Russian Chicken

It's delicious, it's easy to make, the crowds go wild and so will the family!  My mom made this super easy and delectable dish for many years and now Cherie and I make it all the time.  It's sweet, it's slightly smoky and requires only three ingredients.  It's a bit like a barbecues chicken you make in the oven.

Russian Chicken
One 12 oz. Jar Apricot Pineapple Preserves 
One Packet Lipton's Onion Soup Mix
One Bottle Russian Dressing
One Whole, Cut up Chicken
(No Kidding, three ingredients plus the chicken...and it's fantastic)
Serves 4 good eaters 


Preheat oven 350 Degrees


Mix together the Apricot Pineapple Preserves, Dressing and Onion Soup Mix in a large mixing bowl.  If you really want to get creative add a bit of fresh ground pepper or some garlic powder and nothing more.


Place the chicken pieces in a large, fairly deep baking dish.  Cover chicken with sauce and turn each piece to ensure all sides are coated. 


Cover with foil and place in the oven for one hour.   


Remove baking dish from oven, remove foil, baste chicken with the now sweet and savory sauce.  Return to oven and cook for and additional 30 minutes uncovered.


The Chicken should be slightly browned and  just a little crunchy on the top.


We always serve this dish with either baked potatoes or baked yams.  After you remove the chicken from the oven pour a few cups of the sauce into a gravy separator and get rid of the fat so you can serve the sauce on the side for the baked potatoes or atop the chicken.  Believe me, this stuff is addictive and you may want to double it.


I sauteed some zucchini in olive oil with onions, garlic and fresh tomatoes and served it alongside the chicken.


If you are serving a larger crowd, the drumsticks and thighs are crowd favorites and I will occasionally cut the larger breasts in half with a good serrated knife after baking.  Truly, my mom would make 3-4 giant baking dishes of this dish for a crowd because it's virtually impossible to make a mistake.  If you have a big crowd, rotate your baking dishes in the oven to ensure an even cooking process.


Bon Appetit!