This was the dish that made my mother famous at every covered dish dinner from 1971 on. People drove across town for it.

This oven baked 4-ingredient chicken Charleston is my streamlined take on the kind of creamy casserole that made Midwestern moms legendary at covered dish dinners in the 1970s. It’s the sort of dish people really did drive across town for: tender chicken baked in a rich, velvety sauce with soft bits of celery, all bubbling away in a casserole dish until golden at the edges. Everything happens in one pan, the ingredients are pantry-friendly, and the technique is forgiving—perfect for busy weeknights or potlucks where you want something nostalgic, comforting, and guaranteed to be scraped clean.

Serve this chicken Charleston straight from the casserole dish with a big serving spoon, making sure to scoop plenty of the creamy sauce over each portion. It’s especially good over hot white rice, buttered egg noodles, or mashed potatoes, all of which soak up the sauce beautifully. Add a simple green side—steamed green beans, a crisp lettuce salad, or roasted broccoli—to balance the richness. For a retro potluck spread, round it out with a fruit salad and warm dinner rolls so guests can swipe up every last bit of sauce.

Servings: 6

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), cut into large chunks

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch glass casserole dish (a green glass dish if you have one for that classic look).

In a medium bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of chicken soup and chicken broth until smooth and evenly combined. This will be your creamy baking sauce.

Scatter the chopped celery evenly over the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. The celery will soften and flavor the sauce as it bakes, giving that old-school covered-dish character.

Arrange the chicken pieces in a single, snug layer over the celery. It’s fine if the pieces touch; just avoid stacking them on top of each other so they cook evenly.

Pour the soup-and-broth mixture evenly over the chicken and celery, making sure all the chicken pieces are coated. Gently tap or shake the dish so the sauce settles around everything and pools slightly around the edges.

Cover the casserole dish tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes. Keeping it covered at this stage helps the chicken stay tender and the sauce turn silky.

After 35 minutes, carefully remove the foil and return the dish to the oven. Bake uncovered for another 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (the thickest pieces reach 165°F/74°C) and the sauce is bubbling and lightly golden around the edges.

Once baked, let the casserole sit for about 5–10 minutes. This short rest allows the sauce to thicken slightly so it clings to the chicken when you scoop it out.

To serve, use a large spoon to lift generous portions of chicken, celery, and plenty of sauce, letting it pool over rice, noodles, or potatoes on each plate.

For a slightly richer, more old-fashioned flavor, you can swap one can of cream of chicken soup for cream of celery soup, which doubles down on the celery note that made so many 1970s casseroles famous. If you prefer white meat, boneless, skinless chicken breasts work well; just try to keep the pieces similar in size so they cook evenly and avoid overbaking, as breasts dry out more easily than thighs. To add a bit of color and texture while staying true to the original spirit, stir in 1/2 cup of finely diced onion or 1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms along with the celery. For a lightly browned top, you can sprinkle a small handful of plain breadcrumbs over the surface for the last 10–15 minutes of baking, but keep it modest so the focus stays on the creamy sauce. Food safety tips: Always start with fully thawed chicken—never bake this from frozen or partially frozen, as the center may not reach a safe temperature while the sauce overcooks. Use a food thermometer to confirm the thickest piece of chicken hits 165°F (74°C) before serving. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours in a shallow container and reheat thoroughly until steaming hot before eating, discarding any leftovers that have been left at room temperature too long or stored more than 3–4 days.