Name: Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 250 min
Total time: 255 min
Ingredients: 2 - 2 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken thighs (approx. 8-12 thighs, depending on size); ½ tsp paprika; ½ tsp sea salt; ½ tsp pepper; 1 small onion (chopped); 1 cup apricot preserves; ¼ cup sweet chili sauce; 2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce; 2 Tbsp honey; ½ tsp red chili flakes; 4 garlic cloves (minced); 2 Tbsp cornstarch; 2 Tbsp cold water; sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds (optional for serving)

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This sticky sweet Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken is a super simple weeknight meal that takes just a few minutes to prep. The sauce is sweet and fruity with a slightly spicy kick. This is perfect served over rice and you can add broccoli right into the crockpot to get some veggies in the meal as well. Shred the chicken or eat in whole pieces, you choose! You will love this delicious chicken dinner!

Bowl with slow cooker apricot chicken served with chopped green onions on top.

Ingredient Notes
Recipe Variations
Step-By-Step Instructions
Recipe Tips
Storage
Other Crockpot Recipes
Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken Recipe
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Simple slow cooker recipes that require minimal effort are my favorite dinners. While we do a lot of beef recipes in the crockpot, but chicken is for sure another favorite– and this slow cooker apricot chicken is unbeatable.

Sticky and sweet, a touch of spice, plenty of sauce to pour over top of rice–this one is going to be favorite no doubt!

Why We Love This Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken Recipe

This apricot chicken is a recipe that is so simple to prep, one of those dump and walk away kind of meals.

We have made this dinner several times recently and I have tossed frozen broccoli right into the crockpot and then served it over rice, dinner made so so simple.

This apricot chicken:

is so so so easy to make
can be prepped as a freezer meal
can be prepped as a shredded chicken or served in whole pieces
is easy to adjust the spice level
can be made into a simple meal by tossing in some frozen veggies and warming up minute rice

Dinner is tricky when life gets busy, being able to make a recipe earlier in the day and have it ready to go at dinner time is the best!

Ingredient Notes

I use boneless skinless chicken thighs when making this apricot chicken. Chicken thighs are much more forgiving in regards to being overcooked or dry than chicken breasts. That being said, chicken breast can be used to make this recipe. Bone-in chicken thighs will require a slightly longer cook time and generally are better if seared before slow cooking.
Apricot preserves are what really bring all the flavor in this recipe. If for some reason you can’t find any, you could use orange marmalade or a peach jam in its place. This is obviously a sweeter recipe so if you are worried about sugar content, you can also look for a lower sugar apricot jam instead of the regular variety.

Recipe Variations

add veggies: you can dice up some bell peppers and add them to the crockpot in the beginning when making this easy apricot chicken recipe. You can also toss is frozen broccoli to the thickened sauce and heat it up before adding the chicken back into the pot
thing beyond rice: while I suggest serving this dish over rice, you have other options for sure. You could shred it up and serve it on sandwiches or lettuce wraps. It can be sliced and added to a salad. You could also serve it with some Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes.
use chicken breast: as mentioned, the chicken thighs turn out so well in the crock pot and chicken breast can be a bit more hit or miss. However, this recipe can be made with chicken breast too. Cook time is generally the same, but keep an eye on the chicken if possible, as chicken size can impact the cooking.
add fresh ginger: add an extra layer of flavor to this dish with the addition of some freshly grated ginger.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Chicken thighs in crockpot with seasoning on top.

Step 1: Arrange chicken thighs at the bottom of crockpot. Season generously with salt, pepper and paprika.

Slow cooker with apricot preserves, onion and seasoning over chicken.

Step 2: Add the apricot preserves, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, honey, garlic, crushed red pepper and the onion.

Apricot chicken in crockpot before cooking.

Step 3: Stir this mixture over top of the chicken thighs, covering them evenly.

Cooked chicken thighs in sauce in slow cooker pot.

Step 4: Cover the crockpot and heat at low for 4-5 hours, or on high for about 2-3 hours, or the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Slurry added to apricot mixture in crockpot.

Step 5: Once chicken is cooked, remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shift the heat to high. Whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth and slowly pour the slurry mixture into the crockpot, stirring to combine. Heat on high for about 10-15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.

Slow cooker apricot chicken in pot topped with sliced green onions on top.

Step 6: Once thickened, add the chicken back in the sauce, spooning it over top to cover the chicken. You are welcome to shred or pull the chicken into smaller pieces if preferred or serve whole over rice with sauce. Serve garnished with sliced green onion and sesame seeds over top. You can also add a drizzle of sriracha for extra spice!

Plate with crockpot apricot chicken over rice and served with broccoli.

Recipe Tips

Try to select chicken thighs of even thickness and size. For best results, if you can get chicken that is very similar in size, it will all cook at about the same rate.
This can be made as a freezer meal. Whisk together all of the sauce ingredients, omitting the cornstarch and water. Add the chicken and sliced onion to a freezer safe plastic bag and pour the sauce mixture over top. Allow the sauce to coat the chicken. Seal the bag airtight and then allow the sauce to evenly coat chicken and onions. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw before cooking in crockpot according to original instructions.

Storage

Store leftover chicken in sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. To freeze, allow the chicken to cool completely and then transfer to container and freeze for up to 3 months.