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I’m always a fan of using an ingredient in a new way. Sometimes, we get stuck thinking that what has always been will always be. Apricots already take a backseat to peaches and are usually relegated to something like apricot butter, pies, or maybe a chutney. All of those uses are a wonderful way to use in-season fruit, but what if you want something on the savory side?
This one-skillet dish breaks the boundaries and opens up the door to the use of apricots as part of a savory dish. The sweet but slightly sour flavor of apricot is the perfect vehicle to elevate chicken. Once cooked, it adds an almost marmalade-like consistency but with a greater depth of flavor.
You’re going to love this recipe, especially if you love to make one-dish meals!
Why use apricots in a savory dish?
A lot of times, we look to balance out meals with something sweet. Dressings have sugar, honey, or maple syrup. Meats use rubs with brown sugar. And why is that? Sweetness creates an equilibrium in a dish.
Apricots are a step above plain sugar. They have obvious sweetness but also the perfect amount of sourness. As they bake in the oven, they become soft and almost spreadable, which is just the right texture when mixed with the orzo. The apricot flavor is perfect with rosemary and sage and enhances their herbal notes.
What is Orzo?
One skillet dishes sound amazing but can be difficult to develop. The idea of everything cooking at the same temperature and time sounds amazing, right? But, in reality, it’s an uphill battle. Finding an ingredient that can cook alongside the chicken without becoming mushy or underbaked takes some practice. With that in mind, say hello to Ozro!
Orzo is actually a pasta that looks like a large grain of rice or barley. The small, uniform shape lends to a quick cooking time on the stovetop but can also be used for a slower bake in the oven. The best part is that as the chicken bakes on top, the orzo underneath soaks up the drippings and pulls in all the flavor. It’s a win-win all around!
More Chicken Recipes
- Grilled chicken berry salad
- Sheet pan roasted chicken with smashed potatoes
- Chicken fajita salad
- Southwestern barbecue chicken
- Chicken piccata with creamy orzo
Watch how to make this apricot chicken recipe
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One Skillet Apricot Chicken with Orzo
Ingredients
- 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
- 2 tsp kosher salt separated
- 1 ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper separated
- 1 cup sliced leek
- ½ lb apricots
- ¼ cup chopped fresh sage
- 2 tbsp fresh rosemary
- 1 cup orzo
- 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
- 2 cups chicken stock
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a 10- or 12-inch cast-iron (or oven-ready) skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium. Sprinkle the chicken thighs with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper on all sides. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken, skin side down. Sear until the chicken skin is deep golden brown and releases from the skillet easily, 6-8 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.4 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- In the same skillet, add prepared leeks. Sauté until soft and just beginning to turn golden, 5-7 minutes.1 cup sliced leek
- Remove the skillet from the heat and add orzo, apricots, rosemary, and sage. Stir to combine and add the orange juice and chicken stock. Nestle the chicken thighs skin side up. Add 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper.2 tsp kosher salt, ½ lb apricots, ¼ cup chopped fresh sage, 2 tbsp fresh rosemary, 1 cup orzo, 2 tbsp fresh orange juice, 2 cups chicken stock, 1 ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Bake in preheated oven until the orzo is tender and the chicken thighs reach 160°F, 30-40 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.
Hi Kaleb! If I can’t find fresh apricots, do you have a recommendation for a substitute? I was thinking peaches, but they aren’t as complex as apricots…
Hey Erica, I am going to use dried apricots. I’m pretty sure that will work. Those should be easy to find…
Stephanie is correct. The best/tastiest way to go is dehydrated Turkish Apricots. You can reconstitute them by placing one package into a baking dish, pouring a kettle of boiling water over it, covering it, and leaving for 10-15 minutes. For more flavor, you can add a bit of bourbon or rum. After draining the liquid, refrigerate in a container, being certain not to crowd, until use. If you’re on a budget, any brand will do.
Awesome Kaleb!!!! Micki
Hi Kaleb, my hubbie is not eating carbs/pasta. What can I substitute for the orzo? Would Quinoa work? If so, would I need to change cooking time or maybe the amount of chicken stock?
Skillet chicken thighs and apricots
Hey Kaleb – been following along for more than a year and just love, love, love your posts, your videos, and your blog. And, of course, Kip. Never has such a small cutie had SO many people pulling for him! I am going to make this chicken/orzo dish tonight I do not have any fresh apricots but do have a huge bag of dried apricots. They aren’t totally dried out and crispy, they are still soft, but I’m wondering if I should re-hydrate them. They will probably plump up and re-hydrate while cooking, I’m thinking. I’ll let you know what happens if I don’t hear from you. ❤️
Excellent! I substituted Quinoa for the Orzo because Hubbie is off pasta. I still would like to taste it with Orzo. I also squeezed the juice of a whole orange into it! We loved it! Thanks for a great one-pan recipe!!
Excellent! I substituted Quinoa for the Orzo because Hubbie is off pasta. I still would like to taste it with Orzo. I also squeezed the juice of a whole orange into it! We loved it! Thanks for a great one-pan recipe!!
Delicious! Came out perfect. You didn’t say in the recipe where or when to put in the orange juice, so I added it along with the chicken broth.
Delicious. Easy to follow for someone who doesn’t cook much. This is a dish that tastes even better the next day. Even without the chicken the orzo and other ingredients together make a good dish.
I just made your recipe. Epic!!! So good. So enjoy watching you, so glad I found Wyse Guide 👊
Sara
Delicious! Shared with friends and we all raved about the flavors! Making again for Sunday dinner!
Love this dish. The sweetness of the cooked apricot is so delicious mixed with the perfect bite of chicken and orzo. The best orzo I’ve had.
The apricots do so,etching special, so glad you agree!
This looks delicious and worth the time to try!
Family loved this one
I want to bake the apricot chicken with orzo using two chicken breasts. How long would I bake it?
Thanks,
Susan
I made this last night and it was a hit with adults and kids!
Super easy too.
(I had to substitute leeks with white onion.)
Thanks for another yummy meal.
This was absolutely delicious! I used dried apricots because apricots aren’t in season in Australia at the moment. Still turned out perfect. Will definitely make again 👌
This was absolutely fantastic. Rich and flavourful. It turned out exactly like the video/pictures. Thanks Kaleb. I couldn’t get apricots – they’re not yet ripe in Western Canada – so I used nectarines (imported). They had enough structure not to get mushy. And great taste. I will make this again as soon as I can get some local apricots. I’m also wondering if you could do this dish in the winter by rehydrating dried apricots?
I LOVE this dish!! Have made it for company so many times, and it’s ALWAYS a hit!! Thank YOU!!!
O my…. so much goodness in one skillet! We all l o v e d it!
I didn’t have apricot or orzo. I used oranges and rice as substitutes. It’s cooking now
Made this tonight for dinner, love this dish! Easy, fast, nutritious and one pan. This will become a staple in our home. Thank you Kaleb. PS Picked the Rosemary and sage from my garden. Love this savory dish
My 15 year old son is going to love this for dinner tonight. Pasta is his favorite and he loves chicken thighs. I think this will be a hit. Thank you.
This meal looks so delicious! Could one also use peaches instead of apricots with this recipe? I so appreciate your delicious and detailed videos!
Could I use canned apricots?