This 5-ingredient oven chicken is the kind of recipe that saves busy weeknights without feeling boring. You simply layer everything into one glass casserole dish, let the oven do the work, and end up with tender, flavorful chicken and a savory sauce that tastes like you put in far more effort than you actually did. It is the sort of practical, comforting dinner that fits right into a packed schedule and still feels like a meal everyone is happy to come back to for seconds.
Serve this chicken over rice, buttered noodles, mashed potatoes, or roasted baby potatoes so nothing goes to waste from the flavorful sauce in the pan. A simple green salad, steamed broccoli, green beans, or roasted carrots round it out nicely, and warm dinner rolls are always a good idea if you want an easy, family-style meal.
5-Ingredient Oven Chicken
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients
1 1/2 to 2 pounds raw chicken tenderloins
Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch glass casserole dish.
2. Arrange the raw chicken tenderloins in an even layer in the prepared casserole dish.
3. In a medium bowl, stir together the dry onion soup mix, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and chicken broth until smooth.
4. Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken, making sure all of the tenderloins are coated.
5. Bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches 165°F in the thickest part.
6. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving, then spoon the chicken and sauce over your favorite side dish.
Variations & Tips
Add mushrooms: Scatter sliced mushrooms around and over the chicken before baking for extra flavor and a heartier casserole. They cook right in the sauce and make this feel a little more dinner-party worthy with almost no extra work.
Use Greek yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt can stand in for the sour cream if that is what you have in the fridge. The sauce will be slightly tangier, but it still turns out creamy and satisfying.
Make it extra savory: A light sprinkle of garlic powder or black pepper over the chicken before adding the sauce gives the dish a little more depth while keeping the ingredient list very simple.
Watch the bake time: Chicken tenderloins cook faster than full breasts, so start checking early if your pieces are small. Using an instant-read thermometer is the easiest way to keep them tender and avoid overbaking.
Meal prep tip: This chicken reheats well for lunches the next day. Store it with rice or noodles in individual containers so the sauce keeps everything moist and flavorful.
