Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken is one of those wonderfully simple dinners that comes together with very little effort but delivers big flavour. With tender chicken, sweet canned apricots, and the savoury depth of French onion soup mix, it creates a lovely balance that the whole family enjoys.
This is an easy, reliable recipe that’s perfect for busy days when you want something warm and comforting ready to go. Just a few pantry staples, a quick prep, and the slow cooker does the rest.
Originally published May 20, 2022. Updated April 28, 2026.
Why is this apricot chicken so comforting?
This is one of my top ten dinners of all time! I find it so comforting and just love the combination of the savoury and sweet apricot and chicken.
In fact this is the exact meal my Mum made me when I came home with one of my brand new babies and I sat in the dark eating it with one hand, these lovely familiar flavours.
Why does apricot chicken work so well in the slow cooker?
Slow cooker chicken is just lovely, so tender and falls apart, adding the savoury flavours with the sweetness of the apricot is so good. Are you a fan of fruit with savoury meals? I know some people definitely are not but give this a nudge!
What’s the difference between homemade and packet apricot chicken?
There are many variations of this same recipe, it has been around forever. There is even a sachet of Apricot Chicken in the Maggi range for a meal, but I like to make it myself with a few extra ingredients to add more flavour.
Ingredients for apricot chicken in the slow cooker
The ingredients are lovely and simple, and there are not too many of them either. For this Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken you will need:
- Chicken Thighs (or Chicken Breasts)
- Apricot Nectar
- French Onion Soup Powder (Sachet)
- Curry Powder
- Soy Sauce
- Can of Halved Apricots
- Cornflour (optional)
What is apricot nectar and where do I find it?
I have a few tips for this recipe, firstly what on earth is Apricot Nectar you ask? You will find it in the juice section of the supermarket, for me it came in a 1 litre box, you may find it in smaller ones at some stores.
It is basically the juice of an apricot, thick and sweet, often mixed with sugar and water. You can make your own if you like, but convenience is good!
What is French onion soup powder and why is it used?
French Onion Soup Powder is the powder you use to make French onion soup, it is the flavour base for this recipe, it is a combination of onion flakes, powder, pepper and beef stock among other things. Again this can be made from scratch if you prefer!
What is curry powder and do I need to use it?
Curry Powder is common in some countries, but not in others, it is usually a mix of turmeric, cumin, ginger, and black pepper. I like to add soy sauce to add more savoury notes and some salt.
Is this a simple dump-and-go slow cooker recipe?
Canned halved apricots are the fruit of choice! They are just softer and nicer than fresh, don’t ask me why! You can absolutely use fresh if you prefer. They are slow cooked so will cook down beautifully.
So to make this recipe it is very much a dump in the slow cooker and cook kind of recipe, so perfect for popping on in the morning and having ready for you after a long winters day.
What is the best cut of chicken for slow cooker apricot chicken?
I like to use trimmed skinless boneless chicken thighs as they are a lovely tender cut of meat, but you can absolutely use chicken breasts, halve them first if they are particularly large.
How long should I cook apricot chicken in the slow cooker?
You can cook this on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours depending on the time you have available.
How can I thicken the sauce and serve apricot chicken?
If once it has cooked you would like the sauce a little thicker then add a bit of cornflour to the mix to thicken.
I like to serve it over rice and you can have vegetables on the side.
Can I freeze Apricot Chicken?
Yes you can, you can freeze it for up to three months. Allow it to cool down, then place in an airtight container and freeze. When ready to use it thaw it in the refrigerator and then reheat until piping hot.
Other chicken recipes to try
If you love slow cooker chicken recipes check out my Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken, my Slow Cooker Creamy Pesto Pasta or my Slow Cooker Satay Chicken.
You may also like to try some of my other favourite chicken dinners:
- Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Chicken
- Creamy Garlic Bacon Chicken
- Chicken Mascarpone Pesto Filo Parcels
- Creamy Lemon Parmesan Chicken
Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken Recipe
Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken
Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken is a simple, dependable dinner made with pantry staples, creating tender chicken in a sweet and savoury sauce the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
- 8 Chicken Thighs, Approx 1 Kg Breasts
- 400 Gram Can of Apricot Halves, drained
- 400 ml Apricot Nectar*
- 1 Sachet French Onion Soup, 29 grams
- 1 Tablespoon Curry Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 2 teaspoons Cornflour (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a slow cooker bowl with cooking spray, mine is 6 litres
- Trim the visible fat from the chicken thighs and place them in the bottom of the slow cooker
- Drain the apricots and place them over the chicken
- In a jug or bowl add the apricot nectar and add the french onion soup, curry powder and soy sauce and whisk to combine
- Pour this over the chicken and apricot
- Place the lid on the slow cooker, set to LOW and cook for 8 hours, or HIGH for 4 hours, cook until the chicken is tender and falling apart
- If you prefer the sauce to be thicker, once done cooking, remove 4 teaspoons of the liquid and place in a cup, and add 2 teaspoons of cornflour to this and whisk well, pour this back into the slow cooker and gently stir and cook for a few more minutes.
- Serve over rice or pasta, or with mashed potato and a side of vegetables.
- Enjoy!
Notes
What is Apricot Nectar?
It is the juice of Apricot, usually premade in the juice aisle, a combination of juiced apricots, sugar and water.
What is French Onion Soup?
A combination of powdered onions, dried beef stock, pepper and more, used as a base to make soup
What is Curry Powder?
Usually a combination of turmeric, cumin, ginger and black pepper
Can I freeze Apricot Chicken?
Yes you can, you can freeze if for up to three months. Allow it to cool down, then place in an airtight container and freeze. When ready to use it thaw it in the refrigerator and then reheat until piping hot.
Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 517Total Fat 29gSaturated Fat 9gUnsaturated Fat 20gCholesterol 230mgSodium 693mgCarbohydrates 23gFiber 3gSugar 13gProtein 46g
JustAMumNZ.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although justamumnz.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
This is so easy and delicious. I really hope you love this Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken as much as we do. It is such a simple, comforting recipe to have in your regular meal rotation, and one I know I’ll be making again and again.
If you give this recipe a go, I’d love to hear how it turned out for you in the comments. You can also leave a ⭐ rating in the recipe card above, it really helps others find and enjoy this recipe too.
You can also find me over on Facebook and Instagram for more baking and cooking inspiration, or join my newsletter to receive my latest recipes straight to your inbox.
Happy baking,
Anna x
Robyn says
Apricot chicken the best
justamumnz says
I agree! 🙂
Margaret Rudd says
I made it as a casserole as short on time. Found a little sweet, but very nice for a change.
Tina says
I’m struggling in the UK to get apricot nectar, could I just blend canned apricots. Or could you suggest an alternative?
justamumnz says
You can use mango nectar, or as you say simply blend a whole can of apricots in their juice and measure the amount from that.