Roasted Chicken Thighs With Tangy Apricots and Carrots Recipe (2024)

By Eric Kim

Roasted Chicken Thighs With Tangy Apricots and Carrots Recipe (1)

Total Time
30 minutes, plus 30 minutes’ marinating
Rating
4(1,116)
Notes
Read community notes

As with J. Kenji López-Alt’s mayo-marinated chicken or Ali Slagle’s ginger-lime chicken, this streamlined recipe takes advantage of the best qualities of mayonnaise. Here, serving as both chicken marinade and cooking fat, mayonnaise underpins a sweet and tangy sauce warmed through with chili powder (the spice blend used for chili, not powdered chile peppers). Dried apricots, rehydrated in the pan juices, add delightful morsels of tangy wonder. This recipe features roasted carrots, but you could use any vegetable you like: Sliced red onions and parboiled fingerling potatoes are just a couple of ideas. Serve with white rice or other grains.

Featured in: A Better Boneless Chicken Dinner

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • ¼cup apricot preserves
  • ¼cup mayonnaise
  • 2tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
  • 1tablespoon fish sauce
  • 2teaspoons chili powder
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • ½cup dried apricots (about 3½ ounces)
  • 1pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, each cut in half
  • 3 to 4medium carrots, thinly sliced into coins (about 1 pound)
  • Fresh herbs, such as cilantro, parsley and mint, for topping
  • Cooked white rice, for serving

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

426 calories; 16 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 8 grams polyunsaturated fat; 46 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 25 grams sugars; 25 grams protein; 653 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Roasted Chicken Thighs With Tangy Apricots and Carrots Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    In a large bowl, whisk together the apricot preserves, mayonnaise, lemon juice, fish sauce, chili powder, 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper until smooth. Tear each dried apricot in half at its seams, so each apricot becomes 2 flatter pieces. Add the apricots and chicken to the bowl; toss to evenly coat. Cover and refrigerate to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.

  2. When ready to cook, heat the oven to 425 degrees with a rack set in the center position. Line a large sheet pan with parchment.

  3. Step

    3

    Add the carrots to the chicken mixture and toss to evenly coat. Spread the chicken and carrot mixture in a single layer on the sheet pan. Roast, rotating the pan halfway through, until the chicken is light brown and the carrots begin to shrivel, 20 to 25 minutes. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt and lemon juice as desired. Top with fresh herbs and serve with rice.

Ratings

4

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1,116

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Keith

I'm guessing the primary function here is to add some umami, so you could use soy sauce/tamari, coconut aminos, or worchestershire sause (which is itself a fish sauce). If you use soy sauce you may find you want a little acid to brighten things up, so adding a little lime juice or rice vinegar might not be a bad idea. Regarding fish sauce, there is a huge variation in taste/quality. A lot of the standard grocery store stuff is kinda nasty. If you are open to it, I'd consider trying Red Boat.

Annie

What is “chili powder/ spice mix used for chili” as opposed to chili powder made of ground Chile peppers?

Mark

Added sliced red onions, fingerling and small potatoes to the mix as suggested - a few purple ones a purple carrot gave the dish an appealing red tint - increased the amounts a touch for leftovers. Sweet and a bit savory, definitely benefits from fish sauce or similar plus more acid to finish. Nice one pan meal with minimal prep. Marinated for 45 minutes and made sure not to overcook the boneless skinless thighs - done at 25 mins - a keeper.

iglookeeper

Made tonight — no notes from fellow cooks to help! I had only breasts so used 2 lbs of that (I have a water polo player) and 2x the other ingredients incl chili powder. It came out of the oven and husband said immediately he didn’t like it. He doesn’t like cumin and he smelled that. I got angry, of course, because he hadn’t even tasted it yet. My water polo player said it smelled delicious and gave consolation hug. Served with cilantro. Guess what? Husband HAD SECONDS. This recipe is delicious.

Laura

@Annie, yes. It’s sold as “chili powder.” It can be a somewhat blah spice but Penzeys has some great chili powders with varying degrees of heat.

John Conley

Chili powder is a blend of ground chili (usually paprika or ancho), cumin, onion powder, garlic powder and oregano.

Kevin Osinski

Tasty! I didn't have apricot preserves so I used honey and upped the dried apricots a tad. I also don't like sweet/savory dishes, so I only used 1 tbsp of honey. With the carrots and dried fruit it was as sweet as I would have liked. Nice combination of flavors.

Darragh Brady

I subbed yogurt for the mayo and cauliflower rice for the white rice as i am working on losing ally the pandemic pounds i gained. But otherwise made it just as the recipe said and it was very good.

