Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken

Updated Jul 29, 2025

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Give your shredded chicken a completely new taste with this Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken recipe. Apricot preserves are mixed with classic Catalina dressing for a sweet and savory sauce mix that is absolutely delicious. Take the guesswork out of what to cook for dinner tonight and give this easy recipe a try.

close up of chicken thighs with apricot sauce in slow cooker

Putting a delicious meal on the dinner table shouldn’t be stressful. Whether you’re looking for something quick for busy weeknights or something to bring to a potluck, this crockpot apricot chicken recipe has you covered. With a quick prep time and cook time, you can start this meal in the morning and have it ready by dinner.

Recipe Ingredients

Ingredients for apricot chicken still in packaging in a crockpot.

Chicken Thighs (or breasts)
Apricot Jam: Use any brand you prefer. Some of the most popular are Bonne Maman or Smucker’s.
Catalina Dressing: This dressing is similar to a sweet tomato flavor, which is why it’s ideal to use in salads, pasta salads, burgers, and chicken.
Seasonings: Onion soup mix, red pepper flakes, and black pepper add great flavor to the chicken and marry perfectly with the dressing and jam.

How to make Apricot chicken in Crockpot:

chicken, catalina dressing, onion soup mix and seasonings in a crockpot.

Step One – Place the chicken into the bottom of the slow cooker.

Step Two – Add the apricot preserves, Catalina dressing, onion soup mix, pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Step Three – Stir the sauce ingredients together over the chicken. Cover and cook chicken on LOW for 6 hours.

Step Four – Shred the chicken with two forks or leave the chicken breasts or thighs whole. Serve and enjoy!

Variations

Even though this recipe has only four ingredients, you can definitely change it up. Here are my favorite ideas:

Although this recipe is “apricot” chicken, you can play around with different jam flavors such as pineapple jam, peach jam, or strawberry jam.
You can add fresh apricots, add onions that have been sliced or diced, and green bell peppers.
Same as the jam substitutions, you can play around with using French dressing, Russian dressing, or barbecue sauce.

My Serving Ideas

This meal needs a side to be enjoyed the best, here are some great ideas on how to serve this tangy chicken.

One of the most common ways to serve this shredded chicken is over a bed of cooked white rice or brown rice. Or serve over cooked egg noodles.
Turn this meal into a tasty fun meal by serving it as sandwiches on white bread, Italian bread, or hoagie buns.
This chicken also pairs well with baked beans, a green salad, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, and/or a fruit salad. Pair this apricot chicken with my Slow Cooker Honey Butter Rolls and a side of Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese.

Recipe FAQs

How do I get the grease from the top of the sauce?

I do this by taking a paper towel and laying it flat over the sauce. I pull up the paper towel after a few seconds and all the grease sticks to the paper towel. Easy peasy.

How do I store leftovers?

Store any leftover apricot chicken in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat over medium heat on the stovetop until warmed throughout.

Featured Comment

“So pleased! Talk about easy! As a working Mom, I am so thankful for easy ingredients, delicious eats and easy prep!!”
– Natalie

36 More Reviews

close up of chicken in apricot chicken in slow cooker

Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken

4.89 from 9 votes

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 6

Total Time: 4 10

Servings:

By: Sarah Olson

Crockpot Apricot Chicken is a sweet and tangy dish made with tender chicken, apricot preserves, Catalina dressing, and onion soup mix—perfect over rice! 🍑🍗 (only 4 ingredients!)

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How to Video

Equipment

Slow Cooker – 4 quart or larger (I own and use this one from Crock-Pot)

Ingredients

▢ 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts, or boneless skinless chicken thighs
▢ 1 cup apricot preserves
▢ 1 cup Catalina salad dressing
▢ 1 oz. packet Lipton onion soup mix
▢ 1/8 tsp. black pepper
▢ 2 pinches red pepper flakes, optional

Instructions

Place the chicken in to the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the apricot preserves, Catalina dressing, onion soup mix, pepper and pepper flakes. Stir the sauce ingredients together over the chicken.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours.
I like to de-grease the sauce before serving. I do this by taking a paper towel and laying it flat over the sauce. I pull up the paper towel after a few seconds and all the grease sticks to the paper towel. Easy peasy.
Shred the chicken with two forks or leave the chicken breasts or thighs whole.
Serve with rice.
Enjoy!

Sarah’s Notes

Variations:

Although this recipe is “apricot” chicken, you can play around with different jam flavors such as pineapple jam, peach jam, or strawberry jam.
You can add fresh apricots, add onions that have been sliced or diced, and green bell peppers.
Same as the jam substitutions, you can play around with using French dressing, Russian dressing, or barbecue sauce.

Serving Ideas:

One of the most common ways to serve this shredded chicken is over a bed of cooked white rice or brown rice. Or serve over cooked egg noodles.
Turn this meal into a tasty fun meal by serving it as sandwiches on white bread, Italian bread, or hoagie buns.
This chicken also pairs well with baked beans, a green salad, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, and/or a fruit salad.