Crockpot Cranberry Apricot Chicken Recipe
This Crockpot Cranberry Apricot Chicken recipe features tender bone-in chicken thighs slow-cooked in a sweet and tangy sauce made from apricot preserves, cranberry sauce, and French dressing. The chicken is first seared to golden perfection and then simmered in the crockpot with a delightful blend of spices for a comforting and flavorful meal that’s perfect for any occasion.
- 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: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 8 bone-in chicken thighs
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt or garlic 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 (approximately 1 ounce)
- 1 cup cranberry sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 cup frozen cranberries
Garnish
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Melt Butter and Prepare Skillet: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat to get ready for searing the chicken.
- Mix Seasonings: In a small bowl, combine the garlic salt, onion powder, black pepper, and paprika to create the spice blend.
- Season Chicken: Rub the spice mix evenly all over the chicken thighs to ensure flavorful seasoning.
- Sear Chicken: Place the chicken thighs skin side down in the hot skillet and cook for about 5 minutes until the skin is nicely golden and crisp.
- Prepare Sauce: In a separate bowl, stir together the apricot preserves, French dressing, dry onion soup mix, cranberry sauce, and brown sugar until smooth and well combined.
- Transfer to Slow Cooker: Place the seared chicken thighs into the crockpot, arranging them evenly.
- Add Sauce and Cranberries: Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken, then sprinkle the frozen cranberries on top for added texture and flavor.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and infused with the sauce flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, garnish with fresh parsley and additional cranberries if desired to enhance presentation and taste.
Notes
- Searing the chicken before slow cooking helps lock in juices and adds a deeper flavor and appealing color.
- You can substitute fresh cranberries for frozen if preferred, just rinse and pat dry before adding.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with rice, roasted vegetables, or mashed potatoes to soak up the delicious sauce.
- For a thicker sauce, remove the chicken after cooking and simmer the sauce in the skillet for a few minutes before serving.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and taste great reheated.
Keywords: crockpot chicken, cranberry chicken, apricot chicken, slow cooker recipes, holiday chicken, easy chicken dinner, sweet and tangy chicken
