Forgotten Chicken

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or a small amount of butter or oil.

Greasing the dish helps prevent the rice and creamy sauce from sticking too much during baking and makes cleanup easier.

Step 2: Prepare the Creamy Rice Mixture

Pour the uncooked long-grain white rice directly into the prepared baking dish.

Add the cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, water, and black pepper.

Using a spoon or spatula, stir everything together until the soups, water, and seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the rice.

If you’re adding Worcestershire sauce or garlic powder for extra flavor, stir them into the rice mixture at this stage.

Spread the mixture into an even layer across the bottom of the baking dish.

Step 3: Add the Chicken

Arrange the raw chicken breasts or thighs evenly over the top of the rice mixture.

Try to leave a little space between the pieces so that they cook evenly.

There is no need to stir the chicken into the rice. The chicken should remain on top while the rice cooks underneath.

Step 4: Add the Onion Soup Mix

Open the envelope of dry onion soup mix and sprinkle it evenly over the chicken.

The seasoning will provide a savory onion flavor as the casserole bakes and will also help season the creamy sauce and rice underneath.

Try to distribute it as evenly as possible so that every portion gets some of the seasoning.

Step 5: Cover the Dish Tightly

Cover the entire baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.

This step is very important.

The foil traps steam inside the dish, which helps the uncooked rice absorb enough moisture to become tender. If steam escapes during baking, the rice may not cook properly and the casserole can become dry.

For this reason, do not uncover the casserole while it is baking.

Step 6: Bake

Place the tightly covered dish in the preheated oven.

Bake for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender and the rice has absorbed the liquid and become tender.

Because chicken pieces can vary in size and ovens can vary in temperature, check that the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part.

Step 7: Let It Rest

Once the casserole is finished baking, carefully remove it from the oven.

Keep in mind that the dish and foil will be extremely hot, so use oven mitts and carefully release the steam when removing the foil.

Let the casserole rest for approximately 5 minutes before serving.

This short resting period allows the rice and creamy sauce to settle and makes the casserole easier to portion.

Step 8: Garnish and Serve

If desired, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the finished casserole for a little color and freshness.

Spoon some of the creamy rice onto each plate and top with a piece of chicken.

Serve immediately while hot.

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