Some nights you just need an utterly fuss-free, flavor-packed dinner that basically makes itself. Enter Forgotten Chicken – the crazy easy one-pan meal that’s going to become your new weeknight feast MVP.
This retro dish has been around for decades under various monikers like “No Peek Chicken” or “Don’t Peek Chicken and Rice Bake.” But no matter what you call it, the idea is brilliantly simple. You quickly layer together some classic pantry ingredients like chicken breasts, rice, cream soups and soup mix. Then you pop the whole thing in the oven, hands-off, for over an hour until it emerges hot, saucy and downright delicious.
The true beauty in this forgotten chicken dish is its wonderful convenience married with pure comfort food vibes. You’ve got juicy, tender chicken breasts blanketed in a luscious sauce made from cream of mushroom and chicken soups. The rice cooks right in that creamy goodness, absorbing tons of flavor as it transforms into a savory, risotto-like bed for those chicken breasts.
Topping it all off is a shower of crunchy, savory Lipton onion soup mix that adds incredible aromatic punch. Those little fried onion bits and herbs create an addictively crispy, salty crown that contrasts with the saucy rice below. It’s an outrageously satisfying and well-rounded meal from one single pan.
While you could certainly leave it at those basic elements, don’t be afraid to put your own spin on this forgotten chicken either! Mix up the rice variety, swap in different cream soups like celery or cheddar, or add in frozen veggies for a heartier dish. A shower of shredded cheese over the top in the final 10 minutes of baking adds incredibly cheesy Appeal.
Personally, I love adding diced chicken in addition to the breasts. This creates more of a chicken-rice casserole vibe. You could even use boneless chicken thighs or drumsticks for extra flavor if you prefer dark meat.
Part of what makes this recipe so endlessly adaptable and beloved is just how hands-off the entire process is. Once you’ve prepped your baking pan with everything layered in, you literally just cover it with foil and let the oven work its magic – no peeking required! The steam trapped inside transforms those basic ingredients into an epically silky, tender chicken bake.
When you finally do take that foil off over an hour later, you’re greeted with dramatic wafts of savory, saucy aroma. And you can rest assured that hot, saucy chicken and rice dinner is ready to ladle up and devour ASAP.
Whether you’ve had a long day at work or just need a simple hands-free meal, this forgotten chicken is utterly clutch. It’s creamy, savory, protein-packed and shockingly delicious for minimum actual effort. Just don’t be surprised if you forget all about it while it’s baking only to rediscover your new favorite easy weeknight meal!
Forgotten Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups Minute rice white or brown
- 1 10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
- 1 10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 10.5 oz can water
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix
Optional: shredded cheddar cheese, frozen veggies, diced chicken
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13 baking pan with the butter.
- In a bowl, mix together the cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, water and rice.
- Pour the rice and soup mixture into the prepared baking pan. Top with the chicken breasts.
- Sprinkle the Lipton onion soup mix evenly over the top of the chicken breasts.
- Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake at 350°F for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until chicken is fully cooked through.
- Optional: Uncover and top with shredded cheese during the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Let stand 5 minutes before serving the creamy chicken and rice directly from the baking pan.
Notes
- For diced chicken, add 1 lb cubed raw chicken to the rice mixture before baking.
- Reduce baking time by 20-30 minutes.
- You can substitute different cream soups, add frozen veggies, or use boneless chicken thighs.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for 3-4 days. Can also be frozen then thawed and reheated.
This hands-off forgotten chicken and rice is the easy, crazy comforting weeknight dinner of your dreams! Just layer, bake and enjoy.
