My maj* Tracy and I have a diet plan together. It’s simple. We text each other pictures of everything we eat in a day. It’s called The Friend Diet and it keeps us accountable for all of the things we mindlessly eat. Tracy has a thing for dried apple rings and I basically only eat tortillas stuffed with various eggs, beans, and greens. It’s not so much a diet because we don’t actually restrict ourselves (as evidence by the picture of a giant slice of Drake on Cake cake I just texted to Tracy)… but it is our way of being accountable for… if nothing else, the amount of apple rings and tortillas we eat.
On one of the rare days that I was not eating a tortilla, I made this Apricot and Balsamic Glazed Chicken served with fluffy couscous and peppery arugula. It’s a perfect recipe for those Tuesday nights when you’re like…. I need to be an adult, and make dinner like an adult, and eat it sitting on a chair like an adult. This is that dinner.
Other chicken dinners include: Slight Fear of Commitment Roast Chicken (don’t worry, everything is great) and The Best Week Night Chicken Dinner and Chicken Spinach Meatball Soup with Broth and Rice. I suppose what I’m trying to say is… I have no reason to eat as many tortillas as I do.
Here’s dinner. Let’s do it.
*maj: short for major. As in, ‘Tracy is the major person in my life’. Best friend. Like the movie Beaches except (spoiler alert) we both live (hopefully, GEEZ).
This recipe is rather smash and dash. That’s how I refer to a quick and easy weeknight meal. I’m a big fan of boneless, skinless chicken thighs because they’re cheap, flavorful, and cook through quickly. Some people haaaate chicken thighs and if you’re one of them…. it’s cool. Go for the breast. No shame in the game.
Season generously with salt and pepper. Both sides. Pan sear in a hot pan with olive oil. There’s no stirring while pan searing. It’s the quality time in the pan that gives chicken it’s golden brown crust.
What’s smash and dash about this chicken is the flavor. We’re using a few bold ingredients to add a major amount of flavor in a flash. Apricot jam (the good kind) and balsamic vinegar. Sweet and sour, big and bold.
Jam, balsamic, and chicken stock are whisked together, poured over the sizzling chicken and simmered into a thin gravy.
With fresh greens, buttered couscous, and extra gravy… it’s dinner! Add sparkling white wine because you’ve come this far. Take a picture for The Friend Diet and tomorrow? Tortillas!
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Apricot Balsamic Chicken Dinner
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 1/3 cup apricot jam
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- cooked couscous
- fresh arugula
Instructions
- In a large saute pan, heat the extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Season both sides of the chicken liberally with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. When the oil is hot, add the chicken and brown undisturbed for 5 minutes. Flip and sprinkle with fresh thyme. Cook until the chicken is tender and cooked through, about 5 minutes more.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the jam, vinegar and stock and pour over the chicken. Cook uncovered for 4 to 5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened and becomes a thin glaze.
- Serve with couscous and fresh arugula.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
33 Responses
I’ve been making this for years both the original recipe and variations with white balsamic or tart cherry jam (if I’m out of apricot). All are wonderful. It’s a staple that has seen me through dating, newlywed life, and now parenting young kids. We love it with rice and either roasted green veggies or “Meme Salad” (a favorite of my late grandmother consisting of lettuce, mandarin oranges, sliced grapes, diced avocado, candied almonds, and dressed with rice vinegar). The best dinner.
Can’t believe this one doesn’t have more ratings/comments!
So easy, comes together so quickly, perfect for weeknights!
Only thing I do is pull the chicken once it’s cooked and let the sauce get even thicker/glazy-ier and put the chicken back in to coat!
We do it with rice and roasted broccoli a lot as an alternative to the couscous and arugula depending on what’s in the fridge :)
Making this recipe for the millionth time because my husband and I just love the taste and ease of this, especially for meal prep. I just thought that this older recipe needed a comment / reminder about how much it is loved!
Made this for dinner last night and it was a smashing success! Served it with couscous and balsamic bacon roasted Brussels sprouts. SO good! Thank you for the fabulous recipe!
