Traditional Apricot Chicken Recipe For Weeknight Meals (2024)

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Add this traditional Apricot Chicken Recipe to your weeknight meals recipe collection, serve it with rice and some greens and that's dinner – done! It's such an easy meal to prepare and is usually a winner with everyone in the family.

Traditional Apricot Chicken Recipe For Weeknight Meals (1)
Jump to:
  • Your new family favourite
  • Ingredient Notes
  • How to make Apricot Chicken
  • Storage
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More chicken dinners ideas
  • Apricot Chicken

Your new family favourite

My mum often made Apricot Chicken as I was growing up and I was always pleased to see it baking in the oven. Even just the smell of it as it cooked was satisfying!

It was such a popular dish in the 80's and 90's. It was on many family dinner tables – not just ours!

The recipe I use is very close to my mum's recipe and comes from one of my favourite community cookbooks: the Kurri Kurri King Coal Cookbook from 1979.

Traditional Apricot Chicken Recipe For Weeknight Meals (2)

I have, however, added a couple of extra ingredients to make this a sticky Apricot Chicken dish. I've also tested and re-tested to make sure the recipe works every time. Along with the standard cooking method, I've added instructions for making this apricot chicken in the slow cooker.

So, please keep scrolling for the tested and tweaked recipe.

Oh, and that recipe book I mentioned above has some other fantastic recipes. Check out the Snickerdoodles, Potato Cakes, Scottish Tablet and Texas Sheet Cake recipes.

Ingredient Notes

The ingredients you'll need are:

  • chicken tenderloins (find more recipes for chicken tenderloins in the collection of chicken recipes)
  • apricot nectar (find it in the tinned fruit or long life juice aisle at the supermarket)
  • apricot halves (this is one of my additional ingredients, something my mum added, and makes the dish a little extra lovely – but it is optional)
  • french onion soup mix
  • plain flour (with salt and pepper, to taste)
  • vegetable oil.

You'll find ingredient measurements in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Traditional Apricot Chicken Recipe For Weeknight Meals (3)

How to make Apricot Chicken

You'll need a large baking dish with a lid to make this Apricot Chicken recipe. If your baking dish does not have a lid, don't stress. Simply cover the dish with foil instead.

Prepping

Start by pre-heating your oven to 200 degrees celsius / 390 degrees fahrenheit (fan-forced).

Next, coat the tenderloins in flour (with a little salt and pepper added).

Add the vegetable oil to a frypan and heat. Then, cook the chicken on both sides for 2 minutes before adding to the baking dish.

TIP: You can skip this step, but it is a whole lot better when you take the little extra time required to brown the chicken a little before cooking in the oven.

Adding ingredients

Next, sprinkle the french onion soup mix over the chicken.

Drain the apricot halves and place them in the baking dish.

Now, pour the apricot nectar over all of the ingredients.

I told you this was a super simple apricot chicken recipe!

Baking

Place the lid on the baking dish and bake in the oven, covered, for 50 minutes. Remove the lid or cover and then bake for a further 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and serve.

TIP: If sauce is runny, mix about a couple of teaspoons of cornflour with a little water and add to the baking dish. Stir the mixture through before serving to thicken the apricot sauce for the chicken.

Traditional Apricot Chicken Recipe For Weeknight Meals (4)

Slow Cooking Apricot Chicken

Start by prepping in accordance with the instructions above. Then add all the ingredients to your slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.

Storage

You can store leftovers in an airtight container for up to one day and in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.

Recipe FAQs

Q. Can I use another cut of chicken?

Yes, though you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly. Chicken thighs and drumsticks also work well with this recipe.

Q. The sauce is too runny, what can I do?

Mix the cornflour with a little water and add to the baking dish. Stir this mixture through before serving to thicken the apricot sauce for chicken.

Q. What can I serve with Apricot Chicken?

It goes well with any type of rice and vegetables.

Q. What else can I do with chicken tenderloins?

My whole family loves my Crumbed Chicken Tenders recipe. Check it out!

Traditional Apricot Chicken Recipe For Weeknight Meals (5)

More chicken dinners ideas

Want some more easy and tasty chicken recipes? Start here:

  • Keen's Chicken Curry
  • Marry Me Chicken
  • Roast Butterfly Chicken Recipe
  • Chicken Tenderloins Recipe

Traditional Apricot Chicken Recipe For Weeknight Meals (10)

Apricot Chicken

Libby Hakim

The perfect retro recipe, Apricot Chicken is an easy and delicious meal that the whole family will love.

4.95 from 18 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Course Main Course

Cuisine Australian

Servings 4 people

Calories 549 kcal

Equipment

  • baking dish with lid

  • frypan

Ingredients

  • 600 grams chicken tenderloins
  • 500 ml apricot nectar
  • 410 grams tinned apricot halves
  • 40 grams French onion soup mix
  • ½ cup plain flour
  • salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon cornflour (optional)

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees celsius/ 390 degrees fahrenheit(fan-forced).

  • Coat tenderloins in flour (with a little salt and pepper added).

  • Heat oil in a frypan and cook the tenderloins on both sides for 2 minutes.

  • Place tenderloins in a baking dish. Sprinkle with french onion soup mix.

  • Drain apricot halves and place apricots in baking dish. Pour apricot nectar over all of the ingredients.

  • Place lid on baking dish (or cover with foil).

  • Bake covered for 50 minutes. Remove lid or cover and then bake again for 10 minutes.

  • Remove from oven. If you wish to thicken the sauce, mix the cornflour with a little water and add to baking dish. Stir through before serving.

  • Serve with rice and vegetables.

Slow cooker instructions

  • After cooking the tenderloins in the frypan, add all the ingredients to your slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.

