Skillet Glazed Apricot Chicken Recipe

This Skillet Glazed Apricot Chicken Recipe is made with tender chicken breasts in a delicious apricot glaze. An easy recipe for busy weeknights that the whole family loves!

This apricot preserves chicken recipe is a quick and easy 30 minute dinner made with your favorite apricot jam and just a few other ingredients.

I know I’ve said this before, but we eat a ton of chicken for dinner. So, I’m always looking for new chicken recipes to make, or more accurately, new ways to disguise chicken so that my family will eat it!

We had a jar of apricot preserve in the fridge, so I just mixed that with a few other ingredients, and the result was a simple but completely delicious chicken dinner.

Note that there is no Russian dressing or Catalina dressing in this recipe.

Try my Instant Pot Apricot Chicken, Instant Pot Cranberry Chicken or Baked Cranberry Chicken for more easy chicken recipes and recipes with salad dressing.

Ingredients for Apricot Glazed Chicken

You only need a few simple ingredients for this easy meal. They should be easy to find in your local grocery store.

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts — I use chicken breast halves since they cook faster and more evenly. You can also pound the chicken lightly if needed. Sub chicken thighs if you like.
• Apricot preserves — Just one cup apricot preserves or apricot jam to make the tangy glaze
• Dijon mustard — adds flavor
• Orange juice — thins the glaze and adds a bright citrusy flavor
• Seasonings — sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, dried minced onions
• Olive oil

How to Make Glazed Apricot Chicken

First, pat chicken dry with a paper towel. Next, season chicken with salt and pepper.

Then, add a little olive oil to a large skillet over medium high heat.

Mix the glaze ingredients in a small bowl. You can set the apricot mixture aside while the chicken cooks.

Cook chicken over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown on both sides.

The chicken won’t be completely cooked. It will finish cooking in the apricot sauce.

Next, remove the chicken to a clean plate, and cover with aluminum foil while you cook the sauce.

Then, add the sauce to the pan, and let it simmer on medium heat and thicken up a little.

Add the cooked chicken back to the pan. Spoon the sticky apricot glaze over the chicken as it cooks.

The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. You’ll want to use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.

Cooking Time

The chicken is ready in a little less than 30 minutes, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights.

Just drizzle that amazing apricot sauce over the chicken when you plate it, and dinner is served.

What to Serve with Apricot Preserves Chicken

The beauty of this skillet glazed apricot chicken is that you can serve the chicken over rice, pasta, quinoa or even have it with salad.

I served the chicken over couscous, and we had salad as a side dish. Broccoli or green beans are also great side dish suggestions.

I call this a simple chicken dinner because that’s exactly what it is. It’s not a one dish pasta dinner or a sheet pan dinner with veggies. It’s just chicken by itself.

How to Store Leftovers

Refrigerate leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container. It should keep for up to 4 days. You can freeze the leftover for longer storage, up to 3 months. Reheat chicken in the microwave.

Cooking Tips

Add more orange juice if the sauce reduces too much or if you want more apricot sauce.

Add a teaspoon soy sauce for more umami flavor.

If you can’t find apricot jam or preserves, substitute peach preserves, instead.

The idea for this apricot chicken came to me when I was trying to come up with a different way to cook chicken. My son wanted me to make his favorite one pan chicken bacon ranch pasta, and my daughter requested chicken with barbecue sauce. This was the compromise.

If you’re looking for a delicious quick and easy dinner, I hope you’ll give this skillet glazed apricot chicken a try.

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Recipe published in 2017 and updated in 2023.