Susie

Quick, easy-prep weeknight meal. 1 pound of chicken for 4 adults is a bit meager, so doubled everything except the carrots, and omitted the fish sauce, which I do not care for. Marinade looked very rich and gloppy, but once on the large sheet pan, at least half of the liquid evaporated while roasting, leaving a nice quantity for spooning over the chicken and rice. With the extra quantity, 30 minutes was perfect. Very tasty-sweet and savory, but not overwhelming. Adding to the rotation.

Mary

Deliciously easy! Quick prep with a bag of baby carrots, a bag of small potatoes, and all other ingredients already in the frig or pantry. Subbed Worcestershire for fish sauce. Raves from the family.

Ripon Cook

Didn't have apricot preserves or lemon, so I subbed in orange marmalade and orange juice. Skipped the fish sauce. Lovely weeknight dinner with basmati rice and a salad. Parchment paper is genius for this.

Susana

Turn it around so that what was facing the oven door is now facing the back

Rich

My compliments to the food stylist. I followed the instructions exactly and it looked dreadful and released a lot of liquid. However the chicken (top quality free range) tasted great. My advice, use the marinade and jazz up the carrot, apricot thing

Molly

Made twice the mayo/jam/lemon juice/chili powder "sauce" cuz we like more sauce. Swapped out carrots for chunks of yam and onion (more stuff, different textures). Served with a rice/quinoa pilaf and some roasted broccoli. A keeper! Great, complex "flavor profile", as they say.

Stephanie Ferrell

While the chicken was perfectly tender and the method of cooking easy, the favors were bland. I would try the general concept again, but adding garlic and/or shallot, plus maybe some other herbs and vegetables.

Sue Fisher

Much like @Robin, I wound up subbing with what I had. It was great way to use some items from holiday food baskets. Used Harry & David Apple Cherry Chutney and added dried apples and apricots from a Nuts.com basket. Used Meyer Lemons for the juice and then slathered sliced lemon and onion and carrots in the marinade before roasting with the boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Absolutely delicious.

Leslie

I would not make this recipe again. Although we like each individual element of the recipe, the meal was mediocre at best. The flavors did not seem to compliment each other. However, some of your readers found it delicious.

Robin

A fabulous and versatile recipe that was a big hit. For umami, I subbed Worcestershire sauce in place of fish sauce, and prunes for apricots (bc we had those), mushrooms and onions for carrots (again, using what was on hand). And, since we used boneless skinless thighs, we cooked for 25 minutes. Will definitely make again.

mendi

Made this recipe exactly as written. It was a huge hit. The apricots are probably the best part. They get a little charred and chewy in a really delicious way. Reminded me of a Sephardic cookbook I borrowed from a friend that was full of dishes pairing fruit with umami-rich protein. I tried it because the picture looks so appetizing and mine looked just like it. I've made it several times since.

Melissa

I did not have chili powder so used baharat and it came out good

Heather

Wow! Had no apricots and few carrots, and two pounds thighs, so doubled marinade and used:Home dried Blue Damson plums (these are delightfully tart)Dried tart cherries3 large dried figs, sliced thickOne pound carrotsAbout equivalent VOLUME small cauliflower florets3/4 Red Large Red OnionThought things looked too pale and watery when thighs were done, so turned oven up to 450. The "preheat" was too intense and although it turned out PERFECTLY (with a few charred plums) I was lucky.

Donna

Usually I find four-starred recipes on here to be pretty reliable, but this was mediocre at best. Maybe it just wasn't my flavor profile, despite including lots of ingredients I like, but I won't be making again.

Sue

Added onion peppers and garlic. 12 thighs lasted 3 diners

rebecca

Replaced chili powder with sambal and added a ton of depth and flavor!

Alyssa

Incredible recipe. Easy, quick and delicious! Followed the recipe as written. As far as brands, I used Primal Kitchen's Avocado Oil Mayo and Bonne Maman apricot preserves.

Steve

I thought the flavors were great, but the texture of the apricots was way to "gummy" for me to want to make this again.

Ron

I made this last night and it's pretty good. I would use fewer carrots (a pound is closer to 6 medium carrots) and more chicken. Thighs shrink a lot when cooked.

Shannon

Perfect. Change nothing.

David B.

Good dish, easy to make, even for a slow prepper like me.

Christina

Subbed light mayo and dried mango with honey because I didn't have dried apricot or preserves. Doubled recipe and it fed my family of 4 with enough leftover for my lunch the next day. Excellent dish, will definitely make again.

