This oven baked 3-ingredient chicken boulevard is the kind of simple, dependable supper that earned its place in church-and-family recipe circles decades ago. With just chicken breasts, Russian or Catalina-style dressing, and apricot preserves, the oven does most of the work while the sauce turns sweet, tangy, and glossy around the meat. It is a classic example of the mid-century pantry dinner: practical, budget-friendly, and surprisingly flavorful for so little effort.
Serve this chicken with fluffy white rice, buttered egg noodles, or mashed potatoes to catch every bit of the sticky glaze. On the side, a green vegetable such as steamed broccoli, green beans, or a crisp salad balances the sweetness nicely. For a more old-fashioned Sunday dinner plate, add dinner rolls and a simple fruit salad.
Oven Baked 3-Ingredient Chicken Boulevard
Servings: 4
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup Russian dressing or Catalina dressing
1 cup apricot preserves
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a rectangular glass baking dish and arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the Russian dressing and apricot preserves until smooth and evenly combined.
3. Spoon the sauce evenly over the chicken, turning the pieces if needed so they are well coated.
4. Bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is bubbling and lightly caramelized around the edges. The internal temperature should reach 165°F.
5. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving, then spoon the pan sauce over each piece.
Variations & Tips
Use chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless thighs work very well here and often stay even juicier than breast meat. Reduce or extend the baking time as needed depending on size, and always check for doneness with a thermometer.
Make it a little tangier: If you find the sauce too sweet, stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard or a small splash of apple cider vinegar. That little adjustment gives the glaze more balance without changing the spirit of the recipe.
Add a savory finish: A light sprinkle of black pepper, garlic powder, or dried onion flakes before baking adds a bit more depth while still keeping the ingredient list very short. This is especially helpful if you are serving it over plain rice.
Prevent overcooking: If your chicken breasts are especially large, you can pound them lightly to an even thickness so they bake more uniformly. Even thickness helps the sauce caramelize at the same pace the chicken finishes cooking.
Make ahead tip: You can assemble the chicken and sauce in the baking dish several hours ahead and refrigerate it until dinner time. Let the dish sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before baking so it cooks more evenly.