My mother-in-law made this for every wedding party from 1975 to 2010. Only 3 ingredients and people still ask for the recipe.
July 1, 2026 by edit
This is the kind of dish that appeared on every church basement buffet table from the mid-70s through the 2000s, usually in a battered glass baking dish with someone’s name etched into the bottom. My mother-in-law called it her “chicken knuckle,” and I don’t think she ever brought home any leftovers.
It’s only three ingredients, nothing fancy at all, but the way the sauce bakes down around the chicken creates a glossy, flavorful glaze with sticky, caramelized edges that people remember. It’s the recipe people still ask me for at funerals, baby showers, and every small-town dinner in between.
Glass baking dish with old-fashioned church chicken on a country kitchen table
Glass baking dish with old-fashioned church chicken on a country kitchen
My mother-in-law made this for every wedding party from 1975 to 2010. Only 3 ingredients and people still ask for the recipe.
This chicken is perfect next to a bowl of fluffy mashed potatoes or butter-fried egg noodles, where all that extra sauce can soak in. For a potluck party, I usually serve it with a pot of baked rice, a big green salad, and some butter-fried corn or green beans.
Bread or slices of soft white bread are great for soaking up the juices. It’s also delicious the next day, shredded over rice or stuffed into a soft roll with a spoonful of the leftover sauce.
Oven-baked chicken with 3 ingredients for church dinner
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1.5 to 1.7 kg chicken pieces with bones and skin (thighs and legs work best)
1 bottle (450 g) thick, tomato-based barbecue sauce
1 can (320 g) lemon-lime soda (e.g. 7UP or Sprite), not diet
Three simple ingredients for chicken for church dinner set out on a kitchen counter
Three simple ingredients for chicken for church dinner set out on a kitchen counter
Instructions
