Apricot Chicken is a super easy and incredibly delicious dinner your whole family is going to love! Sweet and savory and full of flavor the chicken is tender and juicy.

I love meals that are easy but taste amazing! Make this a complete dinner and serve with Broccoli, Rice or Potatoes.

Apricot Chicken Recipe

A friend made this for all of us last summer. I was a little unsure about it because of the apricot jam in it. But I loved it! It gives the perfect balance of flavor between the apricot jam and Russian salad dressing. Trust me on this flavor combination, it is the best. The sauce has a sweetness but a spicy savoriness to it from the dressing. They combine in the most magical way.

Apricot chicken makes my busy day become stress free. It is one less thing I have to worry about and my family is happy that they get dinner! I love slow cooker set it and forget it dinners. And a miracle happened, my extremely picky eater even ate it. This child does not like anything it seems and he had seconds. If he likes it, you are going to love it!

What You Need For Easy Apricot Chicken

With ingredients that are easy to have on hand, you can throw this together on a busy day and have a delicious dinner ready when you are.

Try This Next Spicy Paprika & Lime Chicken Tenderloins

• Apricot Preserves: You can use a low sugar apricot jam too, this creates that bit of sweet.
• Russian Dressing: Use your favorite brand, I used Wishbone brand.
• Dry Onion Soup Mix: This adds spices and the savory flavor. Make your own mix for incredible results.
• Chicken Thighs: Use bone in chicken thighs, boneless or even chicken breasts.
• Oil: Good quality high smoke vegetable oil such as canola.

How To Make Apricot Chicken in the Crockpot

The only extra step you have is to quickly brown the chicken. Remember this isn’t to cook it, just to give the skin some texture and flavor.

1. Combine: In a medium bowl mix together the preserves, dressing and soup mix.
2. Brown: This is optional but I highly recommend it. Generously salt and pepper the chicken. Place in a skillet that has been heated to medium high that has a good Tablespoon of oil in the bottom. Cook each side for 1-2 minutes or till good and golden.
3. Crockpot:  Place the chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker and pour the mixture over the chicken.
4. Cook: Cook on low for 3-4 hours or till internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

Tips and Variations For the Best Apricot Chicken

The wonderful thing about this chicken recipe is that it is forgiving and can be adjusted to your liking or needs. Slow cooking is just that way.

• Chicken:  Using bone in and skin on chicken thighs will give you the juiciest chicken. You can use chicken breasts or skinless boneless chicken thighs it may not be as moist. Thighs contain the darker part of the chicken and darker meat is naturally juicer. Keeping the bone in and skin on will add even more moisture. Chicken breasts are known for being more dry and over cooking, even in sauce, can cause it to be dry.
• Browning: Similar to searing beef, searing chicken can lock in juice and add immense flavor. It is an extra step that you do not have to do, but I highly recommend it. The chicken is just that much more divine.
• Preserves: If you do not have apricot jam or cannot find it, there are options. You can use pineapple, mango, orange  or peach instead. Also try a mixture of apricot and peach or pineapple for a nice twist in flavor.
• Dressing: There are times when I cannot find Russian dressing. It isn’t very often but it happens. Substituting Catalina or French Dressing will give you the same results.
• Onion Soup Mix: Do not leave this out. It adds the flavor and savory you need in this dish. I also recommend making your own. It is super easy and simple and tastes way better than store bought!
• Extras: To add oomph to your dish try sautéing onions and adding them to the apricot chicken. For more zip throw in fresh grated ginger, a Tablespoon of soy sauce or Dijon mustard.
• Potatoes: For an all in one crock pot meal add baby Yukon or red potatoes with the chicken.
• Different Protein: This slow cooker apricot chicken recipe works really well with pork chops too!

Freezing and Storing Apricot Glazed Chicken

I love dishes that make great leftovers and this chicken recipe make amazing leftovers

• Store: If you do have leftovers place in a tightly sealed container and place in the fridge for 4-5 days. Warm up leftovers in the microwave or the stove top.
• Freeze: Let the chicken cool and place leftovers in a freezer safe bag. Tightly seal. Freeze for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove top.

More Slow Cooker Recipes to Try

Slow cooker or crockpot recipes are favorites that will never go out of style. Slow cooking infuses flavor into your meal and cooks it to tender juicy perfection. Sauces are rich and luscious, spices, herbs and ingredients create remarkable dishes, the whole family will love.

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Spicy Paprika & Lime Chicken Tenderloins

These Spicy Paprika and Lime Grilled Chicken Tenderloins are a great addition to your BBQ repertoire. Take your taste buds to the Caribbean, Mexico or Spain on a little holiday! Can be cooked outdoors or on a stove. Paleo, Whole30, Keto, gluten-free.

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Paprika & Lime Grilled Chicken Tenderloins

Whether you’re heating up the BBQ on a warm summer’s day or you need to give your skillet a bit of a workout, this is a fabulous chicken recipe that I know you will love.

My paprika lime chicken tenderloins are tender and juicy. The spices and citrus used in the marinade will take your taste buds on a little holiday to the Caribbean, Mexico or Spain – your pick!

I used chicken tenderloins because I find the meat more tender than the rest of the chicken breast and it’s easier to work with than the chicken thighs. You can use any chicken meat you like, just adjust the cooking time depending on the size of the pieces. This marinade will also work well with turkey, pork, quail, prawns and even beef.

What Are Chicken Tenderloins?

Still confused about what chicken tenderloins are? They are short, thin cuts taken from beneath the breast of the bird. You might find that some grocers will sell thinner slices of breast meat and call it chicken tenderloins or tender. They tend to be softer than chicken breast when cooked BUT should not be overcooked, they don’t need as long as the chicken breast.  

Nutritionally speaking, they are the same as chicken breast meat – high in protein, minerals, low in calories and fat. 

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Make-Ahead Tip For Paprika Lime Chicken

The chicken tenderloins can be marinated ahead of time for an even more robust flavour; keep uncooked in the fridge for maximum of 3 days and freeze for up to 2 months and simply defrost overnight in the fridge before you want to use it.

 

More Delicious Chicken Recipes:

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Description

Grilled paprika and lime grilled chicken tenderloins are great with any side dish and can be used in salads, tacos, and wraps. Can be cooked outdoors or on a stove.

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1. Mix the marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Rinse the chicken and cut larger pieces in half.
2. Using your hands, rub the chicken with the marinade. Leave in the bowl, wrap with cling wrap and set aside in the fridge for at least one hour before grilling.
3. If using a grill plate or a skillet on your stove, heat one teaspoon of coconut oil until sizzling hot. Fry the chicken pieces for 4 minutes on each side and then remove to a plate to rest. Make sure not to overcrowd the frying pan or you will end up with too much meat juice and stewed rather than grilled chicken.
4. If using a BBQ, heat the plate to sizzling hot and either spray with olive oil or brush with coconut oil. Place chicken pieces on the plate with a little space in between and cook for 4 minutes on each side on medium/high heat with the lid on.
5. Remove cooked chicken to a serving plate and drizzle with lime juice before serving.

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Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2-3 tenderloins
• Calories: 331
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 783.6 mg
• Fat: 16.4 g
• Carbohydrates: 4.4 g
• Fiber: 1.3 g
• Protein: 41.3 g
• Cholesterol: 131.4 mg

Keywords: Tenderloins, Chicken, Paprika, Lime, BBQ, Grilling, Low-Carb, Paleo, Whole30

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