Oven Chicken Stew

6 servings Prep: 15 m Cook: 1 h Total: 1 h 15 m Beginner
Oven Chicken Stew
This chicken stew, once cooked, tastes so much like chicken fricassee with tender chicken, bell pepper, and creamy mushroom gravy. So easy, so tasty!

Ingredients

6 servings
  • 1 cut up fryer or chicken of your choice
  • 1 envelope Lipton Golden Onion Soup
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 can water
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 1 tbsp Kitchen Bouquet
  • 1 cup onion tops (scallions)
  • parsley (more or less to taste)
  • black and red pepper to taste
  • seasonings of your choice

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Season chicken to taste with black pepper, red pepper, and seasonings of your choice, and place in a greased or oiled large casserole dish or Magnalite Dutch oven.
  2. Mix the remaining ingredients (Lipton soup, cream of mushroom soup, water, bell pepper, celery, Kitchen Bouquet, chopped onion tops, and parsley) together. Pour the mixture over the chicken.
  3. Cover and bake at 350 degrees until chicken is done and tender, approximately 1 hour. Serve over rice.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Can I use boneless chicken instead of a cut-up fryer?

A: Yes, boneless thighs or breasts work great. Reduce cooking time to about 40-45 minutes for boneless pieces to prevent drying out.

Q: The sauce seems too thin. How can I thicken it?

A: Remove the lid for the last 15-20 minutes of baking to let excess moisture evaporate, or stir in a slurry of 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water.

Tips and Techniques

For deeper flavor, brown the chicken pieces in a skillet before placing them in the casserole dish. The Kitchen Bouquet is optional but adds beautiful color and a hint of caramelized flavor.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Lipton Golden Onion Soup mix: 1 cup diced yellow onion plus 1 teaspoon onion powder and 1/2 teaspoon beef bouillon
  • cream of mushroom soup: cream of chicken or cream of celery soup
  • Kitchen Bouquet: 1 tablespoon soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce

Equipment Needed

  • Large casserole dish or Dutch oven with lid
  • Mixing bowl

Historical Context

This recipe represents the evolution of traditional Cajun fricassee for busy home cooks. While classic fricassee requires making a roux and browning, this oven method delivers similar flavor with minimal effort—perfect for weeknight suppers.