I’m 59 and still need to be reminded to eat like an adult…..MORE recipes like this PLEASE! Yup, Jam+ protein= SO YUM! Know that you are really appreciated on Islands in western Canada :)
I made this a few weeks ago and it was DELICIOUS! I used Trader Joe’s Peach Bellini Jam and it was just such a treat. I made it with barley this time, but will definitely do coucous next time. I also used bone-in thighs (what I had in the freezer) so they definitely took longer, but it turned out wonderfully. Thanks for such a great recipe!
I just made this and it is SO delicious!! Thank you Joy for bringing this amazing dish (and so many others) into my life! It was one of the best ways I have eaten chicken so far!
Delicious and budget friendly! Used homemade peach jam instead of apricot (or the original orange mamelade). Love the way the balsamic vinegar accentuates the flavors in the jam!
I’ve tried the friend diet, it’s fun! This is a great recipe, easy and sticky and tasty!
This looks so yummy and I sure miss your podcast with your Maj. I used to listen to you gals alllll the time and I am not kidding when I say the two of you got me through a break up and subsequent very lonely time in my life. Also. thank you for Drake on Cake. It is the best thing in the history of ever. <3
This looks divine, and I can’t wait to make it.
Also, what happened to the podcast!
Joy! I made this for dinner tonight and it turned out so delicious! I paired it with broccoli and rice, but holy moly that glaze ????????????????
Delicious recipe !! This chicken recipe seems so tasty and I have noted this recipe for today’s dinner. Thanks Joy for sharing this post :)
Looks beautiful!
https://www.myhappynook.com
Oooh! That sauce looks scrumptious. I would try this with boneless chicken instead.
This looks so yummy and so simple! Can’t wait to try!
Delicious dinner idea! I made this last night for my family and it was a hit, thanks Joy : )
Ok I need to say this again, and expect an email from me stating this. I love you guys! I started all my culinary experience from you (weirdly, I don’t remember how i stumbled upon your blog but THANKS HEAVENS I did), and every I usually listen to an old podcast of yours, and you’re blog is my go to page every morning: I laugh, get inspiration, get energy and a very big smile from your blog. So sincerely, thank you (and Tracy, which I started to follow being her your maj) for these amazingly good and heart-worming blogs.
With all the love and appreciation,
Vicky
Looks scrumptious. My one suggestion would be to sub a no-sugar-added apricot jam – the kind sweetened with fruit juice. My husband cannot have refined sugar and no-sugar jam is my substitute. Also – nothing wrong with reducing sugar intake imo.
Love your real food posts! Can’t wait to make this one.
Wow This looks Amazing !
Cant wait to try this
Thank you for sharing
and the pics are Brilliant
I started my blog to make myself accountable to..my mom? my friends? whoever will read? of the fact that I didn’t just eat an omelet/egg tacos again for dinner and to prove that I’m an adult, too. Love the sweet/sour. Awesomeness.
What a delicious way to get some apricot flavor!
kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
I love that you text your friend everything you eat–what a great way to be accountable! ; ) Also I’m a fan of chicken thighs. They are cheaper than chicken breasts, are more flavorful, and way more juicy! Love this recipe!
I’m not sure I can wait for dinner to try this, I may just have it for lunch. So delicious!
This sounds delicious! It’s definitely going on the meal plan for next week.
Yay! Another way to use up jam in my pantry!
I think we should text each other all the bites of dessert we eat in a day. Wait, no. Our phones would blow up from over-use ;)
Looks like a good plan for dinner tonight. Thanks!
This looks so amazing! Thanks for sharing such an easy weeknight dinner!
This is totally dinner tonight, can’t wait!
I LOVE your Drake on Cake account, it cracks me up every time! But I keep wondering where all of those cakes go? Is it a side business, do you share with friends?
I love this post, your writing is so funny! A friend diet would be a great idea since I already take pictures of nearly everything I eat, but I eat so many different things I’d be spamming my friend around 20 times a day. Great recipe, will remember this one :)
I love this idea! Easy yet delicious!