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Easy Baked Apricot Chicken Recipe

This Easy Baked Apricot Chicken Recipe combines chicken with a simple three-ingredient glaze that’s so quick and easy to prepare. It’s perfect for meal prepping, weeknight meals, or a crowd-pleasing dinner.

A pan of apricot chicken breasts with a serving on a bed of rice beside it.
This apricot chicken can be made all at once, or half of it can be frozen to cook later. Pictured above is half a recipe – cooked for just the two of us.

I’ve been having so much fun experimenting with new recipes lately, and this Easy Apricot Chicken has now been marked as a favorite. My husband has declared it “really good” more than once, so I’d call that a win! The recipe is so, so simple: just mix a glaze with three ingredients—apricot jam, onion soup mix, and French dressing—pour it over chicken, and bake. It’s so versatile, too, because I’ve discovered it works beautifully as a freeze-ahead meal. It’s definitely a keeper!

Why You’re Going to Love This Easy Apricot Chicken Recipe, Too

  • Quick and easy: Perfect for busy weeknights with minimal prep and cleanup.
  • Freezer-friendly: Easily prepare in advance for a future meal.
  • Family-approved: Sweet and savory flavors and juicy, tender chicken that will be a hit!
  • Versatile: Serve it with rice, a side vegetable, or a fresh salad to make a complete meal.
  • Simple ingredients: Made with just a few ingredients.
Ingredients for apricot chicken glaze sitting on a counter.
There are only 3 ingredients needed for Apricot Chicken Glaze – onion soup mix, french dressing, and apricot jam.

Ingredients for Apricot Chicken

*Note: Refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for specific ingredient measurements.

  • Chicken Breasts – Boneless and skinless, sliced horizontally for even portions and quicker cooking.
  • Onion Soup Mix – A savory seasoning blend that adds rich flavor to the dish.
  • French Dressing – A tangy and slightly sweet sauce that complements the apricot glaze perfectly.
  • Apricot Jam – A sweet and fruity base for the glaze, giving the chicken its signature flavor.

How to Portion, Cook, and Freeze this Recipe to Fit Your Lifestyle

Watch Apricot Chicken being Made!

Here’s a quick little video of this recipe being made! Just click the arrow to watch…

When it comes to cooking, one size doesn’t fit all. Whether you’re feeding a family, cooking for two, or meal prepping for busy days ahead, this recipe can be tailored to suit your needs and make life in the kitchen stress-free.

By thinking ahead and making small adjustments, you can simplify mealtime and enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals that work for your unique living and cooking situation.

  • Portioning if you are cooking for 2:This recipe serves 4-6 people if you were to make and bake it all at once. So, if you want to do that, use a 9×13 pan (or one slightly larger if you have one). If you want to make this recipe to serve only 2 people, divide the recipe in half and bake in an 8×8 or 6 x8 inch pan. (If you are cooking a smaller pan, the cook time may be shorter than a full pan.)
  • Baking options if you are cooking for 2: Bake one pan now; freeze one pan for later! You can bake one portioned for 2 pans now and freeze the other half for later.
  • Freezing this recipe for meal prep:Since I am freezing meals ahead for 2 people, I froze this recipe in 2 seperate ziploc bags. If you are cooking for more people, just freeze it all in one ziploc bag.
  • To cook from frozen: Thaw overnight on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator. Transfer chicken and glaze to baking dish and bake according to directions.
This is a wonderful freeze ahead meal prep meal. If you are cooking for 2, divide the recipe in half and put each half in two zip-top freezer bags.

Easy Instructions for Baked Apricot Chicken

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To make the chicken breasts cook more evenly and quickly, I like to slice them in half horizontally. Lay the chicken breast flat on a cutting board, place your hand gently on top to stabilize it, and use a sharp knife to carefully slice through the middle, creating two thinner pieces. This not only speeds up cooking time but also ensures the chicken cooks evenly without drying out. Lay the chicken pieces in a single layer in the bottom of a baking dish. Choose the size of pan based on how many people you are cooking for. If you are baking the whole recipe, you will want to use a large baking dish – sized 9×13 or even larger if you have it. Or if you are cooking for 2 (like we are), use a smaller dish and put half of the breasts in it and freeze the other half for later. The pictures shown in this post are of a half batch baked in a 6 x 8 inch baking dish.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the onion soup mix, apricot jam, and french dressing. Pour over the chicken in the baking dish. (If you are dividing this recipe up and freezing half of it, pour half of the glaze – 3/4 cup – over each portioned amount of chicken.)
  3. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes or until it is bubbly all around and the chicken is cooked through with an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Farenheit (73.9 degrees Celcius).

Handy tip

If you’re struggling with cooking for two, I’ve discovered a total gamechanger. Treat yourself to some properly sized baking pans that are perfect for two! I’ve put together a list of my favorites in my Amazon Shop here. (affiliate links)

What to serve with apricot chicken:

  • Apricot chicken is so delicious served with oven baked rice.
  • A green salad with poppyseed dressing would be a delicious and refreshing side.
  • If you prefer potatoes instead of rice, smashed potatoes, mashed potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, or baked potatoes would be good with this chicken recipe.
  • Green veggies like green beans or asperagus pair well with baked chicken.
A piece of apricot chicken on a bed of rice on a white plate.

Other Easy Chicken Recipes:

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A piece of apricot chicken on a bed of rice on a plate.
A piece of apricot chicken on a bed of rice on a serving platter.

Baked Apricot Chicken Recipe

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

This Easy Baked Apricot Chicken Recipe combines chicken with a simple three-ingredient glaze that’s so quick and easy to prepare. It’s perfect for meal prepping, weeknight meals, or a crowd-pleasing dinner.

Ingredients

  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts sliced in half horizontally to make 8 portions
  • 1/2 package onion soup mix
  • 1 cup french dressing
  • 1/2 cup apricot jam

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To make the chicken breasts cook more evenly and quickly, I like to slice them in half horizontally. Lay the chicken breast flat on a cutting board, place your hand gently on top to stabilize it, and use a sharp knife to carefully slice through the middle, creating two thinner pieces. This not only speeds up cooking time but also ensures the chicken cooks evenly without drying out. Lay the chicken pieces in a single layer in the bottom of a baking dish.-sized 9×13 or even larger.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the onion soup mix, apricot jam, and french dressing. Pour over the chicken in the baking dish. (If you are dividing this recipe up and freezing half of it, pour half of the glaze – 3/4 cup – over each portioned amount of chicken.)
  3. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through with an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Farenheit (73.9 degrees Celcius).

Notes

Refer to the post above for specific instructions on how to freeze this recipe and how to adapt it for a recipe for two people.

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