• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Living The Gourmet logo

  • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Featured
    • Writings
  • Recipes
  • Wines
  • Interviews
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

Fig and Apricot Chicken Thighs

Jan 12, 2019 · 48 Comments

Sweet apricots and figs bring subtle sweetness to this dish giving your chicken dinner an effortless gourmet makeover.

Figs, grapes, and wreaths of laurel took their turns being associated with Roman nobility, with each at one time being seen as a symbol of wealth, royalty, or victory. While grapes and laurel wreaths date back on the Italian peninsula to the dawn of recorded history – the origin of the fig’s presence on the peninsula is somewhat more obscure.

The fig was likely first introduced into Italy via Greek merchants and colonists, who themselves were introduced to the tiny fruit via their colonial presence in Anatolia, and through trade networks connecting the Greek mainland to the coasts of Syria and North Africa. However, there is evidence that the fig’s popularity in Italy exploded only after the Roman conquest of each of the aforementioned areas. Perhaps the fig was seen as more valuable or representative of victory following the conquests, or perhaps it was only then that it became available in large enough quantities to enter the Empire’s cultural mainstream.

Whatever the case maybe, figs are now ubiquitous in Italian cuisine, although they are somewhat more popular in the Southern half of the peninsula, and in Sicily especially.

Here in the states, today they’re widely available at almost any supermarket, however when I was growing up they one of the many reasons to visit your ‘corner fruit market,’ since they were something of a novelty that most people simply weren’t familiar with at the time.

Hard to imagine, I know.

While I can still remember my grandfather eating these in copious quantities on their own, today I decided to use them as part of the base for a sweet and savory sauce to put over breaded chicken. While I’ll be using dried figs for today’s recipe, you can easily use fresh figs if you prefer – although fresh figs will turn up the sweetness level of the sauce just a tad, as well as make it a bit ‘thinner.’ Again, however, this is a matter of pure preference.

To start things off, I began by slicing up about a cup and half of dried apricots and figs – evenly divided between both. I then heated up a large cast iron frying pan with olive oil, and threw in some halved tomatoes, a sliced onion, crushed and sliced garlic, and then the figs and apricots.

Let that sauté for about twenty minutes, tossing a few times as it simmers.

Then turn off the heat, add in chopped cilantro, scallions, and toss again. In a separate cup, combine about two ounces of honey with two ounces of balsamic vinegar, stir thoroughly, and then add that into the sauc and set it aside.

For the chicken, you’re going to want to begin with about fourteen bone-in chicken thighs – skin on or off as preferred. To start, we season about 10 ounces of all-purpose flour with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and then dredge the chicken thighs in this mixture. No egg wash required for this particular recipe. Magic.

Set them in a baking pan, drizzle with a bit of olive oil, and then bake them for about thirty-five minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Then lower the temperature to 300, remove them from the oven, and spoon the sauce evenly over the thighs, and then set them back in the oven to bake for another fifteen minutes, and they’re ready to serve.

Living the Gourmet

Yields 1 dozen chicken thighs

Serves 2

796

Fig and Apricot Chicken Thighs

5 minPrep Time

25 minCook Time

30 minTotal Time

Save RecipeSave Recipe
Print Recipe

5 based on 27 review(s)

Recipe Image
My Recipes My Lists My Calendar

Ingredients

    For the Chicken:
  • 12 – 14 bone in chicken thighs
  • 1 ½ cups flour – seasoned with salt and fresh ground black pepper
  • Olive oil for drizzling
  • Dredge the chicken thighs in the seasoned flour and place in a baking pan.
  • Drizzle each thigh with olive oil
  • For the Fig and Apricot Sauce:
  • 1 ½ cups of mixed dried figs and dried apricots – sliced
  • 5 cloves of garlic – chopped
  • 1 medium sized red onion – sliced
  • 2 pints of grape tomatoes – halved
  • 1 fresh bunch of cilantro – stems removed and chopped
  • 3 bunches of fresh scallions – chopped
  • 1 tsp. of salt
  • ½ tsp. fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • ¼ cup of honey
  • ¼ cup of balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tbs. olive oil

