- 10m prep
- 1h 05m cook
- 4 servings
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237 people made this
Some things are just better together, and there's something to be said for the combination of juicy apricots and chicken. Apricot chicken is a classic recipe, and we'll likely never stop cooking it. But this apricot chicken recipe is our firm favourite for good reason. It's the OG, the best ever apricot chicken and we won't be persuaded otherwise! Sweet apricot nectar brings so much flavour to this recipe, alongside Moroccan spices (instead of the old go-to French onion soup mix).
Why do we love a classic apricot chicken recipe?
Budget-friendly, easy to make at home and full of savoury meets fruity flavour, this apricot chicken recipe is hard to beat.
The 1970s saw us getting pretty creative with our dinners, especially when it came to adding fruit to savoury dishes. Ham steaks Hawaiian (grilled ham with pineapple) was on high rotation in our house, my mother would set grated carrot in orange jelly and serve as a side at barbecues, and restaurants were serving up duck a l’orange. And then there was apricot chicken. Before the (brilliant) invention of ring pull cans, we were at the mercy of can openers. In the case of cans of apricot nectar, we used the pointy part of the can opener to pierce two holes on the top of the can to allow the thick syrup to glug into the frying pan. The remaining nectar was stored in the fridge where we’d sneak decadent sips straight from the can.
This apricot chicken recipe is a twist on the one mum made, swapping the French onion soup for Moroccan spice mix to create a sweet and savoury apricot chicken sauce - this is the comfort food of my childhood with a bit of a grown-up edge. Thanks to recipes like this we’ll be eating apricot chicken for generations to come. We serve this one with couscous, but you can serve with rice if you prefer. You can also make this delicious apricot chicken recipe in the slow cooker. (See recipe notes below!) When you make apricot chicken, be it in a slow cooker or in a baking dish, your house will fill with the incredibly alluring scent of apricot nectar, spices and very juicy fruit. It really is a delicious meal.
We serve it with couscous but many home cooks love to serve this delicious dinner with mashed potato.
Looking for something speedy? Try our 10-minute sticky apricot chicken recipe. Try this crispy crumbed apricot chicken tray bake, and these 50 easy chicken dinner recipe ideas for time-poor cooks.
Additional notes by Alison Adams - Food Writer and Recipe Tester
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D
Dixie Elliott
705 caloriesper serve
Allergens: Recipe may contain gluten, wheat and mustard.
More nutrition information >
- 11 Ingredients
- 5 Method Steps
11 Ingredients
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1/2 cup plain flour
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8 Coles RSPCA approved chicken thigh fillets, excess fat trimmed
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2 tbsp olive oil
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1 large brown onion, cut into thin wedges
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2 garlic cloves, crushed
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1 tbsp Moroccan seasoning blend
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405ml can apricot nectar
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1/2 cup dried apricots
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1 cup couscous
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1 cup boiling water
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1/3 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
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Select all ingredients
5 Method Steps
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Place flour (1/2 cup plain flour) in a shallow dish. Season with salt and pepper. Toss chicken (8 Coles RSPCA approved chicken thigh fillets, excess fat trimmed) pieces in flour, shaking off excess.
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Heat 1/2 the oil (2 tbsp olive oil) in a large, deep heavy-based frying pan over medium heat. Cook chicken, in batches, for 2 to 3 minutes each side or until golden, adding extra oil if needed. Transfer to a plate. Set aside.
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Heat remaining oil in pan. Add onion (1 large brown onion, cut into thin wedges) and garlic (2 garlic cloves, crushed). Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until tender. Sprinkle seasoning (1 tbsp Moroccan seasoning blend) over onion and stir well to combine. Stir in nectar (405ml can apricot nectar). Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Return chicken to pan. Cover. Cook for 20 minutes.
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Add apricots (1/2 cup dried apricots) to pan, pushing into the sauce. Cook, uncovered, for a further 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and sauce has thickened.
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Meanwhile, place couscous (1 cup couscous) in a heatproof bowl. Pour over boiling water (1 cup boiling water). Cover. Stand for 5 minutes or until water is absorbed. Stir with a fork to separate grains. Spoon couscous onto plates. Top with chicken and sauce. Sprinkle with parsley (1/3 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves). Serve.
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Recipe Notes
What is the difference between apricot juice and nectar?
Apricots aren’t a very juicy fruit. Unlike oranges, apples and pears, they can’t be juiced, so instead, they are pureed, sweetened and added to water. The word nectar is used as the result tends to be thicker and more syrupy than a juice.
Can I cook this apricot chicken in the slow cooker?
Yes! Cook the chicken as directed and transfer to the bowl of a slow cooker. Continue to the end of step three but adding the nectar mixture to the chicken along with the dried apricots. Cook on Low for 4 hours.
Why do you coat the chicken in flour?
Coating the chicken thigh fillets in flour (also known as dredging) before frying has a few advantages. Firstly, it helps give the chicken a nice golden crust. The flour layer also prevents the chicken from sticking to the pan. It also helps thicken the sauce. If you want a gluten-free version it’s okay to omit this step. Instead, thicken the sauce with 1 tablespoon of non-wheaten cornflour mixed with 1 tablespoon of water at the end.
Why do we serve apricot chicken with couscous?
Back in the 1970s, we would have served our apricot chicken with boiled rice. Because this recipe has the Moroccan spice mix, we’ve served it with the North African specialty couscous. Made from tiny balls of semolina and wheat flour, couscous is a handy side dish as it requires zero cooking. Simply pour over hot water or stock and leave to soak for a few minutes, then fluff!
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Nutrition per Serving
%Daily Value#
Nutrition information and Health Score does not include ingredients listed as to serve or any serving suggestions.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
# The % daily values indicates how much of a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet, based on general nutritional advice for a diet of 2100 calories a day.
* Health Scores are calculated on a 1-10 scale based on nutrient density and USDA (global standard) recommendations for a healthy diet. A higher Health Score indicates a healthier recipe. The value is based on the impact of macronutrients and micronutrients in the recipe.
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