Notes

Storing:

You can store leftovers in an airtight container for up to one day.

Freezing:

Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.

Nutrition:

The nutrition information is an automatically generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

Tips:

  • You can skip the step of cooking the tenderloins in the frypan first, but it is a whole lot better when you take the little extra time required to brown the chicken before cooking in the oven.
  • If using another cut of chicken, you mayneed to adjust the cooking time slightly. Chicken thighs and drumsticks also work well with this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 549kcalCarbohydrates: 95gProtein: 38gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 240mgPotassium: 1950mgFiber: 9gSugar: 72gVitamin A: 5384IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 77mgIron: 4mg

Tried this recipe?If you love it, let me know!

Traditional Apricot Chicken Recipe For Weeknight Meals (2024)

FAQs

What is apricot sauce made of? ›

How to Make It. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, bring sugar, 1/2 cup water, and the apricots to a simmer. Cover and cook until apricots are completely tender, about 4 minutes. Carefully transfer apricot mixture and lemon juice to a food processor and pulse until sauce is blended but still slightly chunky.

What to eat with apricots? ›

SALAD: Toss together a salad of sliced apricots, chickpeas, rocket (or lettuce), fresh mint, sliced red onion, chopped almonds, and crumbled feta cheese. Serve with a simple olive oil, mustard and ginger vinaigrette.

What to eat with apricot jam? ›

5 Ways to use your French Apricot Jam
  1. On bread. Top sliced bread with butter and Apricot jam for a true French breakfast experience. ...
  2. In muffin. For a twist on the classic vanilla muffin, try your hand at a yummy apricot jam muffins recipe.
  3. With ice cream. ...
  4. With chicken. ...
  5. On cheese.
Jun 24, 2015

How many calories are in apricot chicken? ›

Apricot Chicken
NUTRITION INFORMATION – Regular Meal
Average Quantity per ServingAverage Quantity per 100g
ENERGY2440kJ (584Cal)596kJ (142Cal)
PROTEIN44.9g10.9g
FAT, TOTAL24.5g6.0g
6 more rows

What is the difference between peach and apricot flavor? ›

Apricots and peaches are stone fruits that bear similar coloring and shapes but differ in size and flavor. Peaches are sweeter and juicier, whereas apricots have a slightly tart flavor. Whichever you choose, both are excellent sources of many nutrients and can be incorporated into many dishes, desserts, and jams.

What is the cheese with apricot called? ›

Wensleydale with Apricots is a popular option as a flavoured cheese on a cheeseboard. Monks began making cheese with sheep milk in Yorkshire during the 12th Century.

What part of the body are apricots good for? ›

They're a great source of key nutrients for skin, eye, immune, and digestive health, plus the high water content in fresh apricots promotes hydration. If you have diabetes, you may need to be mindful of their carbohydrate content by pairing them with sources of fat and protein.

What do apricots do for your body? ›

Apricots offer plenty of good dietary fiber to help your digestive tract. Their total fiber content is about half soluble fiber and half insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber helps your digestive tract retain enough water and encourages good bacteria to thrive. Insoluble fiber is also good for healthy gut bacteria levels.

Is apricot jam good for high blood pressure? ›

High in potassium

Two apricots (70 grams) provide 181 mg of this mineral, which is 4% of the DV. As potassium works closely with sodium to maintain fluid balance, adequate intake may help prevent bloating and maintain healthy blood pressure (24).

What cheese to pair with apricot jam? ›

Alternatively, pairing cheddar with apricot preserves such as Apricot Paste or Apricot Jam can create a winning sweet and savoury combination. 2. Brie Cheese: Brie cheese is a soft and creamy cheese with a mild flavour that pairs well with fruity preserves.

Is apricot jam the same as apricot preserves? ›

Fruit preserves are a lot like jam, but they're slightly thicker, thanks to the addition of large chunks or whole pieces of fruit instead of chopped, crushed, or puréed fruit. You'll usually find large bits of fruit suspended in preserves, as well as seeds, in many cases.

How many calories are in apricot chicken and rice? ›

Apricot Chicken with Rice
CaloriesCarbsProtein
41764g29g

What is the lowest calorie chicken piece? ›

If you're trying to lose weight, then chicken breast is the best cut for you. It is the leanest part of the chicken, which means it has the fewest calories but the most protein. For example, chicken breast is ideal for bodybuilders on a cut, since it has the fewest calories.

How many calories are in apricot sauce? ›

Jok N Al Apricot Sauce (1 serving) contains 4g total carbs, 4g net carbs, 0g fat, 0.2g protein, and 16 calories.

Is apricot sauce sweet and sour? ›

So you can imagine how we responded to discovering that perhaps one of McDonald's most sought-after sauces: sweet and sour, was made with... (prepare yourselves) apricots. No – really, it's not pineapple, it's not mango. It's apricot.

What is apricot flavor? ›

Apricots have a sweet flavor with a tart finish. They're often described as tasting like a cross between a peach and a plum. Their flavor is a bit heavier and deeper and less floral than that of peaches, which is why they're able to stand up in cooked dishes alongside foods like pork, turkey and chicken.

What is apricot Flavour? ›

The traditional apricot, often referred to as the “Armenian apricot,” offers a balanced taste profile, with a sweet, honey-like flavor underscored by a gentle tartness. The Moorpark apricot, originating from England, tantalizes the taste buds with its rich, intense taste and a hint of nuttiness.

Is McDonald's sweet and sour sauce made from apricots? ›

Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Apricot Puree Concentrate And/or Peach Puree Concentrate, Distilled Vinegar, Contains 2% Or Less: Soy Sauce (water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Salt, Modified Food Starch, Sherry Wine Powder, Dextrose, Soybean Oil, Xanthan Gum, Spices, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural ...

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