Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken

3-ingredient Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken is the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and savory. Chicken thighs slow cooked with apricot preserves and pickled jalapenos makes an easy and flavorful meal any night of the week. Serve over rice, quinoa, or potatoes.

I love a good 3-ingredient recipe that is simple to throw together and has great flavor. This Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken is both easy and delicious. We use seared chicken thighs because they have the best flavor and stay juicy and tender. The sauce only has two ingredients: Apricot preserves and pickled jalapenos. The combination is sweet and salty, which is perfect with the savory chicken.

This Apricot Chicken also makes great leftovers. I usually add 2-3 extra pieces of chicken to the slow cooker and double a batch of rice for an easy and satisfying lunch the next day! This is such a yummy and easy slow cooker chicken meal.

Ingredients For Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken:

Just 3-ingredients not counting the olive oil, salt, pepper, and green onion.

• Boneless and skinless chicken thighs
• Apricot preserves
• Pickled jalapenos (mild and sliced)

As I mentioned above, chicken thighs do have the best flavor. They’re also more cost effective and with grocery costs increasing by the second, I need all the help I can get. Of course you can definitely swap out the chicken thighs for breast meat or use a combination of both. You really can’t go wrong.

What if I can’t find apricot preserves (jam)?

If you can’t find apricot preserves, orange marmalade or peach jam are great substitutes.

Is Apricot Chicken Spicy?

I use mild, pickled jalapenos for this recipe and it is not spicy at all. I’ve also used peperoncini peppers because we tend to have these on hand. For spicy Apricot Chicken, use hot, sliced, pickled jalapenos.

How To Make Apricot Chicken:

Step 1. Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a large skillet to medium high heat and add olive oil. Once heated, sear chicken 3-5 minutes per side.

Step 2. While chicken is searing add apricot preserves, pickled jalapeno slices, and jalapeno juice to a 6 qt or larger slow cooker. Stir to combine. Once chicken is golden on both sides place them in the slow cooker with the sauce and turn to coat both sides.

Step 3. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-5 hours. The meat should easily break apart with a fork. Depending on how big your chicken pieces are will determine how long they need to cook. When chicken is tender, scatter sliced green onions over the top and serve!

Searing the Chicken:

While this step can be skipped, searing the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker adds depth of flavor. It also gives the chicken a beautiful color, cause you all know we eat with our eyes first! By all means, if you don’t have the few extra minutes for this step, simply salt and pepper the chicken, then place in the slow cooker with the sauce. It will still be tasty.

How To Serve Apricot Chicken:

This recipe lends quite a bit of sauce so you want something that will soak up all the yummy flavor. We love to serve the chicken and sauce over simple Buttered Rice. It’s easy to make and double for leftovers. Mashed Potatoes and quinoa are also great options. And if you want a lower-carb option, serve with Cauliflower Rice & Peas.

Other Slow Cooker Recipes You Might Like:

• Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo
• Island Slow Cooker Chicken

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I appreciate your comments and reviews! Be sure to leave a comment or rating below for suggestions, questions, or if you make the recipe. I’d love to know how it turned out for you!

Let’s eat!🤍

Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken

This 3-ingredient Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken is the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and savory. Chicken thighs slow cooked with apricot preserves and pickled jalapenos makes an easy and flavorful meal any night of the week. Serve over rice, quinoa, or potatoes.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Total Time 4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 5

Calories 399 kcal

Equipment

• 1 6 Qt Slow Cooker
• 1 large skillet

Ingredients

  

• 6-8 boneless skinless chicken thighs or 4-5 boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 16 oz jar apricot preserves
• 1/4-1/2 cup mild, sliced pickled jalapenos
• 3 tbsp jalapeno juice from the jar
• sliced green onions for garnish optional
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a large skillet to medium high heat and add olive oil. Once heated, sear chicken 3-5 minutes per side.
• While chicken is searing add apricot preserves, pickled jalapeno slices and juice to slow cooker. Stir to combine. Once chicken is golden on both sides place them in the slow cooker with the sauce and turn to coat both sides.
• Place the lid on and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until chicken easily breaks apart with a fork. Sprinkle with green onions and serve chicken and sauce over hot rice.

Notes

Tips:

• Make it spicy: Use hot, pickled jalapeno slices for a sweet and spicy flavor. 
• What to serve with chicken: Serve over rice, mashed potatoes, or quinoa.

 

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

 

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5
Amount per serving
Calories	399
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14.1g	18%
Saturated Fat 3.2g	16%
Cholesterol 121mg	40%
Sodium 501mg	22%
Total Carbohydrate 26.8g	10%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Total Sugars 24g
Protein 39.4g
Vitamin D 0mcg	0%
Calcium 20mg	2%
Iron 2mg	9%
Potassium 331mg	7%

Keyword Apricot chicken, Chicken recipe, Slow cooker chicken

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