Sticky Apricot Chicken
Sticky Sweet Sensation: Apricot Chicken with Homemade Preserves
This recipe is a double whammy of deliciousness! We’ll create homemade apricot preserves bursting with fresh flavor, then use them to craft a sticky, sweet, and incredibly flavorful apricot chicken dish.
Homemade Hero:
Skip the store-bought jams and elevate your dish with homemade apricot preserves. This simple recipe uses fresh apricots, sugar, and a touch of lemon juice for a burst of flavor that complements the chicken perfectly.
Sweet & Savory Magic:
The homemade apricot preserves become the star of the show in this chicken dish. They create a sticky, sweet, and tangy sauce that coats the chicken beautifully. It’s a flavor combination that’s both familiar and exciting.
Simple Sophistication:
Don’t be intimidated by the homemade aspect – both the preserves and the chicken dish are surprisingly easy to make. With minimal ingredients and straightforward steps, it’s a recipe that’s perfect for any night of the week.
Endless Twists:
This recipe offers a fantastic jumping-off point for your creativity! Use different types of stone fruits in the preserves, add a touch of spice to the chicken dish with red pepper flakes, or serve it over rice for a complete meal.
Ready for a Flavor Adventure?
Scroll down to find the complete recipes for both the homemade apricot preserves and the sticky apricot chicken. With its homemade touch, vibrant flavors, and endless customization options, it’s a recipe that will have you coming back for more!
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
Ingredients
Apricot Preserves
- 2 lbs apricots, pitted and coarsely chopped (I mashed mine)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- zest of 1/2 a lemon
- juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 2–3 thyme sprigs (optional)
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 Tbsp olive or canola oil
- 3/4 cup apricot jam/preserves
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp chopped chives, for garnish
- Optional for serving: cooked brown jasmine rice & steamed broccoli
Instructions
Apricot Preserves
- Combine the apricots, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and thyme in a medium-sized bowl.
- Mix well and let it sit for a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
(Cooking & canning preserves: this I did not do for this recipe but you can if you wanted jam)
- After the fruit has macerated (soaked in the sugar mixture), put it in a heavy-bottomed pot and bring it to a boil on medium heat.
- Turn down heat to maintain a vigorous boil, stirring frequently.
- Foam will start appearing on the top of the mixture. Use a spoon to scoop it away into a small bowl. Don’t discard it! Save it for your morning toast or mix it into some yogurt or top your ice cream. It’s delicious!
- After about 10 minutes, you’ll see the fruit breaking down, becoming glossy and leaving residue on the side of the pot. Those are signs you are nearly done cooking the preserves. To check, keep a plate in the freezer and when you think the jam is ready, pull the plate out and put a dab of jam on it. Put it back in the freezer for 1 minute. If it wrinkles or stays separated when you push it, it’s ready. If it falls back on itself, continue to boil the jam a little longer. After you make preserves and jams a few times, you will know by the sound of the boiling, what the preserves look like, and how much the mixture has reduced that it’s ready to be put in the jars.
- Once the mixture is ready to go, add the vanilla and mix well. Let it boil for another minute and then use your canning funnel or any funnel you have to ladle the preserves into clean, sterilized jars. Even when just refrigerating and/or freezing the preserves, you want to start with clean jars and lids. A pass through the dishwasher will do the trick.
Chicken
- Toss the chicken with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Sprinkle the flour all over the chicken and toss well until it’s coated.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil. Add the chicken in a single layer. Cook until browned on each side, about 5-6 minutes per side.
- Whisk together the jam, minced garlic, soy sauce and brown sugar until combined. Once the chicken is brown, pour the sauce in. Stir to coat all the chicken. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, so the sauce thickens more. Sprinkle with chives. I like to serve with steamed or roasted broccoli and cooked brown jasmine rice.
Keywords: Main Dish, Dinner, Apricot Jam, Apricot, Sticky Apricot Chicken, Chicken
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