This was the signature dish at my mother's bridge club from 1965 to 1989. Ladies still call asking how she made it.

This oven baked 4-ingredient chicken josephine is exactly the kind of dish that would have been passed around a 1960s bridge club table and guarded like a family secret. The story goes that my friend’s grandmother made this every Thursday from 1965 to 1989 for her bridge ladies, and even now, women who sat at that card table still call asking, “How did she make that chicken?” It’s pure midwestern comfort: bronzed chicken pieces nestled in a rich, savory gravy with tender vegetables, all bubbling away in a deep stoneware baking dish. It’s the kind of hands-off recipe you can slide into the oven after work and feel a little bit like you’re carrying on a tradition.

Serve Chicken Josephine straight from the hot baking dish with plenty of that silky gravy spooned over the top. It’s perfect over fluffy white rice, buttered egg noodles, or mashed potatoes to soak up every drop. On the side, I like something simple and retro to match the vibe: steamed green beans with a squeeze of lemon, a crisp green salad with a zesty vinaigrette, or buttered peas and carrots. A basket of soft dinner rolls or slices of crusty bread is almost mandatory for swiping through the pan. If you’re hosting friends, a light white wine (like a sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio) or sparkling water with lemon keeps it feeling special without a lot of extra work.

Servings: 6

3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (thighs and drumsticks work best)

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a deep 9x13-inch stoneware or ceramic baking dish; this helps with cleanup and keeps the chicken from sticking.

Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels and trim any excess skin or fat. Dry chicken browns better in the oven and gives you that pretty bronzed look.

In a medium bowl, stir together the condensed cream of mushroom soup and the dry onion soup mix until well combined. It will be thick and very flavorful; this is your shortcut gravy base.

Spread the frozen mixed vegetables evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. No need to thaw them; they’ll soften and turn tender in the oven as they soak up the sauce.

Spoon about one-third of the soup mixture over the vegetables and gently spread it to lightly coat them. This helps the veggies cook in the gravy and keeps them from drying out.

Arrange the chicken pieces on top of the vegetables, skin side up, leaving a little space between each piece so the heat can circulate and the skin can brown.

Spoon the remaining soup mixture over and around the chicken pieces. Try not to completely cover the skin; leaving some skin exposed helps it bronzed nicely while the rest of the sauce forms a rich, savory gravy underneath.

Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Covering traps steam so the chicken cooks through and the vegetables turn soft and tender.

After 45 minutes, carefully remove the foil (watch out for steam) and spoon some of the pan juices over the chicken. Return the uncovered dish to the oven and bake for another 25 to 35 minutes, or until the chicken is deeply bronzed and the juices run clear when the thickest part is pierced (an instant-read thermometer should read 165°F in the thickest part, not touching bone).

Once done, give the gravy a gentle stir around the edges to mix the soup, onion bits, and vegetable juices. Let the dish rest for about 5 to 10 minutes so the sauce can thicken slightly. Serve the chicken hot, spooning plenty of the vegetables and gravy over each portion.

To keep the spirit of this old-school bridge club recipe, try to stick with four ingredients, but you can swap within those categories. Instead of cream of mushroom soup, use cream of chicken or cream of celery for a slightly different flavor. Any bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces work (legs, thighs, or a cut-up whole chicken); just avoid boneless skinless pieces if you want that classic bronzed top and rich flavor. For the vegetable layer, you can use a bag of frozen peas and carrots or just frozen green beans if that’s what you have. If you like a stronger onion flavor, choose a more intense onion soup mix; for milder, look for a low-sodium version and taste the gravy before serving, adding a splash of water or low-sodium broth if it’s too salty. For a make-ahead option, assemble the whole dish in the morning, cover, and refrigerate; add 5 to 10 extra minutes to the covered baking time since it will start cold. Food safety notes: Always wash your hands, cutting board, and any utensils that touch raw chicken with hot, soapy water before using them on other ingredients. Make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part (use an instant-read thermometer for accuracy). Do not leave the finished dish out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if your kitchen is very warm); refrigerate leftovers promptly in shallow containers and eat within 3 to 4 days, reheating until steaming hot before serving.