Instructions

    For the Chicken:
  1. Preheat Oven 375 degrees F.
  2. Bake 30 – 35 minutes.
  3. Lower Oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
  4. Remove from oven and spoon the sauce over each thigh.
  5. Place back in the oven for 12 – 15 minutes.
  6. Remove from oven and serve along with the Fig and Apricot Sauce. (See recipe below)
  7. For the Fig and Apricot Sauce:
  8. Heat a large cast iron frying pan with the olive oil. Place the halved tomatoes, sliced onion, sliced figs and apricots, and garlic in the pan.
  9. Sauté 20 – 25 minutes tossing as it simmers gently.
  10. Turn heat off. Add the chopped cilantro and scallions and toss.
  11. Combine the honey and balsamic vinegar and stir into the sauce.
  12. Serve over the baked chicken thighs.
7.8.1.2
813
https://livingthegourmet.com/2019/01/fig-and-apricot-chicken-thighs.html

Enjoy with Love!

More from my site

  • Mediterranean Style ChickenMediterranean Style Chicken
  • Greek Style Chicken with OrzoGreek Style Chicken with Orzo
  • Sweet Paprika MeatballsSweet Paprika Meatballs
  • Roast Chicken with Roasted Poivrons and CarrotsRoast Chicken with Roasted Poivrons and Carrots
  • Mediterranean Style Chicken Wings with Grilled Onion & Pepper ChutneyMediterranean Style Chicken Wings with Grilled Onion & Pepper Chutney
  • Hot Honey ChickenHot Honey Chicken
2

Poultry aprictos, chicken, chicken thighs, figs, main dish, mediterranean, poultry, savory, sweet

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. angiesrecipes says

    13/01/2019 at 6:11 am

    What a great idea of using figs and apricots here! They look so juicy and flavourful.
    Reply
  2. mimi rippee says

    13/01/2019 at 4:28 pm

    I absolutely adore this recipe! I couldn't make it until a friend visited me, as my husband refuses to mix fruit with his savory. He's definitely missing out!
    Reply
    • Catherine says

      17/01/2019 at 12:49 am

      I agree. I hope you enjoy the recipe if you try it. Thank you for visiting.
      Reply
  3. DAVID J MYERS says

    13/01/2019 at 4:54 pm

    Catherine, Great recipe! We always use chicken thighs when we cook chicken at home because they stay moist and have more flavor than white meat. (I do like a fried chicken breast when we're eating out though) My wife and I both like moist chicken and this sweet and savory sauce over the thighs is right on target! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
    Reply
  4. Sharon Perry says

    13/01/2019 at 11:41 pm

    Is that really 3 bunches of scallions (approx.. 20 scallions)? I really need to make this recipe, sounds amazing and I always use thighs (1 breast for my friend that doesn't like dark meat).
    Reply
    • Living the Gourmet says

      14/01/2019 at 1:10 am

      Dear Sharon, Yes, I used 3 bunches of scallions, if you prefer to you can use a little less but the measurements are correct on that. I am so happy to hear you want to make this! I know you will love it. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask! Enjoy!
      Reply
  5. Byron Thomas says

    14/01/2019 at 7:38 pm

    I have to admit, when I saw the first image in this post, I thought I was looking at a picture of fried chicken. I'm so surprised at how light and crispy that skin looks just from baking! Wow! The reason I clicked on this recipe in the first place was the fig and apricot title - I love those two things together and couldn't wait to see how you created a sauce. I'm making this for sure!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
    • Catherine says

      17/01/2019 at 12:47 am

      I hope you enjoy it Byron. Let me know how you like it. You can always adjust the ingredients to your liking. I know I enjoyed it. Thank you for visiting.
      Reply
  6. Farwin says

    14/01/2019 at 10:02 pm

    Wow! I love that you used figs and apricot with the chicken. It's very new to me.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  7. April says

