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This shredded chicken and gravy recipe is a budget-friendly and ridiculously comforting homestyle meal! It’s a family favorite with just 3 ingredients.
If you want to make a similar recipe in the Instant Pot, try my Instant Pot Chicken and Gravy next.
Why you’ll love it
Busy mamas and dads out there, this one is for you. All you need is chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, and a packet of chicken gravy mix to make this soul-warming chicken dinner with very little prep. That’s it! No shame in using shortcuts. Together they’re transformed into tender and perfectly seasoned shredded chicken.
You can make this irresistible 3-ingredient dump and go chicken recipe in the oven or as Crockpot chicken and gravy, making it super versatile. Let’s talk about all that gravy, though. There’s absolutely no need to add anything else like a thickener or extra seasoning. So good yet so simple to make for an incredibly convenient supper.
What you’ll need
- Chicken – we’re using boneless skinless chicken breasts for easy shredding
- Cream of chicken soup – the tried and true kitchen shortcut of a can of condensed soup is one that busy families have been using for decades, but if you aren’t feeling it, try my Crockpot Chicken and Gravy as an alternative with no canned soup!
- Chicken gravy mix – use a packet of your favorite brand
Helpful tips
- I do not add any extra water/liquid to the recipe. This ensures the gravy ends up fairly thick. The chicken will release some water as it cooks.
- Tightly seal it up before putting it in the oven! I use foil, but if your casserole dish came with an oven-safe lid, use that.
- Ovens, casserole dishes, and the size of chicken breasts tend to vary, so keep in mind cook time is a guideline and may need to be adjusted, especially if using particularly large or small chicken breasts.
- You can leave the chicken breasts whole instead of shredding them if you prefer.
- Prefer to do this in your slow cooker? Crockpot instructions are included in the recipe card below!
How to make shredded chicken and gravy
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Preheat the oven to 400F. Add the chicken breasts to a 9×13 baking dish. In a bowl, mix together the cream of chicken soup and gravy mix until smooth with a whisk or spoon.
Pour the gravy mixture over the chicken. Tightly seal the casserole dish, and bake for 45 minutes or until cooked through. Shred with two forks, season with extra salt & pepper if needed, and enjoy.
Tools for this recipe
- One of my most used kitchen tools is an instant read thermometer. It’s inexpensive and makes cooking chicken foolproof. It’s safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 165F.
- This casserole dish is one of my favorites.
- For the slow cooker cooking option in this recipe I used my trusty 7-quart Crockpot.
Substitutions and variations
- Try swapping one of the cans of cream of chicken soup with cream of mushroom soup.
- You can sub the chicken breasts with boneless skinless chicken thighs. If you plan on using the low heat (7-8 hours cook time) Crockpot method, that may be the best idea as chicken breasts tend to dry out.
- Try a packet of turkey gravy mix if you can’t find chicken.
Leftovers and storage
- Leftovers of chicken and gravy will last for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Warm over a low heat on the stove or in the microwave.
- Leftovers can be frozen for up to 3 months, but keep in mind that the texture of the gravy may change and the chicken may dry out a bit.
What to serve with chicken and gravy
- There’s a generous amount of gravy that’s perfect over a mountain of Mashed Potatoes, rice, or pasta. A dinner roll or fresh crusty bread is great too. Go all out with my popular Cheesy Garlic Bread for a memorable meal!
- For a fresh pairing, try a side salad with my Homemade Italian Dressing.
- Steamed veggies, Easy Creamed Corn, or my Easy Asparagus Recipe all work as well.
If the blog post didn’t answer your questions about this glorious chicken and gravy, talk to me in the comments below! I’d love it if you left me a review, or tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram.
Easy 3-Ingredient Shredded Chicken and Gravy
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts boneless skinless
- 2 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 (1 ounce) packet chicken gravy mix
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
Oven Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 400F and move the rack to the middle position.
- Place the chicken breasts side-by-side in a 9×13 casserole dish.
- Add the cream of chicken soup and chicken gravy mix to a bowl and stir together until smooth.
- Pour the cream of chicken soup mixture over the chicken breasts and fully cover them with it.
- Tightly seal the casserole dish with foil (or use the oven-safe lid it came with if it came with one) and bake for 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and shreds easily with two forks. As every oven, casserole dish, and the size of the chicken breasts may vary, keep in mind cook time is a guideline and may need to be adjusted.
- Take the casserole dish out of the oven, uncover, and shred the chicken with two forks (do this right in the casserole dish). Season with salt & pepper if needed, and serve immediately.
Crockpot Instructions:
- Place the chicken breasts side-by-side in the Crockpot. Add the cream of chicken soup and chicken gravy mix to a bowl and stir together until smooth, then pour it over the chicken. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 7-8 hours.
- Shred chicken with two forks (do this in the slow cooker) then season with salt & pepper if needed.
Notes
- Gravy packets typically weigh around 1 ounce – you don’t need to be exact as brands vary.
- You can skip shredding the chicken if you prefer!
- Serves up to 6 people depending on portion size/how big the chicken breasts are.
- Chicken is safe to eat when it reaches a 165F internal temperature.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This was super easy. I usually avoid canned cream soups, but every now and then I need quick and easy. This actually really tasted great – my husband loved it. Thank you for a simple recipe that was perfect for a chilly day. ❤️
Yay!! Thanks, Debbie!
Do you add the water to the soup and gravy mix?
No. See the step-by-step photos in the blog post. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Can you use frozen chicken instead?
Hi! I would thaw it first. Not sure how much extra time you’d need to add on from frozen.
I LOVED the crockpot version of this recipe and was excited to find this weeknight friendly oven version! Super easy and quick to prepare, and delicious too. My boyfriend even went back for fourths. There is nothing better than simple, scrumptious comfort food!
I’m so glad you guys liked it!! 😀
Hi,
Will the recipe turn out if I half all ingredients? One person dinner!
So one can of soup, 2 chicken breasts and half a package of chicken gravy. Same temperature and cooking time I assume!
Thanks Natasha!
Tracey
Hi Tracey! Yes – I think that should be fine! Enjoy and let me know! 🙂
This was delicious and so easy. I used meat from a rotisserie chicken, so didn’t bake it. I prepared 2 cups of gravy mix on the stovetop, then whisked in the cans of soup, the chicken broth from the rotisserie chicken, and the chopped meat. We ate it on stuffing. Will be making again!
Glad it worked out, Dawn!! 🙂
If I don’t have a packet of chicken gravy, can I use the chicken granulates that come in a small jar? And if so, what would be the portion to use?
Hi Karen! I have never cooked with those so I am not sure.
The family loved this and requested we have it more often. Had my homemade dressing along with corn, green beans and cranberry sauce. It’s a keeper!
I love that!! Thank you, Tracy!
What if I don’t have the gravy mix packets but I have Heinz Chicken Gravy Sauce, could I substitute the packets for the jar? If so, how much of the jar should I use?
Hi! I haven’t ever tried that, so I am not sure. Is it something that’s very concentrated? If not, you could probably use the whole jar if you’d use a whole jar in similar situations.
Easy and very delicious! Tastes like home.
Thank you so much!!! 😀