Slow Cooker Apricot Brown Sugar Chicken

I love a slow cooker chicken recipe that doesn’t need loads of ingredients or much messing around, and this apricot brown sugar chicken is exactly that. It’s sweet, sticky and really tasty, and it makes such an easy dinner when you know you’ve got a busy day ahead.

The sauce is my favorite part. The apricot preserves and brown sugar make it lovely and sweet, but then you’ve got the soy sauce and Dijon mustard in there too, so it’s not just overly sugary. And because the chicken cooks in all that sauce for a few hours, it ends up really tender.

We usually have this with rice because you can spoon plenty of that extra sauce over the top, but it works with mashed potatoes too. Add some veggies on the side and you’ve got a really easy family dinner without having to spend ages in the kitchen.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts – I use chicken breasts for this, but you could swap them for boneless chicken thighs if you prefer.

• 1 teaspoon salt – Just a little for seasoning the chicken before it goes into the skillet.

• 1 teaspoon pepper – I use regular ground black pepper here.

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder – This adds a little extra flavor to the chicken without needing to chop fresh garlic.

• 2 tablespoons oil – You’ll need this for searing the chicken before it goes into the slow cooker.

• 1 cup apricot preserves – This is what gives the sauce most of that lovely sweet apricot flavor.

• ½ cup brown sugar – It makes the sauce sweeter and helps give it that sticky finish.

• ⅓ cup chicken broth – This loosens up the sauce a little and adds some extra flavor too.

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce – Just a tablespoon adds a nice savory flavor and balances out some of the sweetness.

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard – You don’t really get a strong mustard taste, but it works really well with the sweetness of the sauce.

Recipe Instructions

Full measurements and cooking times can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Step 2: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Step 3: Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and sear for 2–3 minutes per side, until lightly golden (the chicken doesn’t need to be fully cooked).

Step 4: Place the seared chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of your slow cooker.

Step 5: In a bowl, whisk together the apricot preserves, brown sugar, chicken broth, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard until smooth.

Step 6: Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker.

Step 7: Cover and cook on LOW for 4–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.

Step 8: Once cooked, spoon the sauce over the chicken. You can either shred the chicken or leave it whole, depending on your preference.

Step 9: For a thicker glaze, remove the lid during the last 20–30 minutes of cooking.

What to Serve with Crockpot Apricot Brown Sugar Chicken

We usually keep the sides pretty simple with this one because there’s already loads of flavor in the sauce. Rice is probably my favorite because you can spoon some of that extra apricot sauce over it, but there are plenty of other things that work too.

• White or brown rice – Probably the easiest option and really good with the sauce spooned over the top.

• Mashed potatoes – Another good one if you want something a bit more filling.

• Roasted potatoes – These work really well too, especially for a bigger family dinner.

• Steamed broccoli – Nice and simple and you can get some veggies on the plate without much extra work.

• Green beans – I love these on the side of slow cooker chicken dishes like this.

• A simple salad – A good option if you want to keep dinner a little lighter.

Storing

If you have any leftovers, pop them into an airtight container with some of the sauce and keep them in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. I definitely wouldn’t throw that extra sauce away as it helps keep the chicken nice and moist when you reheat it.

You can reheat the chicken in the microwave until it’s piping hot, or warm it gently in a pan on the stove. If the sauce has thickened up a bit in the fridge, just add a small splash of chicken broth or water to loosen it again.

Variations & Substitutions

There are a few easy swaps you can make with this recipe, so don’t worry too much if you’re missing something. You can also play around with the sauce a little depending on how sweet you like it.

• Use chicken thighs – Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work really well here and stay lovely and juicy in the slow cooker.

• Try a different preserve – Peach preserves would be a really easy swap if you don’t have apricot.

• Cut back on the brown sugar – If you don’t like things too sweet, you can use a little less brown sugar.

• Add some heat – A pinch of red pepper flakes or a little sriracha would give the sauce a nice kick.

• Swap the Dijon – Regular yellow mustard will work if that’s what you have, although the flavor will be slightly different.

• Add some garlic – If you love garlic, throw in a couple of minced garlic cloves along with the sauce.

FAQs

Can you put raw chicken in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can put raw chicken straight into a slow cooker. For this recipe I like to sear the chicken first because it gives it a little extra flavor, but the chicken doesn’t need to be cooked through at this stage.

Can I make slow cooker apricot chicken without searing the chicken first?

Yes. If you’re short on time, you can skip the searing and put the seasoned chicken straight into the slow cooker. I do think searing it first adds a bit more flavor, but the recipe will still work without it.

Can I use chicken thighs for Crockpot apricot chicken?

Definitely. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a really good swap for chicken breasts and tend to stay nice and juicy in the slow cooker.

What can I use instead of apricot preserves?

Peach preserves are probably the easiest substitute and will give you a similar sweet, fruity sauce. You could also experiment with orange marmalade if you don’t mind changing the flavor a little more.

How do I thicken the sauce for slow cooker apricot chicken?

The easiest way is to take the lid off the slow cooker for the last 20–30 minutes and let the sauce reduce a little. If you want it thicker still, you can stir in a small cornstarch slurry toward the end of cooking.

Is apricot brown sugar chicken very sweet?

It is definitely on the sweeter side, thanks to the apricot preserves and brown sugar, but the soy sauce and Dijon mustard help balance it out. If you prefer a less sweet sauce, simply cut back on the brown sugar a little.

What goes well with apricot chicken?

Rice is my favorite because it soaks up all that extra sauce, but mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, broccoli, green beans and other simple veggies all work well too.

Can I shred slow cooker apricot chicken?

Yes, and it’s really good shredded! Once the chicken is cooked and tender, shred it with two forks and stir it back through the apricot sauce before serving.