Slow Cooker Apricot Cranberry Chicken
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Ingredients
- 8 bone in chicken thighs
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt or powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 ½ cups apricot preserves
- 1 cup french dressing
- 1 envelope dry onion soup mix
- 1 cup cranberry sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 cup frozen cranberries
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Mix the garlic salt, onion powder, pepper and paprika together.
- Sprinkle over the chicken thighs.
- In the skillet place the thighs skin side down.
- Brown for about 5 minutes just until the skin just starts to get color.
- In a mixing bowl combine the apricot preserves, french dressing, dry onion soup mix, cranberry sauce and brown sugar.
- Place the chicken thighs in the slow cooker and pour the sauce over the top.
- Sprinkle the cranberries over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Garnish and serve!
Notes
Tips & Tricks
- Brown first – Searing the chicken skin-side down before slow cooking adds extra flavor and keeps the skin from going soggy.
- Use bone-in thighs – They stay juicy and flavorful, but boneless works if you prefer.
- Stir the sauce well – Mixing the preserves, dressing, and soup mix ahead of time helps everything blend smoothly.
- Add cranberries on top – This keeps them whole and pretty for serving.
- Finish with garnish – A sprinkle of fresh parsley brightens the rich sauce.
Substitutions
- Chicken thighs – Boneless thighs or even chicken breasts can be swapped in.
- Apricot preserves – Peach or orange marmalade will also work.
- French dressing – Catalina or Russian dressing can stand in.
- Cranberries – Use dried cranberries (½ cup) if you can’t find fresh.
- Dijon mustard – Yellow or spicy brown mustard will still give a nice tang.
Variations
- Spicy Twist – Add red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce to balance the sweetness.
- Holiday Style – Stir in chopped pecans or walnuts before serving for festive crunch.
- One-Pot Meal – Add cubed sweet potatoes or carrots into the slow cooker along with the chicken.
- Glazed Chicken Bake – Instead of slow cooking, bake the chicken in a casserole dish with the sauce at 375°F for 45–50 minutes.
- Crockpot Party Wings – Use chicken wings instead of thighs for a sweet and tangy appetizer.
Private Notes
Servings: 4 servings
