Roasted Apricot Chicken

Make this tasty roasted apricot chicken that’s just perfect for a family dinner. Easy steps and flavorful results await when you choose to make this fruity dish.

If you like this apricot chicken recipe, also try za’atar crusted chicken with farro, roasted chicken, French onion chicken, or a one-pot chicken stew.

Why You’ll Love It

Really flavorful: Apricot pieces and apricot preserves add lots of appeal to the flavor profile of this dish, as do the spices. This is a really tasty recipe.
Straightforward to make: There’s nothing difficult about this absolutely delicious dinner recipe. It’s quite simple to prepare.
Makes a tasty change: If you’re tired of the chicken dishes on your regular meal rotation, this easy apricot chicken makes a welcome change.
Gluten-free and dairy-free: There’s no gluten or dairy in here!
Easy to tweak: Prefer peach preserves or orange marmalade? Want to spice it up or add fresh herbs? You can get creative with this recipe.

Baked Apricot Chicken Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Chicken thighs: Choose skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs for max flavor. You can use skinless chicken thighs if you prefer or boneless skinless chicken.
Dried apricots: You will soak these to plump them back up.
Chicken broth: For soaking the apricots.
Spices: Ground paprika, cinnamon and cumin add aromatic flavors to the dish.
Apricot preserves: For fruitiness and sweetness.
Aromatics: Garlic and onion add savory notes.

How to Make Apricot Chicken Thighs

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Soak the dried apricots: Soak them in warmed chicken broth in a small bowl.
Sear the chicken thighs: Pat the chicken thighs dry and season with paprika, salt and pepper. Sear in olive oil in a cast iron skillet and then remove to a plate.
Make the sauce: Turn down the heat a little and add the onion to the same skillet. Cook for a few minutes and then add garlic, cinnamon and cumin and cook a little more. Add some apricot-soaking broth and scrape up any stuck-on bits from the skillet. Add the remaining broth and the apricots, as well as the apricot preserves.
Bake the chicken in the sauce: Add the chicken thighs back into the skillet and then bake uncovered the oven for 15 minutes. Spoon the apricot sauce over the tops of the chicken thighs and roast some more. Serve warm with lemon wedges or lemon juice, parsley and/or toasted almonds if liked.

Substitutions and Variations

Spice it up: Add red pepper flakes or swap the black pepper for cayenne pepper.
Another fruit: Try another fruit in place of the apricots, perhaps peach or pineapple.
Olive oil: Use your preferred cooking oil.
Slow cooker version: After searing the chicken and making the sauce, instead of putting the skillet in the oven, transfer the contents into a slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or until the chicken is tender.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers: Serve teriyaki steak bites or antipasto farro salad.
Side dishes: You can serve apricot chicken with crusty bread, a baked potato, couscous, white rice or brown rice, perhaps adding a lemon parmesan salad on the side.  
Desserts: Enjoy million dollar pie for dessert, or perhaps you’d prefer Texas trash pie.

How to Store Apricot Chicken

Store: Keep leftover apricot glazed roast chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 or 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm it back up in a pan on the stove, in the oven or in the microwave.