Slow Cooker Amish Apricot Chicken is a beloved dish in Amish and Mennonite communities because it relies on simple, shelf-stable pantry ingredients to create a sweet, tangy, and deeply savory meal. It is the perfect “set it and forget it” recipe that transforms basic chicken into a glossy, flavorful centerpiece.
The secret to this dish is the balance of flavors: the sweetness of the apricot preserves cuts through the saltiness of the soup mix, while the slow cooker does all the heavy lifting.
Here is how to make this classic, cozy meal.
What You Need
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Chicken: 2 to 2.5 lbs of chicken. You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but boneless, skinless chicken thighs are highly recommended for slow cooking as they stay juicier and more tender over the long cooking time.
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Apricot Preserves or Jam: 1 cup (roughly one standard 12–18 oz jar). Note: Make sure you buy preserves or jam, not apricot jelly—the chunks of fruit in preserves create a better glaze.
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Russian or Catalina Salad Dressing: 1 cup (about half of a standard 16 oz bottle). This is the classic Amish secret ingredient. It provides the tangy, tomato-forward base and gives the sauce its beautiful reddish-orange color.
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Dry Onion Soup Mix: 1 packet. This provides all the savory herbs, salt, and dehydrated onions needed to balance the sweetness.
(Optional but recommended for serving: Cooked white rice, buttered egg noodles, or mashed potatoes).
Instructions
Step 1: Arrange the Chicken
Place your chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker insert. If using chicken breasts, try to lay them in a single, even layer. If they are stacked, they may take longer to cook.
Step 2: Mix the “Sweet & Savory” Sauce
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the apricot preserves, the Russian (or Catalina) dressing, and the dry onion soup mix. Whisk vigorously for about a minute. Because the preserves are thick, you want to make sure the soup mix is completely dissolved and the sauce is homogenized.
Step 3: Coat the Chicken
Pour the sauce directly over the top of the chicken. Use a spoon or spatula to gently toss the chicken in the sauce, ensuring every single piece is completely coated. Scrape any excess sauce off the sides of the slow cooker so it doesn’t burn during cooking.
Step 4: Cook Low and Slow
Place the lid on the slow cooker. The golden rule for this dish is “low and slow” to let the flavors meld:
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Cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours (Best results. The chicken will be fork-tender and the sauce will thicken beautifully).
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Cook on HIGH for 3 to 3.5 hours (Only if you are in a rush, though the chicken won’t be quite as silky).
Note: Do not lift the lid during the cooking process. Every time you lift the lid, you release heat and add 20-30 minutes to your cook time.
Step 5: Thicken (Optional) and Serve
When the timer is up, remove the lid. You will notice the sauce has thinned out slightly because of the juices released from the chicken.
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If you want a thicker, stickier glaze that clings to the chicken, you can remove the chicken to a plate, whisk 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water, stir it into the sauce in the slow cooker, and turn the heat to HIGH for 10–15 minutes until it bubbles and thickens.
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Return the chicken to the sauce, spooning it generously over the top.
How to Serve It
The sauce in this dish is very rich, sweet, and tangy, so it needs a neutral, starchy base to soak it up.
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Over White Rice: Classic and traditional. The plain white rice acts as a blank canvas for the vibrant apricot sauce.
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Over Buttered Egg Noodles: This is a common Amish pairing, making the dish feel like a sweet-and-sour stroganoff.
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As a Sandwich: Shred the chicken with two forks, pile it onto a toasted brioche bun or soft potato roll, and top with creamy coleslaw. The crunchy, creamy slaw perfectly offsets the sweet apricot glaze.
Pro Tips for the Best Flavor
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Don’t buy “sugar-free” jam: The sugar in the preserves is what caramelizes and creates the glossy, sticky texture on the chicken. Sugar substitutes do not reduce the same way and can leave a watery sauce.
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Add a little heat (if you like): If the classic recipe sounds too sweet for your palate, add ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the sauce mixture before cooking. The heat cuts through the sweetness perfectly.
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Make it a full meal: If you want to cook your side dish in the same pot, you can add chunked carrots and onions to the bottom of the slow cooker under the chicken. They will braise beautifully in the sauce.