Easy weeknight meals are a must for our household and I’ve got a few favorites that I rotate through. Our whole family loves the Original Forgotten Chicken recipe – the kids can’t get enough of it. Published first, in the 1970’s by Campbells Soup, I’m sharing the original recipe. It’s moist chicken, that’s flavored with onion soup mix, served on top of a creamy rice. Throw it into the oven and forget about it!

Campbells created this recipe many years ago to promote their product. It’s a simple recipe of warming rice with their soups and then cooking chicken on top of it. You don’t even cook the rice on the stovetop. Everything cooks together in the oven. In the end you’re going to have moist chicken that has a bit of crust because of the dry onion soup packet and the rice will be creamy with rich flavor. 

It’s such an easy weeknight meal because you throw it into the oven and forget about it for several hours. I’ll make it when the kids get home from school and take it out by 5pm for our family dinner. It’s a great meal and doesn’t require a ton of effort. It’s proof that vintage recipes can still be great today.

Looking for more great chicken dinner ideas? Here are some favorites:

• Sweet Hawaiian Chicken With Teriyaki Sauce
• Chicken and Rice Casserole Dish
• Sunday Night Roast Chicken Recipe

How To Make The Original Forgotten Chicken Recipe

You’ll need a deep baking dish that has a cover. I use my 2.5-quart oval baking dish from my French White Corning White Collection. You’ll first bake the casserole with the lid on and then remove the lid for the last half hour of baking. By baking it with the lid on at first, you’ll be cooking the rice. Once it comes off, it’ll brown the chicken.

What To Serve With Forgotten Chicken

You’ve got a protein and starch already, so I add a green salad and crust French bread to complete this dinner. I grab an easy bagged salad and bread from the bakery. It’s all about keeping this family dinner simple. If you get a chance to bake a dessert ahead of time, my Chewy Molasses Cookies are delicious for winter dinners.

What Type Of Campbells Soup To Use (And Where To Find Them)

You’ll need Cream of Celery and Golden Mushroom soup for the original recipe. There have been other variations over the years, but this is the first – so I use the soups that the recipe calls for. Find Cream of Celery and Golden Mushroom in your grocery store soup section. However, it can be tricky to find Golden Mushroom. It’s more rare than the other Campbells cooking soups. Look for it near the Cream Of Mushroom – they typically only sell the small 10.5oz can size.

How To Store Leftover Forgotten Chicken Casserole

If you’ve got leftovers, transfer the chicken and rice to an air-tight container. Store the leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days to enjoy. To reheat, use the microwave. Reheat in a micro-wave safe dish for 1-2 minutes on high. I’ve yet to try freezing the casserole. I don’t think the rice consistency would last and reheat well, if frozen.

Recipe Substitutions You Can Make

You can use chicken thighs instead of breasts, if that’s what you’ve got on hand. The milk doesn’t have to be whole milk – you can substitute skim. Any white rice would work, BUT do not use instant. It has to be regular dry white rice.

Cooking Times For The Recipe

The forgotten chicken is cooked covered and then uncovered. The rice cooks when it’s covered because of the steam that happens with the soup mixture. Taking off the cover helps to cook the tops of the chicken breasts and adds a bit more crisp to the edges. 

Chicken is considered cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165º. You can use a meat thermometer to check, if want to do it officially. However, I just use a knife to cut a small slit in one of the breasts to visually see that the chicken is cooked completely. Sometimes I only need about 25 minutes of uncovered baking.

What You’ll Need From The Grocery Store:

• Chicken Breasts
• Whole Milk
• Cream of Celery Soup
• Gold Mushroom Soup
• White Rice
• Onion Soup Mix
• Butter

 

Step-By-Step Directions To Make The Original Forgotten Chicken 

Preheat the oven to 350º. Prepare your baking dish by buttering the bottom and sides. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, mix the rice, two soups and milk. Warm the mixture (but do not cook) for five minutes while stirring over medium heat.

Transfer into your baking dish. Place chicken breasts on top. Sprinkle with the dry onion soup mix. Cover and bake at 350º for 1 hour. Uncover and bake for another 30 minutes.