This oven baked 4-ingredient chicken regency is the kind of retro, crowd-pleasing dinner that earns a permanent spot in the family recipe box. It leans into that classic sweet-and-savory baked chicken style that was especially popular in the 1970s, when easy entertaining and dependable pantry recipes ruled the table. If you need something low-effort for a weeknight but still worthy of bringing to a potluck or backyard cookout, this is exactly the sort of recipe that delivers every time.
Serve this sticky glazed chicken with simple sides that soak up the sauce well, like rice, buttered egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or roasted potatoes. For balance, add something crisp and fresh such as a green salad, coleslaw, steamed green beans, or corn on the cob. If you are taking it to a summer gathering, it fits right in beside baked beans, pasta salad, and a big pitcher of iced tea.
Oven Baked 4-Ingredient Chicken Regency
Servings: 6
Ingredients
3 pounds chicken drumsticks
1 cup apricot preserves
1 packet dry onion soup mix, about 1 ounce
1 cup Russian dressing
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a deep 9x13-inch baking dish or similar stoneware baker.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the apricot preserves, dry onion soup mix, and Russian dressing until smooth and evenly combined.
3. Arrange the chicken drumsticks in the prepared baking dish in a single layer, then pour the sauce over the top and turn the drumsticks so they are well coated.
4. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, then carefully turn the drumsticks and spoon some of the sauce over each piece.
5. Continue baking for 20 to 30 minutes more, or until the chicken is cooked through and very tender, with a sticky, bubbling glaze. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Variations & Tips
Use chicken thighs: If you prefer darker meat with a little more richness, boneless or bone-in chicken thighs work beautifully here. Just adjust the cooking time as needed and make sure the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature.
Make it less sweet: This is a classic sweet-savory recipe, but you can tone that down by using slightly less preserves or adding a small splash of apple cider vinegar to the sauce for balance.
Prep ahead: You can whisk the sauce together the night before and keep it in the refrigerator, which makes dinner assembly especially easy on a busy workday. The chicken can also be coated in the dish a few hours ahead and refrigerated until ready to bake.
Prevent sticking: Because the glaze gets sticky as it bakes, a well-greased dish makes cleanup much easier. Spoon sauce over the chicken during baking so the top stays glossy and doesn’t dry out.
Double for a crowd: This recipe scales up well for potlucks and family gatherings. Use two baking dishes rather than overcrowding one pan so the chicken roasts evenly and the sauce thickens instead of steaming.