🍚 Pair It with the Right Side – Basmati rice or creamy mashed potatoes are perfect for soaking up the sauce.
This Apricot Chicken is all about balance—sweetness from the apricots, savoury notes from the French onion soup mix, and creaminess from the thickened cream. Trust me, you’ll want to lick the plate clean!
What to Serve with Apricot Chicken 🍷🍚
To make this Apricot Chicken a total showstopper, pair it with:
🥔 Creamy Mashed Potatoes – The sauce and mash combo? A dream!
🍚 Basmati or Jasmine Rice – Fluffy rice soaks up all that delicious sauce.
🥦 Steamed Greens – Broccoli, beans, or asparagus for a fresh contrast.
🥖 Crusty Bread – Perfect for mopping up every last bit of sauce!
For drinks, a light white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a fruity Riesling pairs beautifully with the sweet apricot notes. If you prefer non-alcoholic, a sparkling apple juice is a lovely match!
Storage & Reheating Tips 🥡
If you’ve got leftovers (lucky you!), here’s how to store and reheat them:
🧊 Fridge – Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
❄️ Freezer – Freeze for up to 3 months. Just defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.
🔥 Reheating – Warm it on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of cream or water to loosen the sauce.
This dish tastes even better the next day as the flavours develop overnight—perfect for meal prep!
More Food Recipes to Try 🍲
If you love this Apricot Chicken, you’ll also enjoy:
- Pesto Cannelloni – A Comforting Italian Delight!
- Pumpkin Rigatoni with Capsicum and Fetta: A Comforting Pasta You’ll Love!
- Speck Linguini – The Ultimate Creamy & Smoky Pasta Recipe!
- Black Bean Nacho Soup: The Perfect Comfort Food with a Mexican Twist
- Creamy Tuscan Salmon – The Ultimate Weeknight Indulgence
Final Thoughts – Are You Trying This Apricot Chicken Tonight? 🍗
I hope this Apricot Chicken becomes a staple in your home like it is in mine! It’s easy, flavourful, and perfect for busy nights when you need something comforting but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram @steph_cooks_stuff and show me your plate! 📸✨
Now, who’s ready to dig in? 😍🍽️
Apricot Chicken
- Total Time: 35
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
🍑 Apricot Chicken – A Family Favorite! 🍗✨
Looking for a hearty, delicious meal that’s easy to whip up? This Apricot Chicken is the ultimate comfort food—sweet, savory, and oh-so-creamy! With tender chicken thighs, a rich apricot-infused sauce, and a side of fragrant basmati rice, this dish is bound to become a household favorite. Bonus? It’s made with simple, affordable ingredients from ALDI!
The secret to that irresistible flavor? A touch of French onion soup mix blended with sweet apricot halves and rich cream, creating a silky, flavor-packed sauce. Serve it over fluffy basmati rice and watch it disappear from plates in no time! 🍽️
Perfect for a cozy family dinner or meal prepping for the week—this dish is proof that comfort food doesn’t have to be complicated! Will you be trying it tonight? Let me know! 💛
Ingredients
- 1.5kg Willerton Chicken Yhighs
- Cup of plain Flour for coating Chicken
- Stone Mill Salt & Pepper
- 1 small Brown Onion – sliced
- 2 Carrots – roughly chopped into, skin on
- 2 large white Potatoes, roughly chopped into small cubes, skin on
- 2 teaspoons Stone Mill Finely crushed Garlic
- 1 x 400ml Sweet Valley tinned Apricot halves
- 200ml Farmdale thickened Cream
- 1 Satchet Simplee French Onion Soup mix
- 2 sachets of Imperial Grain Basmati Fragrant White Rice
- 1 tbsp The Olive Tree Olive Oil
- Stone Mill Salt to taste
Instructions
- Season the flour with Salt and Pepper.
- Coat the Chicken Thighs in the Flour.
- Heat a heavy based pan with a dash of Olive Oil.
- Brown whole Chicken pieces slightly on each side.
- Add the Onion, Carrots, and Potato and cook for a few minutes, the add in the Garlic
- Sprinkle in the French Onion Soup sachet over the veg and mix through. Add Apricot halves and Cream. Then add back in the Chicken pieces.
- Whilst this is cooking, heat Rice according to packet instructions
- Cook for 15 minutes until sauce has reduced and thickened, the Chicken is cooked through, and the Carrots and Potato are soft when you poke with a knife.
- Serve with the Rice
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Recipes
- Method: Simmered chicken in a creamy apricot sauce.
- Cuisine: Australian
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Just brown the chicken first, then add everything to the slow cooker and cook on low for 4–5 hours or high for 2–3 hours. Stir in the cream at the end.
Absolutely! Swap the thickened cream for coconut cream or a dairy-free alternative. It’ll still be deliciously creamy!
Yes, but you’ll need to add extra liquid (chicken stock or water) to compensate for the missing juice.