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Apricot-Glazed Grilled Chicken

Cooking Light
Apricot-Glazed Grilled Chicken
Photo: Becky Luigart-Staynor; Stylist: Cindy Barr
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Outstanding

Grilling chicken is an easy way to transform this humble food. You'll get the best results if you let the chicken stand out at room temperature before grilling.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half or 1 thigh and 1 drumstick)

Ingredients

  • 3  tablespoons  apricot preserves
  • 2  tablespoons  red wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2  tablespoons  extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1  garlic clove, minced
  • 2  bone-in chicken breast halves, skinned
  • 2  bone-in chicken thighs, skinned
  • 2  chicken drumsticks, skinned
  • 1/2  teaspoon  fine sea salt
  • 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
  • Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring well.

2. Prepare grill for indirect grilling. If using a gas grill, heat one side to medium-high and leave one side with no heat. If using a charcoal grill, arrange hot coals on one side of charcoal grate, leaving the other side empty.

3. Let chicken stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sprinkle chicken evenly with salt and pepper. Place chicken, meaty sides down, on grill rack coated with cooking spray over direct heat; grill 5 minutes or until browned.

4. Turn chicken over; baste with apricot mixture. Grill 5 minutes over direct heat or until browned. Turn chicken over, moving it over indirect heat; baste with apricot mixture. Cover and cook 15 minutes. Turn chicken over; baste with apricot mixture. Cook 20 minutes or until done.

Asian-Glazed Grilled Chicken Variation:

Combine 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon dark sesame oil, 1 teaspoon sambal oelek (or other hot chile sauce), and 3 minced garlic cloves, stirring well until blended. Prepare Apricot-Glazed Grilled Chicken, omitting apricot preserves, vinegar, olive oil, and garlic. Baste chicken with hoisin mixture after each turn. Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half or 1 thigh and 1 drumstick).

Calories 242; Fat 10.5g (sat 2.3g, mono 3.4g, poly 2.7g); Protein 26.6g; Carb 8.7g; Fiber 0.1g; Chol 82mg; Iron 1.1mg; Sodium 476mg; Calc 17mg.

Nutritional Information

Calories:
247
Fat:
10.7g (sat 2.3g,mono 5.7g,poly 1.8g)
Protein:
26.5g
Carbohydrate:
10g
Fiber:
0.1g
Cholesterol:
82mg
Iron:
1.2mg
Sodium:
370mg
Calcium:
18mg
Cooking Light, JUNE 2009

Member Ratings and Reviews

5 stars

I was most interested in trying out the technique because I always worry about overcooked, dry, burned grilled chicken. This technique worked perfectly. I just used two bone-in chicken breasts (because there are only 2 of us) and the chicken was perfectly done and moist after the specified amount of time on the grill. I wasn't crazy about the apricot glaze (it was fine, just a little boring)but I will try the Asian-inspired alternative the next time. I will also use this technique with barbeque sauce.07/20/09

5 stars

The glaze was very easy to make and everything I already had on hand. I grilled the chicken on the foreman grill and the glaze was still came out excellent. We had it with a side of broccoli and rice and it went perfectly. Will certainly make this again.07/13/09