Italian Dressing Chicken

This Italian Dressing Chicken recipe is the easiest way to use up that last bit of jam in the jar. Just mix it with Italian salad dressing to make a quick chicken marinade, then bake. That’s it!

This recipe is the answer to boring chicken breast dinners. All you need is chicken, apricot jam, Italian dressing, and garlic powder. As it bakes, the marinade soaks in, making the chicken juicy, flavorful, tender, and perfect over pasta, rice, or salad.

Baked Italian Dressing Chicken

Years ago, I heard someone mention a Rachel Ray tip: using the last bit of jam in the jar, adding salad dressing and herbs, then pouring it over chicken to bake. I think that’s how it went, at least. The idea stuck.

One night, I noticed we had a little pineapple-apricot preserves left from some turkey burgers. It wasn’t enough to reuse for those, and I don’t love that jam on toast. I remembered Rachel Ray’s idea and decided to try it.

Since then, we’ve been making versions of this baked Italian dressing chicken often! Usually with regular apricot preserves. The chicken turns out juicy, flavorful, and just saucy enough (which is key for me). The sweet preserves and tangy dressing are such a good combo. Honestly, I’m craving it again just thinking about it.

Italian Dressing Chicken Ingredients

The ingredients list for this Italian dressing chicken couldn’t be any simpler! You may need to snag fresh chicken breasts in the grocery store, but you likely already have all the other ingredients. Here’s what we use to make baked chicken with Italian dressing:

• Chicken Breasts: Boneless skinless chicken breasts are lean, cook quickly, and soak up the marinade beautifully.
• Apricot Preserves: Adds a subtle sweetness that balances the tangy dressing. Apricot works best—strawberry or raspberry can be too sweet and seedy.
• Garlic Powder: A pantry staple that brings mellow garlic flavor without overpowering the dish.
• Italian Dressing: A zesty mix of oil, vinegar, and Italian seasoning that doubles as both marinade and sauce. Use your favorite store-bought brand or homemade.

Can I Use Homemade Italian Dressing?

Absolutely! We used store-bought dressing in this recipe to make this baked chicken as simple as possible. But here’s a recipe for a homemade version of Italian Dressing with olive oil, white wine vinegar, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasonings that we LOVE if you prefer.

How to Make Italian Dressing Chicken

This baked Italian chicken is as easy as it gets! It’s perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or feeding a crowd. Here’s how to make the simple Italian marinade and bake the chicken to juicy, flavorful perfection:

1. Whisk together the apricot preserves, garlic powder, and Italian dressing.
2. Pour the marinade over the raw chicken in a baking dish.
3. Bake until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
4. Let the chicken rest, covered, for several minutes for the most flavor.

This recipe is flexible, flavorful, and one you’ll want to keep on the regular rotation.

Can I Make This Recipe in a CrockPot or Instant Pot?

Yes! For the Crockpot, use chicken breasts or extra tenders so there’s enough meat to avoid burning. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 3–4 hours with the dressing poured over the top.

For the Instant Pot, add a little dressing to the bottom, then layer in the chicken and the rest of the dressing. Cook on high pressure for 10–15 minutes, let it naturally release for 5 minutes, then serve.

Tips for Making This Recipe

• Make it a freezer meal by adding the marinated chicken in a freezer bag, sealing, and freezing for up to 1 month!
• Start with the suggested amounts of jam and dressing, then taste and adjust to your liking.
• Try other store-bought dressings if you prefer something different from Italian. Our Asian Ginger Marinade for Grilled Chicken recipe is a delicious sub!
• Add fresh herbs, sun-dried tomatoes, or jam to boost flavor!

What to Eat with Italian Dressing Chicken

This chicken dinner is a beloved family staple, and we especially enjoy pairing it with Focaccia Bread, Antipasto Pasta Salad, Strawberry Cucumber Salad, Italian Stuffed Peppers, or a side of Green Beans and Potatoes for a well-rounded, flavorful meal!

Baked chicken with Italian dressing is delicious enough to serve for a dinner party with guests, but also easy enough to feed the fam on a busy weeknight. It is tender, juicy and full of flavor. We all need more easy delicious chicken dinner recipes!

More EASY MARINADE RECIPES:

Looking for more marinade recipes? A good marinade is one of my favorite things, so make sure you try the following:

• Asian Steak Marinade
• Citrus Grilled Chicken Marinade Recipe
• Greek Marinade Chicken Souvlaki
• Our Favorite Steak Fajitas Marinade [+ Video]