You'll love making Apricot Chicken Slow Cooker for dinner this summer! Easy to make in a crock pot with fresh apricots and no unpronounceable ingredients. Flavored with Sweet Thai Chili Sauce. Your family will love this summer recipe!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy and Convenient - prepare this ahead of time, throw it all in the crock pot, set and forget!
- Flavorful - the perfect combination of sweet and savory makes this dinner irresistible
- Fresh Apricots - a heartwarming comfort food recipe that's perfect for using fresh apricots, during apricot season
- Authentic - real ingredients, nothing highly processed
What is Apricot Chicken?
It's a popular comfort food recipe with origins from the 1970's, popular in Australia, UK and America. Sautéed onion, garlic and apricots are the base for this Apricot Chicken Slow Cooker recipe. When made from scratch, fresh apricots provide the best flavor!
Ingredients
- boneless chicken thighs
- fresh apricots
- onion and garlic
- sugar
- chicken stock
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Spices - paprika, salt, and pepper
- Thickener - corn starch and water
How to Make Apricot Chicken From Scratch
The secret ingredient that maximizes the flavor is adding Thai Sweet Chili Sauce. A sweet and spicy chili sauce that's made from mostly peppers and garlic. It's the perfect addition for a bit of a spicy kick and works perfectly with this recipe.
- Sear - sear chicken thighs in a bit of oil, and place in slow cooker.
- Sauté - fry onions and garlic, add fresh apricots
- Mix - add sugar, stock, spices and Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
- Pour - cover chicken thighs with sauce in crock pot
- Cook - set crock pot on high for 2½ hours
- Thicken - add a corn starch slurry
How to Thicken the Apricot Sauce
Yes, it's best to thicken this recipe when it's done. When serving Apricot Chicken, place the chicken over the rice, then spoon over the thickened sauce. It looks much more appetizing, especially when garnished with fresh chopped parsley.
- Spoon 1 heaping teaspoon of corn starch with 1 tablespoon of water.
- Mix together into a slurry and add into the crock pot to thicken.
What to Serve with Apricot Chicken
Apricot Chicken is always served alongside or on top of a starch. Use your favorite starches, here are my suggestions;
- white rice
- mashed potatoes
- egg noodles
- quinoa
- brown rice
- buckwheat
- pearl barley
- steamed vegetables and salad
Apricot Chicken Variations
Not everyone has access to fresh apricots, or they might not be in season. Don't worry, you can make this recipe year round with a few changes.
- Apricot Nectar - substitute fresh apricots with apricot nectar (400g can or 14oz)
- Onion Soup Mix - substitute onions and garlic with powdered onion soup mix
- Skip the Sweet Chili - substitute flavor by adding ¼ cup Soy Sauce, ¼ cup Dijon Mustard with a teaspoon of ginger
- Spice it Up - add Curry or Cumin, a teaspoon of dijon mustard and a teaspoon of fresh ginger
- Toasted Almonds - before serving, sprinkle Apricot Chicken with slivered almonds
Recipe Tips and FAQs
- Add Fruit - mix in mango or canned peaches for a flavor twist
- Dried Apricots - add dried apricots if using apricot nectar for more flavor
- Ripe Apricots are Best - if using unripe Apricots, you will need to add a bit more chicken stock and extra sugar. Substitute 2 cans of canned apricots, if you don't have fresh apricots
- Increase Cooking Time - for a longer cooking time, set crock pot to low and increase cooking time to 4 to 6 hours
- Bone-in Chicken - if using chicken drumsticks or bone-in chicken thighs, increase your cooking time to 4-6 hours, as meat with bone takes longer to cook compared to boneless meat
Chicken Breast or Chicken Thighs?
- Chicken Thighs - for tender and juicy chicken, use boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Chicken Breast - popular option, however can feel dried out compared to thighs
- Chicken Drumsticks - an economical option, juicy and flavorful
Can I Use Apricot Preserves?
Yes, instead of fresh apricots, substitute with 1 cup of apricot jam and add ¼ cup of water.
Storage
- Fridge - place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. Enjoy within 3 days
- Freezer - cool and place in a Ziploc bag and freeze up to 3 months. Defrost in fridge before reheating.
Easy Dinner Recipes You'll Love
- Thai Sweet Chili Chicken Drumsticks
- Sheet Pan Gnocchi
- Slow Cooker Ribs
- Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
- One Pot Cheeseburger Gnocchi
- Chicken Stroganoff
- Instant Pot Greek Lamb
Your family will love this easy mid-week slow cooker dinner recipe. Watch them lick their fingers and ask for seconds. Apricot Chicken Slow Cooker is the perfect blend of sweet and savory, a tasty summertime meal. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!
Equipment
- Crock Pot
Ingredients
- 2 lbs (1kg) boneless chicken thighs
- 2 lbs (1kg) fresh apricots without seeds
- 1 large onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- ½ cup sugar add extra ¼ cup if necessary
- ½ cup chicken stock
- ¼ cup Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon corn starch for slurry
Instructions
- Sear the boneless chicken thighs then place inside the slow cooker.
- Caramelise the onions and garlic. Add the ripe fresh apricots into the pot. Cook down together for about 5 minutes over medium heat. Using a wooden spoon, break down the ripe apricots as they cook, until they start to resemble a jam.
- Add the sugar, mix and taste. Add more if necessary.
- Add the chicken stock, paprika, black pepper and Sweet Chili Sauce. Taste and add more Chili Sauce if required.
- Pour over the boneless chicken thighs in the stock pot and cook on high for 2.5 hours.
- To make a thicken slurry, mix the 1 heaped teaspoon of corn start with 1 tablespoon of water. Mix until there is no lumps. Add to the Apricot Chicken sauce to thicken. Mix it in the slow cooker for about 2 minutes to allow to thicken.
- Serve with rice or mashed potatoes.
Notes
©Peter's Food Adventures
