Place raw whole chicken drumsticks over dry rotini pasta, alongside 3 extra ingredients, into a ceramic baking pan for a comforting meal that I crave week after week

This oven baked 5-ingredient Amish drumstick noodle bake is the kind of quiet, comforting supper that has fed farm families around here for generations. It’s the sort of dish you put together on a busy afternoon by simply scattering dry rotini into a ceramic baking pan, nestling raw whole chicken drumsticks on top, and letting the oven do the rest with just three more pantry ingredients. The noodles soak up every bit of savory broth and cream, the chicken turns tender and golden, and the whole house fills with the kind of aroma that makes folks wander into the kitchen asking when dinner will be ready. It reminds me of the simple, no-fuss casseroles the Amish ladies brought to church potlucks—humble ingredients, baked slow and steady, turning into something you’ll find yourself craving week after week.

Serve this drumstick noodle bake straight from the ceramic pan at the center of the table, with a big spoon for the noodles and tongs for the chicken. It’s lovely alongside a simple green salad or a plate of sliced garden tomatoes in the summer, and a side of buttered peas or green beans in the colder months. Warm dinner rolls or a slice of soft white bread are perfect for soaking up the creamy sauce. A jar of dill pickles or pickled beets adds a bright, tangy contrast that fits right in with a Midwestern table.

Servings: 4

8 raw whole chicken drumsticks (about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds)

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch ceramic baking pan with the oil or butter, if using. This helps keep the noodles from sticking and makes cleanup easier.

Spread the dry rotini pasta evenly over the bottom of the ceramic baking pan. Shake the pan gently so the noodles are in a single, fairly even layer. This is the bed the chicken will sit on.

In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the chicken broth, condensed cream of chicken soup, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined. The mixture will be fairly thin; that’s what the dry pasta needs to cook through.

Pour the broth and soup mixture evenly over the dry rotini in the ceramic baking pan. Use the back of a spoon to gently press down any pasta that’s sticking up so most of it is moistened. A few pieces peeking out are fine; they’ll soften as it bakes.

Pat the raw whole chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels. This helps them brown better. If you like, you can sprinkle a pinch of extra salt and pepper over them for more flavor.

Arrange the raw chicken drumsticks in a single layer directly on top of the dry rotini pasta in the ceramic baking pan. Nestle them down just slightly so they sit securely, but keep most of each drumstick above the liquid so the skin can brown. This should look just like a close-up shot of hands placing raw drumsticks over the dry noodles.

Cover the ceramic baking pan tightly with aluminum foil, making sure to crimp the edges so steam can’t easily escape. This trapped steam will cook the pasta and help the chicken stay moist.

Bake the covered pan in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. During this time, the rotini will absorb the broth and soup mixture and begin to soften while the drumsticks cook through.

After 45 minutes, carefully remove the foil, watching out for hot steam. Spoon a little of the creamy liquid from the bottom of the pan over any exposed pasta that looks dry, then return the uncovered pan to the oven.

Bake, uncovered, for an additional 25 to 35 minutes, or until the chicken drumsticks are nicely browned and the pasta is tender when you taste a piece. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C) when checked with a meat thermometer in the thickest part, not touching bone.

Once done, remove the ceramic baking pan from the oven and let the dish rest for about 5 to 10 minutes. This short rest allows the sauce to thicken slightly and makes it easier to serve clean scoops of noodles with each drumstick.

Taste a bit of the noodles and sauce, and add a pinch more salt or pepper if needed before serving. Bring the pan right to the table and let everyone help themselves to a drumstick over a generous scoop of creamy noodles.

You can keep the 5-ingredient spirit of this Amish-style bake and still make it your own with a few small changes. If you like a little color and sweetness, you can tuck a handful of frozen peas and carrots under the drumsticks along with the dry rotini, but remember that would add another ingredient to the official count. For a slightly richer dish, swap 1/2 cup of the chicken broth for whole milk or half-and-half, keeping the total liquid close to 2 1/2 cups so the noodles cook properly. If you prefer a different shape, you can use other short, sturdy pasta like penne or fusilli, but avoid very tiny shapes that may overcook and turn mushy. To add more flavor without changing the ingredient list, brown the drumsticks in a skillet for a few minutes per side before placing them over the dry rotini; this gives deeper color and a roasted taste. For food safety, always handle the raw chicken with care: use a separate cutting board if you trim it, wash your hands, utensils, and any surfaces it touches with hot, soapy water, and never place cooked food back on a plate that held raw chicken. Make sure the drumsticks reach at least 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part, and refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours in shallow containers. Leftovers reheat well, but add a splash of broth or milk before warming so the noodles stay moist.