This sweet, slightly spicy, and sticky chicken dinner is a weeknight winner. From Jessica Merchant’s new cookbook Easy Everyday: , this hot honey apricot chicken with pan-toasted broccoli was a huge hit in our house, my 3-year-old ate half the broccoli before the chicken even hit the plate lol. That’s how good it is.
The chicken is broiled to juicy perfection, glazed in a sticky-sweet-hot apricot sauce that caramelizes under the broiler. And the broccoli? Toasted in a skillet until it’s golden and nutty, then steamed to tender-crisp with just a bit of garlic and water. I served it all over plain white rice, but I was already dreaming about how good it would be with fluffy couscous. This one is officially in the easy dinner rotation.
Let’s talk about Jessica Merchant for a second. She’s the force behind the blog How Sweet Eats, where she’s been sharing joyful, crave-worthy recipes for over a decade. Her recipes are always fun, approachable, and full of flavor—the kind that make you excited to cook dinner again. Easy Everyday is her fourth (!!) cookbook, joining Seriously Delish, The Pretty Dish, and Everyday Dinners. Each one is packed with recipes you’ll actually want to make on a Tuesday, and this new one is no exception.
In Easy Everyday, Jessica shares her brilliant 10-minute meal prep tip—something she introduced in Everyday Dinners, and honestly, it changed the game for me. The idea is simple but powerful: take 10-minute chunks of time before you’re actually cooking dinner to make the meal come together faster. Chop your veggies in the morning, mix up the sauce during nap time, pull out the ingredients the night before. It’s not a full meal prep Sunday situation—it’s bite-sized prep that makes dinnertime feel way less chaotic. It’s totally doable as a busy mom just trying to get dinner on the table.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Big flavor, minimal ingredients – You only need a handful of pantry staples and a pack of chicken (thighs or breasts) to make magic happen.
Broiler = bestie – Quick cook time, and you still get that golden, sticky finish.
Kid-approved veggies – The broccoli is buttery and lightly garlicky, with the best toasty flavor from the skillet.
Ready in 30-ish minutes – Perfect for busy weeknights when you want something special but not fussy.
Tips for Success
Keep a close eye under the broiler – That sauce caramelizes fast, and while char is good, burnt is not.
No hot honey? You can use regular honey and a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce instead.
Use chicken breasts or thighs – I used breasts and it turned out perfectly. Just slice thick breasts in half to help them cook evenly.
Don’t skip the pan-toast step for broccoli – It gives it such a great nutty depth before the steam softens it.
Customizations
Swap the veggie – Pan-toasted green beans or zucchini would also work great with this glaze.
Swap the protein –Â this flavor profile of hot honey and apricot would be good on pork chops or fish!
Make it vegetarian – Use tofu or cauliflower steaks in place of the chicken and brush with the same hot honey apricot glaze.
Go even spicier – Add a drizzle of sriracha or a few dashes of hot sauce to the apricot mixture.
Serving Suggestions
White rice – My go-to for soaking up all that saucy goodness.
Couscous or quinoa – Perfect quick-cooking grains that pair beautifully here.
Add a green salad or cucumber ribbons – To keep things fresh and crunchy on the side.
Leftovers? Chop the chicken and toss everything into a warm grain bowl the next day. Add feta or goat cheese if you’re feeling fancy.
Nutrition Profile
Each serving (recipe serves 4) of this hot honey apricot chicken with pan-toasted broccoli has approximately:
354 calories
36 grams of protein
4 grams of fiber
It’s a satisfying, protein-packed dinner with a nice little fiber boost from the broccoli—nutritious and delicious!
Whether you’re cooking for yourself, your family, or your small-but-mighty toddler who loves broccoli (hi, Sam!), this dish is one of those no-fuss meals that feels fancy without the extra effort. Sweet, spicy, buttery, and oh-so-good.
Hot honey apricot chicken with pan toasted broccoli
Equipment
- 1 Large frying pan
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs Or chicken breasts
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3 cup apricot preserves
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon hot honey
pan-toasted butter broccoli
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cup broccoli florets
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler in your oven to the highest setting. Make sure there is an oven rack directly beneath it.
- Spray baking sheet with cooking spray and place the chicken on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Place directly under the broiler for 7 minutes. Remove the pan and flip the chicken, broiling for 7 minutes more. While the chicken is broiling, whisk together the apricot preserves, vinegar, and honey in a small bowl.
- After 7 minutes, remove the pan and use a pastry brush to brush the apricot mixture on the chicken. Broil for 1 minute. Remove the pan, flip the chicken, brush with the apricot mixture, and broil for another minute. Repeat one or two more times on both sides until the chicken is charred and caramelly and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165. If there is any apricot mixture left, you can brush it on right before serving.
make the pan-toasted broccoli
- Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the broccoli florets and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, for 4 to 5 minutes as the broccoli toasts in the skillet. Stir in the garlic and water. Cover and cook for about 5 minutes more, until the broccoli is tender. Serve with the chicken.
Notes
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