Sticky Sweet Savory Apricot Chicken (Printable)
Tender chicken thighs in a glossy apricot-soy glaze with garlic, ginger, honey, and a hint of heat.
# What You Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
→ Sauce & Condiments
02 - 1 cup apricot preserves
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
05 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
06 - 2 tablespoons honey
→ Aromatics & Spices
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
09 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Oils & Garnishes
10 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
11 - 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
12 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the apricot preserves, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, rice vinegar, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes until smooth and well combined.
04 - Heat vegetable oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs and sear for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown.
05 - Pour the apricot glaze over the seared chicken, tossing to coat each piece evenly.
06 - Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake, uncovered, for 18–22 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is bubbling and sticky.
07 - Remove from the oven and let rest for 2–3 minutes. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce glazes the chicken in a way that looks like you spent hours reducing it, but it comes together in one pan.
- That sweet and savory balance is the kind of thing that makes people ask for the recipe before they finish their first bite.
02 -
- Do not skip drying the chicken because moisture is the enemy of a good sear and the glaze will slide right off wet skin.
- The sauce will look thin when you pour it in but it reduces dramatically in the oven, so trust the process and resist the urge to add thickeners.
03 -
- Use an ovenproof skillet from the start so you never have to transfer the chicken and risk losing any of that precious sauce.
- Toasting the sesame seeds in a dry pan for 90 seconds turns a quiet garnish into something genuinely fragrant and worthwhile.