Last week, I teased this honey apricot chicken on Instagram and couldn’t wait to get it up on the blog.
The chicken and veggies are cooked in a sweet and tangy apricot marinade made from apricot preserves, honey, balsamic vinegar and dijon mustard. It’s a simple dish to make with so much depth of flavor!
I prepared this using bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks, and added in some carrots and shallots as a side. I loved it over my carrot & orange zested rice for a flavor-packed dinner.
The sauce thickens up and caramelizes in the oven, creating the perfect glaze for the chicken and veggies.
I used my favorite braiser pan for this dish that I’m absolutely obsessed with. I pretty much use it for all of my meat and chicken recipes because it’s the perfect pan to serve out of straight from of the oven.
Ingredients In Honey Apricot Chicken Thighs
- Bone-in chicken thighs/legs: You can use anywhere from 4-6 bone-in chicken pieces for this recipe
- Carrots & shallots: I love the added sweetness these veggies add to this dish
- Olive oil
- Spices– salt, pepper, cumin and cinnamon
- Dried apricots: they add a sweet flavor to enjoy with the chicken
- Apricot marinade: a homemade sauce made from apricot preserves, honey, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, boiling water and salt & pepper
I love a recipe that’s made all in one pan, and takes only 10-15 minutes of prep time!
- Layer the veggies, chicken and apricots in your baking dish
- Season with salt, pepper, cumin and cinnamon and drizzle with olive oil
- Combine the apricot honey marinade ingredients together in a bowl and pour over the dish
- Cook the dish covered for 45 minutes on 375 F, and uncovered for 25-30 minutes on 400 F
If you’re looking for more flavorful chicken recipes, don’t forget to check out some of my other favorites like my Lemon Herb Chicken & Potatoes and Sheet-pan Honey Sriracha Chicken.
This one-pan recipe is seriously bursting with flavor. It’s a delicious weeknight dinner recipe to serve to your family or friends. I can’t wait for you to try it!
Serve with these sides to make it a meal:
Orange Zested Rice
Honey Mustard Cauliflower and Chickpeas
Spicy Harissa Roasted Potatoes
Honey Apricot Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 -6 bone-in chicken pieces, I used thighs and drumsticks
- 10 dried apricots
- 5 carrots, peeled and chopped to 2″ pieces
- 3 shallots, sliced in half
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- Salt & pepper
- Olive oil
Apricot Honey Marinade
- 1/3 cup apricot preserves
- 3/4 cups boiling water
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Serve with
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F
- Layer the chopped carrots, sliced shallots, apricots and chicken in your baking dish. Generously drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, cumin and cinnamon.
- In a small bowl, combine the apricot marinade ingredients together. Whisk well to break up any clumps from the apricot jam.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken and veggies. Cover your dish and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and spoon some of the sauce over the chicken.
- Raise the oven temperature to 425 F and finish cooking uncovered for another 25-30 minutes. Serve over rice with extra sauce spooned on top.
Can I saute the breast’s and add them to the remaining ingredients? Bake time should not be more than 30 minutes to avoid drying.
Hi Anne, so sorry I didn’t see this sooner. You can definitely make this with chicken breast. I suggest searing the chicken breast in the pan on both sides, then removing it from the pan and tossing the carrots and shallots into that same oil with salt & pepper. Roast the veggies alone in the oven for 12-15 minutes, and then add back the chicken and marinade and finish cooking for 25-30 minutes until cooked through.
Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Hi Liana, I’m so glad you enjoyed this dish! I think preparing it ahead and baking it the next day can definitely be an option. I suggest letting the dish sit out of the fridge for 30 minutes before putting it into the oven.
I made this tonight and both my partner and I were amazed at how incredible it was. One of the best chicken dishes I’ve ever had!!!
Thank you so much, Alaina! I’m so glad to hear.