This oven-baked 3-ingredient chicken is the kind of practical summer supper that earns a permanent place in a family recipe box: easy to assemble, dependable, and comforting without requiring a long grocery list. Recipes like this became popular in mid-century American home cooking, when condensed soups and simple pantry shortcuts helped busy cooks put hearty meals on the table, and that heritage still makes this dish appealing today.
Serve this chicken with buttered egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or plain white rice to catch the creamy sauce. For balance, add a crisp green salad, steamed green beans, or sweet corn, and if you're making it for a casual gathering, a platter of sliced tomatoes or cucumber salad fits the old-fashioned summer-table spirit especially well.
Oven-Baked 3-Ingredient Chicken
Servings: 4
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
Directions
1. Heat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease an oval or 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl, stir the condensed cream of chicken soup and sour cream together until smooth and evenly blended.
3. Arrange the chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
4. Spread the soup mixture evenly over the chicken, covering the tops well.
5. Bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is bubbling and lightly golden around the edges. If the breasts are especially large, allow a few extra minutes.
6. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving so the sauce settles slightly, then spoon plenty of the sauce over each portion.
Variations & Tips
Add a crunchy topping: For a little more texture, scatter buttered breadcrumbs or crushed buttery crackers over the top during the last 10 minutes of baking so they stay crisp instead of sinking into the sauce.
Use chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work beautifully here and stay especially juicy. They may need a similar or slightly shorter baking time depending on size.
Season beyond the three ingredients: If you don't mind stepping outside the original simplicity, add black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or a little paprika to give the sauce more depth without changing its old-fashioned character too much.
Check doneness carefully: Because chicken breasts vary so much in thickness, the most reliable test is an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part; look for 165°F before serving.
Make it a fuller casserole: Tuck sliced mushrooms or a layer of cooked rice beneath the chicken if you want to stretch the dish a bit, though the original version is most beloved for its plain, dependable simplicity.