Easy Apricot Chicken Drumsticks With Apricot Nectar

An old classic, this version of Apricot Chicken recipe is super easy. Make a big batch of marinade and freeze the chicken in batches to save time and money.

Nothing says ‘frugal meal’ like chicken drumsticks.

And nothing says ‘chicken drumsticks are served’ like this easy apricot chicken drumstick recipe with apricot nectar, teleported straight from the 1970s.

As a parent, what I love about this dish is that it’s easy.

I’m all for cooking from scratch, but sometimes you’ve just got to have a cheat meal up your sleeve, and this is one of ours.

The ‘cheat’ part is making this apricot chicken with French onion soup mix. No doubt the original version with real onions and apricots would be gastronomically superior, but most nights of late, easy beats just about any other consideration.

To make, simply mix the soup mix with apricot nectar, pour it over the chicken and then bung it in the oven for an hour. Stir in a little sour cream at the end if you like and then serve.

Watch the Video

Check out the video below to see just how easy it is to make apricot chicken and veggie rice.

What to Serve With Apricot Chicken

You can serve apricot chicken with plain rice or mashed potato and some steamed greens or a green salad.

My favourite side is a one-pot rice and veggie dish for less washing up. To make this one-pot side, boil rice in plenty of water (not the absorption method). Chop a whole bunch of different vegetables like carrot, broccoli, zucchini as well as adding peas and corn (or you can use mixed frozen vegetables) and add the veggies to the rice about half-way through cooking.

Once the vegetables and rice are cooked through, drain in a colander and serve with the chicken.

Substitutions in Apricot Chicken

Instead of using chicken drumsticks, you can use chicken thighs with the bone in instead. You can choose skin-on or or skin-off, depending on your preference.

The apricot nectar can be substituted with a tin of apricot halves in juice if you prefer apricots in your sauce. This won’t have as much flavour as the nectar, but you can add a touch of apricot jam to boost the flavour.

Don’t have French onion soup mix? You can make your own using dried onion flakes and beef stock powder. Here’s a recipe for a DIY soup mix.

How to Cook Apricot Chicken Drumsticks in the Slow Cooker

While baked apricot chicken is pretty easy, you can making it even easier by cooking it in the slow cooker.

To cook this in the slow cooker, brown the chicken pieces in a little oil in a hot frying pan (this step adds a little extra flavour but you can skip it if you are short on time and don’t need the extra fuss!).

Place the chicken pieces in the slow cooker and sprinkle the French onion soup mix over the top. Then pour in the apricot nectar.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the chicken is cooked through when tested with a sharp knife.

Remove the chicken from the slow cooker to rest and turn the slow cooker to high. Mix a slurry of 1 Tbsp. cornflour with a little cold water and stir into the sauce. Cook until the sauce has thickened. Turn off the slow cooker and stir in the sour cream if using.

Return the chicken to the sauce and serve.

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