Guest Post: Apricot Chicken

Hey all our readers! Today we've got a special guest post for you from Meredith who is part of  ReadySetEat. We are excited to have her contribute to our blog and hope you are all excited as well!

Easy Spring Recipe: Apricot Chicken

Now that spring is officially here, you can finally put away those soup, stew and casserole recipes and start cooking for the warmer weather! The beginning of spring is when many people steer away from thick and hearty stick-to-your-ribs dinners and start playing with fresher, lighter flavors instead.

One of the best ways to give your home-cooked meals a fresh spring update is to choose recipes that make fruits and vegetables the stars of your meal. This is not to say that you should be cooking salads for every meal; nobody can survive on lettuce alone! Plus, when you’re cooking for kids, salads don’t always make the most appealing dinner options.

Lucky for families everywhere, there are plenty of springtime dinner ideas out there that are a little more interesting than salads but just as healthy! Instead of serving your family just fruits and veggies for every meal, try working fruit and vegetables into staple dinner ingredients like pasta, chicken breasts or ground beef. Pasta with pesto and veggies makes for a much lighter, more spring-appropriate meal than does pasta with cream or cheese sauce; likewise, tacos with fresh salsa and lettuce go much better with warm weather than a shepherd’s pie! Working fruit and vegetable flavors into protein-filled, satisfying meals is the perfect way to lighten up your cooking while still eating deliciously.

This yummy apricot chicken is one of those easy chicken recipes that you’ll want to make over and over again. Not only is it incredibly easy (it’s ready in just 30 minutes!), but the sweet apricot flavor is perfect for spring. And because the sauce is made with light ingredients like chicken broth, preserves and just a little bit of cornstarch, this dish feels much less heavy than the cream-based casseroles or other chicken dishes that are so popular in cooler weather. Try it out for dinner tonight and enjoy!

Apricot Chicken

Total Time: 30 min

Serves: 4

·         2 tablespoons Pure Wesson® Canola Oil

·         4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (4 breasts = 1 lb)

·         1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

·         1-1/3 cups reduced sodium chicken broth

·         1/2 cup apricot preserves

·         1 tablespoon cornstarch

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with Italian seasoning. Add to skillet and cook 12-15 minutes or until no longer pink in the centers (a meat thermometer should read 165°F), turning once.

Stir together all remaining ingredients in a small bowl until well blended. Gradually add to chicken in skillet. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the sauce is thickened, stirring constantly.

Tip: Make your own dried Italian seasoning with ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon dried basil and ¼ teaspoon dried thyme.

Author Bio: This is a guest post by Meredith K. on behalf of ReadySetEat. For more easy recipes for dinner that are perfect for spring, visit www.readyseteat.com.

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