    14/01/2019 at 11:17 pm

    I was thinking of the best way to describe your recipe and whenI came up with the word I noticed that you had laready mentioned it - GOURMET! A chicken recipe can never get any more gourmet than this!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  8. Danielle Wolter says

    15/01/2019 at 3:08 am

    Love the use of the figs and apricots - such great flavors. And I am a sucker for chicken thighs :-)
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  9. Mahy Elamin says

    15/01/2019 at 11:52 am

    I made this dish for lunch, and I loved it! I LOVED the chicken thighs, and the small amount of skin that I crisped was so yummy (but not such a large piece that I felt guilty for eating the skin..lol).
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  10. Chiara says

    15/01/2019 at 10:16 pm

    A delicious recipe that combines fruit with meat, a warm hug
    Reply
  11. Michelle says

    16/01/2019 at 2:57 am

    Love this dish! I really like using fruit in savory dishes and it's hard to find good recipes using fruit. Excited to try this one out soon!
    Reply
  12. Liz says

    16/01/2019 at 2:12 pm

    Yum! The fig/apricot combination sounds incredible paired with chicken!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  13. Stacie says

    16/01/2019 at 6:22 pm

    That is such a great recipe. I love cooking meat with fruit, especially chicken thighs. That rich dark meat goes perfectly with the fruity flavor.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  14. Mimi says

    16/01/2019 at 10:33 pm

    Now these are not two things that I would of thought paired well together but this looks delish! I love the mini history lesson on the origins figs.
    Reply
    • Catherine says

      19/01/2019 at 10:41 pm

      Thank you Mimi, I hope you try the recipe and let me know if you enjoy it. xo
      Reply
  15. Brianna says

    16/01/2019 at 10:43 pm

    The dish looks so good!! I'm not sure my tastebuds would appreciate fig and apricot flavor on fried chicken but it's something I'm willing to try
    Reply
    • Catherine says

      19/01/2019 at 10:42 pm

      Let me know if you try it and if you enjoy it. xo
      Reply
  16. Julie says

    17/01/2019 at 12:10 am

    The dish looks amazing and I’m sure it tastes as good as it looks. Thanks for sharing!
    Reply
  17. Erin says

    17/01/2019 at 1:01 am

    This sounds so yummy! My grandparents had a fig tree in their backyard when I was young, and I used to love picking them from the tree. I've loved them ever since!
    Reply
  18. Saima says

    17/01/2019 at 2:35 am

    You've hit the nail on the head by describing this dish as gourmet. I mean, what else could chicken that's been cooked in a fig and apricot sauce be called? I'm salivating at the mere mention of it!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  19. Alexandra says

    17/01/2019 at 4:57 am

    This looks so delicious - what a fabulous combination of flavours. I will definitely be saving this to try very soon!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  20. Julia Groves says

    17/01/2019 at 5:07 am

    Oooh I have never paired figs and apricots before but this looks delicious.
    Reply
  21. Hollie says

    17/01/2019 at 11:09 am

    This looks so good! I'm a huge fan, and while we do cook a lot more chicken in the crockpot, I may need to try making this.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  22. Sue-Tanya Mchorgh says

    17/01/2019 at 1:25 pm

    Oh my goodness, this looks so tasty. I'll be trying this soon .
    Reply
  23. Monidipa Dutta says

    17/01/2019 at 2:49 pm

    So yummy! I can’t wait to give this recipe a try! It left me drooling..!!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  24. Joanna says

    17/01/2019 at 5:15 pm

    I have never had figs in a savory dish before. But I'd like to try it, it sounds very intriguing. This chicken dish is definitely a treat.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  25. Sara says

    17/01/2019 at 5:44 pm

    My kids have never tried figs but I think this recipe will be a good introduction for them. Thank you for sharing!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  26. Tonya Morris says

    17/01/2019 at 7:05 pm

    This looks amazing! I love new ways of cooking chicken for dinner so I will definitely try this out!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  27. Veena Azmanov says

    17/01/2019 at 9:17 pm

    I love apricot chicken and this with figs sounds like a bonus. Love the combination of fruit and chicken. Looks so delicious.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  28. Yeah Lifestyle says

