Go Back

Slow Cooker Apricot Cranberry Chicken

Print Recipe
Braised meat served on mashed potatoes, garnished with cranberries and chopped herbs, with green beans and parsley in the background.
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:4 hours
Total Time:4 hours 10 minutes

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 1/2 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.
Servings: 4 servings