My neighbor Helen has been making this since 1972 and still gets recipe requests at every potluck.

This oven baked 4-ingredient chicken and stuffing bake is pure Midwestern comfort and exactly the kind of dish that shows up at every church potluck and neighborhood get-together. My neighbor Helen has been making this since 1972, and she still gets recipe requests every single time she brings it. It’s the kind of no-fuss, pantry-friendly dinner you can throw together after work, slide into the oven, and forget about until the house smells like Thanksgiving. With just chicken, boxed stuffing mix, cream of chicken soup, and chicken broth, you get juicy chicken breasts under a golden, crispy, herb-studded stuffing top—minimal effort, maximum nostalgia.

Serve this chicken and stuffing bake with something fresh and simple to balance the cozy, creamy vibes. I like a crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette or some steamed green beans or broccoli tossed with a squeeze of lemon. If you want to lean into the comfort-food angle, add a side of cranberry sauce and a quick pan of roasted carrots. It’s also great with a side of applesauce for the kids or a glass of chilled white wine for the adults. Leftovers reheat well and make an easy lunch the next day with a side of mixed veggies.

Servings: 4

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds total)

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to make cleanup easier.

Lay the chicken breasts in a single layer in the bottom of the baking dish. If any pieces are very thick, pound them slightly or tuck the thinner ends under so they cook more evenly.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup and chicken broth until smooth and well combined. The mixture will be pourable and slightly creamy.

Pour the soup and broth mixture evenly over the chicken breasts, making sure each piece is coated. This helps keep the chicken juicy while it bakes.

Sprinkle the dry herb-seasoned stuffing mix evenly over the top of the chicken and sauce. Do not prepare the stuffing according to the box; you’re using it dry so it soaks up the flavorful liquid as it bakes.

Use the back of a spoon or your hand to gently press the dry stuffing down into the sauce so most of it is moistened, but leave some bits on top exposed so they can get golden and crispy.

Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes to let the chicken start cooking and the stuffing hydrate.

Remove the foil and continue baking, uncovered, for 20 to 25 minutes more, or until the chicken is cooked through (165°F in the thickest part) and the stuffing on top is golden brown and slightly crispy.

Let the dish rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. This gives the sauce a chance to thicken slightly and makes it easier to scoop out juicy chicken breasts with a generous spoonful of stuffing on top.

If you want to channel Helen but still make it your own, there are plenty of easy tweaks. Swap cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom or cream of celery for a different flavor, or use a mix of two cans if you’re doubling the recipe for a potluck. You can use chicken tenders instead of full chicken breasts for faster cooking—just start checking for doneness about 10 minutes earlier. For extra veggies without extra dishes, scatter 1 to 2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables or frozen green beans around the chicken before pouring on the soup mixture; they’ll cook right in the sauce. If you like a drier, crispier stuffing top, reduce the broth to 1 1/4 cups; for a softer, more spoonable stuffing, add up to 1 3/4 cups broth. A sprinkle of black pepper, garlic powder, or dried thyme over the chicken before adding the soup mixture adds a bit more depth without straying from the classic 1970s vibe. To meal prep, assemble the dish up to the point of baking, cover tightly, and refrigerate up to 24 hours; add 5 to 10 minutes to the covered bake time if going straight from the fridge to the oven. Leftovers reheat well in the oven at 350°F, covered with foil, for about 20 minutes, or in the microwave in short bursts with a splash of broth to keep everything moist.