Sticky Apricot Chicken is one of those sweet, sticky oven-baked dishes that busy families’ love. It's easy to make, freezes well and can be enjoyed from fall to early spring before we move to outdoor cooking. These are also the type of recipes for young cooks to start with, especially if they love to eat them.
Cook Once, Eat Twice
Everyone has a different opinion about leftovers so you need to figure out what works for you. I expect this recipe to make more than two meals for me. I always portion enough for a second dinner and put it in the freezer. For people running in different directions many nights of the week it may be more helpful to make single serving containers for the fridge or freezer. Because this chicken dish freezes well it is also perfect for giving when you have a friend in need.
Organize For Success – The Gluten Free Pantry
To produce easy meals you need a well-stocked pantry and finding the balance takes time. For oven-baked dishes like this Sticky Apricot Chicken, my Cranberry Orange Chicken and the more exotic Mango Chutney Chicken you need a few jars in the pantry. To make these three recipes I stock my pantry with a jar of apricot jam, a tin or whole cranberry sauce and some mango chutney. To minimize the number of open jars in my fridge I prefer to buy the 1-cup size jars of jam or chutney.
How To Store Ginger Root
I love Asian cooking so I always want fresh ginger root in my kitchen. Some people prefer the jar of chopped or grated ginger but I just use the real thing (no label reading required). Yet it can be tricky to always have fresh on hand so here’s what I do. Freeze it!
Ginger root can be frozen and grated right out of the freezer. Use it, put it back and you’ll always have some. I do a combination. I like to keep fresh in the fridge but I also have a small piece in the freezer for the when I run out.
Our Chili Sauce Obsession
Chili sauce is usually gluten free and most people have a selection in their fridge. Some people have a whole section! This recipe calls for the old-fashioned Heinz Chili Sauce (gluten free worldwide). My dad liked to eat that chili sauce on his eggs, some people put it on meatloaf and I use it for this Sticky Apricot Chicken.
I’ve tried this recipe with many kinds of chili sauce but the original recipe is my favourite. When you cook you get to experiment and this recipe is excellent for using up one or two tablespoons of any chili sauce. I can't guarantee the outcome but here's what I think.
- Thai sweet chili sauce is too sweet,
- Sriracha sauce is too garlicky,
- Sambal oelek is too hot and
- Heinz Chili Sauce is just right.
This recipe is my version of the one from The Official Cookbook of Expo 86. It was written by Susan Mendelson, cookbook author and caterer in Vancouver, Canada. Thirty some years later my dog-eared, food-spattered copy is still on a shelf in my kitchen so I'd say that’s a recipe that has stood the test of time!
Let me know in the comments below if you tried this recipe and if you made any changes.
More Sweet & Sticky Oven-Baked Dishes
Originally posted October 2015, updated November 2020
Sticky Apricot Chicken
Ingredients
- 12 bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 jar apricot jam (8 oz/250 ml)
- ½ cup Heinz Chili Sauce*
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 2 tablespoon gluten free soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Optional garnish
- 4 dried apricots, sliced (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place chicken thighs in large baking dish.
- Measure all sauce ingredients into a 4-cup pyrex measuring cup.
- Microwave sauce for 1 minute, stir and microwave for another minute.
- Pour sauce over the chicken and bake for 1 hour. Half way through cooking time spoon the sauce over the chicken so it doesn't dry out.
Alene
My former sister in law had a recipe for chicken with apricot jam and Lipton dried onion soup mix. It was a long time ago, but I vaguely remember it being stickier and sweeter. Now I'm going to have to Google it. This was good and certainly easy though. Thank you for the recipe!
Cinde Little
Hi Arlene. I've never heard of that recipe with onion soup mix but back in the day there were lots of those recipes being shared. I'm glad you liked this version. I like it because I usually have all the ingredients on hand.
Wendy
Sounds yummy. Love the description of the different chili sauces. Reminded me of the 3 bears description of the beds. I agree Thai sweet chili sauce is v sweet but have you tried making some oven potato wedges and serving them with sour cream and that sauce? Divine combination. An Aussie concoction. Thank me later😂.
Cinde Little
I know, I thought of the 3 bears too but I had 4 chili sauces. Ha ha! I will definitely try the potato wedges, that sounds yummy too, and thank you in advance!