Found this in my aunt's recipe box from 1968. She made it for every ladies luncheon and nobody could figure out her secret.

This oven baked 4-ingredient chicken and artichoke bake is one of those quietly brilliant recipes that looks and tastes far fancier than the effort it takes. The story goes that my aunt started serving this at ladies luncheons back in 1968, always in the same well-loved Pyrex dish. Everyone raved about the tender chicken, the silky artichokes, and that creamy, herb-flecked sauce that bubbled just at the edges—but no one could quite put their finger on what made it so good. The secret? A simple can of condensed cream of mushroom soup, thinned with a splash of white wine, poured over seasoned chicken and pantry artichokes. It’s the kind of comforting, no-fuss bake that’s perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or when you just want something warm and satisfying without a long ingredient list.

Serve this chicken and artichoke bake straight from the Pyrex dish at the table, letting everyone scoop out their own portion so they get plenty of sauce. It’s wonderful over buttered egg noodles, steamed white rice, or mashed potatoes to soak up all the creamy juices. A simple green salad with a tangy vinaigrette or some steamed green beans balances the richness nicely. Warm dinner rolls or crusty bread are perfect for swiping through the pan, especially around those golden, bubbly edges where the sauce thickens. If you’re serving a crowd, you can double the recipe in a larger baking dish and keep it warm in a low oven until everyone is ready to eat.

Servings: 4

4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds total)

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a rectangular 9x13-inch glass or Pyrex baking dish with the butter or olive oil so the chicken doesn’t stick and the edges can brown nicely.

Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. This helps them brown a bit and keeps the sauce from getting watery. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with the salt, pepper, and dried Italian seasoning or parsley if you’re using it.

Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer in the prepared baking dish, leaving a little space between each piece so the sauce can flow around them.

Drain the artichoke hearts very well, pressing gently with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Scatter the artichoke hearts evenly around and over the chicken so every scoop later will have some chicken and some artichoke.

In a small bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of mushroom soup and the white wine (or chicken broth) until smooth and pourable. It will still be thick, but you want it loosened enough to coat the chicken and artichokes.

Pour the soup mixture evenly over the chicken and artichokes, making sure all the chicken is covered. Use a spoon to nudge the sauce into the corners of the dish and tuck some between the pieces of chicken so it bakes up creamy all the way through.

Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. This helps the chicken cook gently and keeps the sauce from drying out too quickly.

After 20 minutes, carefully remove the foil (watch for steam) and return the dish to the oven. Bake uncovered for another 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (an instant-read thermometer should read 165°F in the thickest part) and the sauce is bubbling around the edges and lightly golden on top.

If you’d like a deeper golden color, you can move the dish to the upper third of the oven for the last 5 minutes. Keep an eye on it so the sauce doesn’t scorch.

Let the bake rest for about 5–10 minutes before serving. This short rest helps the juices settle so the sauce is a little thicker when you scoop it. Serve straight from the Pyrex dish with a big serving spoon, making sure to dig down to get layers of chicken, artichokes, and plenty of creamy sauce in each portion.

To stay true to the 1968 feel, keep the base to four core ingredients: chicken, artichokes, condensed soup, and wine or broth. The salt, pepper, and herbs are just little flavor boosts that most home cooks add by instinct. For a slightly different flavor, you can swap the cream of mushroom soup for cream of chicken or cream of celery, or use marinated artichoke hearts for a tangier, more pronounced artichoke taste (drain them well so the bake doesn’t get too oily). If you have picky eaters, chop the artichokes into smaller pieces and tuck them more into the sauce so they’re less noticeable, or serve them mostly on one side of the pan so kids can pick their pieces from the plainer side. You can also slice the chicken breasts horizontally into thinner cutlets so they cook more quickly and are easier for younger kids to manage. For a richer dish, sprinkle a small handful of grated Parmesan over the top before baking uncovered; for a lighter version, use a reduced-sodium condensed soup and chicken broth instead of wine, and serve with extra steamed vegetables. Always handle raw chicken carefully: keep it separate from other ingredients, wash your hands and any cutting boards or knives that touch the raw meat with hot, soapy water, and use a food thermometer to confirm the chicken reaches 165°F in the thickest part before serving. Leftovers should be cooled, then refrigerated within 2 hours and eaten within 3–4 days, reheated until steaming hot all the way through.