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Roasted Chicken Thighs With Tangy Apricots and Carrots Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to get more flavor in chicken thighs? ›

The spice rub is a great way to add big flavor without adding any fat or calories. Spices like smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, cayenne, and thyme will make the most flavorful spice rub for your chicken, so make sure to always have your pantry stocked with some spices.

What is the best temperature for chicken thighs? ›

What internal temperature should you cook chicken thighs to? Chicken thighs, whether bone-in or boneless, are good at an internal temp of 175 degrees Fahrenheit, but they're even better at 195. Knowing this, what's the best way to cook thighs and drumsticks? The key is to cook them slowly.

Why are my chicken thighs not crispy? ›

If you find the chicken thigh skin isn't as crispy as you would like, it could mean the skin may not have been dry before you added it to the oil.

How do you cook chicken thighs without burning the skin? ›

I like to open and close the lid of the barbecue every few minutes, making sure to flip the chicken (with grill tongs) and to move it around if there are any flames on the skin. You don't want to burn the skin, so make sure you keep a close eye on the meat and don't leave the barbecue until it's fully cooked.

What spices enhance the flavor of chicken? ›

5 best spice and herbs blends for chicken and meat
  • Paprika and garlic powder. Paprika is a great spice that makes any chicken dish stand out, it comes in many forms sweet, hot, regular and smoky. ...
  • Basil and rosemary. ...
  • Ginger and lemongrass. ...
  • Turmeric and chili. ...
  • Coriander and cumin.

How can I increase the flavor of my chicken? ›

Rub a whole chicken with olive oil, garlic, and this traditional mix of spices from southern France: savory, rosemary, marjoram, and thyme. Lavender, fennel, sage, tarragon, and even citrus zest are sometimes added.

Is it better to cook chicken thighs fast or slow? ›

Slow and steady heat means the crispiest chicken.

Can you overcook chicken thighs? ›

In fact, the more you cook chicken thighs (up to a point), the better they get because that connective tissue dissolves, leaving behind fork-tender meat. So if you've got a batch of chicken thighs for dinner, it's not only okay to overcook them, it's encouraged.

What temperature do chefs cook chicken at? ›

Using a food thermometer is the only sure way of knowing if your food has reached a high enough temperature to destroy foodborne bacteria. All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F (73.9 °C) as measured with a food thermometer.

What makes chicken crispy flour or cornstarch? ›

My not-so-secret tip to the best fried chicken is a combination of FLOUR, CORNSTARCH, and BAKING POWDER. When mixed with the flour, the cornstarch makes the flour coating crispier and gives it that golden brown color! (It has to do with prevention of gluten development.)

How does KFC get their chicken so crispy? ›

KFC deep fries its chicken for 15 minutes and then drains the oil off for another five minutes – 20 minutes in total. If you don't have a deep fryer, heat up plenty of oil in a large saucepan and do it that way.

Should chicken thighs be rinsed before cooking? ›

While washing meat and poultry to remove dirt, slime, fat or blood may have been appropriate decades ago when many slaughtered and prepared their own food, the modern food safety system doesn't require it. Meat and poultry are cleaned during processing, so further washing is not necessary.

How to stop chicken thighs from burning? ›

Using a brine or marinade is kind of an insurance policy for your chicken, making it harder to burn or overcook. Since thighs have more fat, use indirect heat to avoid flare-ups and burning. Set up the grill for indirect heat by not cooking directly over the burners, coals, or other fuel sources.

Should you start chicken thighs in a cold pan? ›

Starting the chicken in a cold pan allows the fat in the skin to render out slowly, which prevents it from burning. You don't need any cooking oil, and by using the chicken's own fat to cook, you will have maximum flavor without any greasiness or bits of rubbery chicken fat that haven't been fully rendered.

How can I make my chicken more flavorful? ›

Add a touch of spice to your chicken breast by combining paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic and olive oil to create a paste. Then cover your chicken breast with the paste and pat down to secure.

How to infuse chicken thighs with flavor? ›

12 Ways To Add More Flavor To Chicken Thighs
  1. Buy thighs with the skin on. ...
  2. Salt or brine thighs before cooking. ...
  3. Use a splash of spirits in your marinade. ...
  4. Use leftover pickle juice for an easy marinade. ...
  5. Give the thighs a poke before marinating. ...
  6. Cook them low and slow. ...
  7. Use dairy as a marinade. ...
  8. Don't shy away from sweetness.
Jan 29, 2023

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