    17/01/2019 at 9:29 pm

    Figs and apricots aren't something I would have thought to pair together but this sounds so delicious! I am definitely going to be adding this recipe to my to try list.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  29. Preet says

    18/01/2019 at 5:52 am

    My kids would absolutely love these. This would disappear in no time at our house! This is my kind of weekend treat.
    Reply
  30. Fatima Torres says

    18/01/2019 at 7:34 am

    This combination sounds like a delicious and savory dish. Worth trying for the kids.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  31. Kelly Anthony says

    18/01/2019 at 12:00 pm

    Love the sweetness of the fruit against that balsamic! Such a great chicken dish. Perfect for date night and weeknights!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  32. Analida Braeger says

    18/01/2019 at 8:08 pm

    This looks like the perfect dish to make for a crowd. So creative, savory, sweet, and beautiful. Roasted cherry tomatoes are one of my faves. Thanks for sharing.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  33. Sherri says

    19/01/2019 at 3:30 pm

    Apricot chicken was one of my favorite dishes growing up, but I can't say that I've had fig and apricot chicken. It looks and sounds divine! I bet my family would love this dish! :)
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  34. Kara says

    19/01/2019 at 6:00 pm

    I have not eaten figs for years, but love them. This looks delicious
    Reply
  35. Marisa Franca says

    19/01/2019 at 9:47 pm

    This recipe looks absolutely amazing. I love the lightness of the coating on the chicken and then the sauce, well, it looks to die for. I always like to keep the skin on the thighs, if people don't like the skin they can always remove it. But if it's crunchy -- yum! And it does add more flavor to the meat. The sauce looks simply amazing!! Can't wait to try this.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  36. Elizabeth Leaver says

    20/01/2019 at 5:46 pm

    This is such a unique recipe, at least to me, but I love the sound of it! Chicken thighs are my favourite, and all of those sauce ingredients are right up my street. Pinning this one for later!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  37. Anne Lawton says

    20/01/2019 at 7:21 pm

    This chicken looks absolutely delicious! I am adding this to my list of recipes to try real soon!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  38. Krista Price says

    21/01/2019 at 3:51 am

    I love that the fig and apricot sauce is sweetened with honey. This recipe is such a great way to kick chicken thighs up a knotch! Thanks for sharing!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  39. Natalie says

    21/01/2019 at 6:22 pm

    Fig and apricot with chicken? Oh, now you really got me interested. I can't wait to give this a try. I really like the flavors and I bet it's super delicious. Looks delicious that's for sure. Saving this recipe!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  40. Ruchi says

    22/01/2019 at 3:04 am

    Interesting combination! Never had fig and apricot in one dish, especially with the chicken. Must be very good!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  41. NAti says

    22/01/2019 at 5:27 pm

    I love figs! I grew up eaten loads of them as my grandad had a tree in his backyard. Your recipe with a sweet-savory combination sounds delicious!
    ★★★★★
    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Wines for Valentine's Day featuring Herzog & Bartenura Wineries - Living The Gourmet says:
    23/01/2019 at 12:47 am
    […] some wines that I could imagine pairing with, say, my recent meatloaf, or as an aperitif to my Fig and Apricot Chicken Thighs. To that end, I reached out to my friends at the Royal Wine Company (that probably makes me sound a […]
    Reply
  2. Berry Hand Pies - Living The Gourmet says:
    13/02/2020 at 4:20 pm
    […] Fig & Apricot Chicken Thighs – Sweet apricots and figs are served over crispy baked chicken thighs for a quick gourmet […]
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe: ☆☆☆☆☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to LTG

The heart of our home lies within the kitchen. For us, it is so much more than a place where meals are created; it is where memories are made over meals that are meant to be shared. It was from this belief that Living the Gourmet was born. Read More...

Looking for Something?

Subscribe to the LTG Newsletter

Find Your Influence

Copyright © 2021 · Cravings Pro

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Living The Gourmet
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.