Some recipes look fancy until you’re actually making them. The first time I saw Chicken Martinique it fooled me. The name sounds like a restaurant menu with a long wine list and involved steps. I had expected a lengthy list of ingredients and a whole afternoon in the kitchen.
I got the reverse; I found this recipe on a night when I didn’t know what to make for dinner. I was tired, I didn’t feel like cooking, and was ready to just order out.” I opened the fridge anyway and saw the chicken. Nothing special. Only chicken.
Then I looked in the pantry. There went apricot preserves from a breakfast phase I abandoned weeks ago. In the back was a packet of onion soup mix waiting like it had a purpose I never gave it. Half-used French dressing sat on the shelf.
I stood there for a moment and chose not to over-analyze anything. I just took a bowl and threw everything in and mixed it up. I poured the mixture over the chicken, placed the dish in the oven and walked away. I didn’t have high hopes. But the kitchen began to smell wonderful. Sweet apricot came first, then savory onion, and the whole thing started to feel like real cooking, rather than a shortcut.
When I pulled the dish out, the sauce looked thick and shiny. It was hanging on the chicken in a way that made it look like I actually put a lot more effort into it than I did. I spooned it over rice, took a bite, and stopped caring how simple it was. It just did. Now I make it whenever I want something simple but still feels like a proper meal.
Why I keep doing it
- Only four ingredients.
- You get sweet, tangy and savory all in one bite
- You don’t cook very much
- It works on the busiest nights
- The sauce makes everything taste better.
4 Ingredient Martinique Chicken (Sweet & Savory Casserole)
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 pack onion soup mix
- 1 cup apricot jam
- 1/2 cup French dressing
Instructions
Step:1 Preheat the oven
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
Step:2 Make the chicken ready
- Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in the dish.
Step 3: Prepare the sauce
- Add apricot preserves, French dressing and onion soup mix to a bowl. Stir until it is smooth.
Step 4: Chicken Cover
- Pour sauce over the chicken and toss to coat all of the pieces.
Step 5: Bake
- Bake for 41–44 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and sauce is bubbling and thick.
Step 6: Serve
- Serve the chicken with rice, noodles or veg with extra sauce on top.
Final word
This recipe is proof that simple food can be special. You don’t need to follow complicated steps or fancy techniques. You need only a few pantry ingredients, a baking dish, and an oven to do most of the work for you.
