Crockpot Cranberry Apricot Chicken Recipe
This Crockpot Cranberry Apricot Chicken is a flavorful and tender slow-cooked dish combining the sweetness of apricot preserves and cranberry sauce with a savory blend of spices. Perfect for an easy, comforting meal, this recipe features seared bone-in chicken thighs simmered in a rich and fruity sauce, making it a delightful dish to serve for family dinners or special occasions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (low) or 4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes (low) or 4 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 8 bone-in chicken thighs
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt or powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon butter
Sauce
- 1 ½ cups apricot preserves
- 1 cup French dressing
- 1 envelope dry onion soup mix (about 1 oz)
- 1 cup cranberry sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 cup frozen cranberries
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Seasoning and Sear Chicken: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic salt, onion powder, black pepper, and paprika. Season the chicken thighs all over with this spice mixture. Place the chicken in the hot skillet skin side down and sear for about 5 minutes until the skin is golden brown.
- Make the Sauce: While the chicken is searing, combine apricot preserves, French dressing, dry onion soup mix, cranberry sauce, and brown sugar in a bowl. Stir well to create a smooth sauce mixture.
- Transfer to Crockpot and Add Cranberries: Place the seared chicken thighs into the slow cooker. Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken, then scatter the frozen cranberries on top.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours until the chicken is tender and flavorful, allowing the sauce to thicken and infuse the chicken with fruity sweetness.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, garnish the chicken with fresh parsley or additional cranberries if desired. Serve hot as a delicious main dish alongside your favorite sides.
Notes
- For best results, use bone-in skin-on chicken thighs to retain moisture and flavor.
- If fresh parsley is unavailable, dried parsley or other fresh herbs like thyme can be used as garnish.
- For a thicker sauce, remove the chicken after cooking and reduce the sauce on the stovetop before serving.
- To reduce sugar content, opt for low-sugar or natural cranberry sauce and apricot preserves.
- This dish can be prepared a day in advance; the flavors improve after resting overnight in the fridge.
Keywords: Crockpot chicken, cranberry apricot chicken, slow cooker chicken thighs, fruit sauce chicken, easy chicken recipe, dinner crockpot recipe, comfort food chicken
Find it online: https://islawhite.com/crockpot-cranberry-apricot-chicken-recipe/
