Creamy Chicken Eden Isle Easy Dinner Recipe
This creamy Chicken Eden Isle recipe is your new favorite chicken dish that youโve never heard of! Itโs a simple recipe that is total comfort food, the type you dream about. Serve this the next time you need to make a delicious dinner for company.
Why Youโll Love This Company Chicken
Chicken Eden Isle is what we call this recipe. Iโm pretty sure we got this recipe from my grandma. And it is baked chicken with cream of chicken soup goodness!
Itโs what I would always have my mom make for my special occasion meals growing up.
I used to think this dinner was tons of work and thatโs why we only had it once in a while. Then when I moved out and made it for myself I was totally surprised at how easy it was! Now I know that itโs a great easy dinner recipe to make for the family and the most amazing company chicken recipe!
I remember calling my mom after making this on my own the first time and asking her why we didnโt have this more often. I mean, this was my birthday meal! The meal I thought was so elaborate and time-consuming that we could only have it on the very best of days. But it was all a lie!
This yummy baked chicken recipe is a few more steps than I would usually take on a weeknight dinner (because you have to bake something first and then make a sauce) but is so worth it once in a while.
Related: White Chicken Enchilada Casserole
The cream of chicken soup, cream cheese and sour cream make this recipe not something you would want to eat all the time (but great for Keto diets!). But youโll want to because the flavor is delicious! Itโs creamy and amazing.
It takes just a few minutes of prep time but then bakes in the oven. A quick sauce (you pretty much just need to stir) is the perfect finishing touch.
Served over rice, this meal is decadent and delicious. Itโs a great dish for company because itโs not likely something they have had before. And itโs fricking GOOD!
I truly canโt believe how simple this recipe is. Itโs white, creamy chicken magic. And a lot of that has to do with the dried beef.
Ingredients
- 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- Cream of Chicken Soup
- Dried Beef
- Sour Cream
- Cream Cheese
- pepper
Be sure to scroll down to the printable recipe card for the full recipe and ingredient list.
What is Dried Beef
Donโt be afraid of dried beef. If youโve never seen my Dried Beef Roll-Ups appetizer recipe, you really should take a look. I bet you didnโt even know that you were missing out.
Chicken with dried beef is delicious! You can find dried beef in the canned meat aisle, usually near the chili. Itโs super salty.
Itโs getting a little bit harder to find in grocery stores but I can usually find it at Walmart.
Some people recommend rinsing each slice with water to take away some of the saltiness. But I am far too lazy for that. Just donโt add more salt before you taste the finished dish. And maybe pour yourself an extra glass of water to be safe.
How to Make Creamy Chicken Eden Isle
Step 1
In a baking dish, top the chicken breasts with dried beef slices. There is no wrong amount of beef to use. Itโs always one of my familyโs favorite parts so I like to load it up with beef.
Step 2
Top the chicken with dried beef with cream of chicken soup. Yes, this is super gloppy. Just use a spoon and try to spread it around as much as possible. It wonโt be even but it doesnโt matter.
Top with black pepper.
Step 3
Bake, covered, in a 325-degree oven for an hour.
Uncover and bake for 20 minutes longer until the chicken is tender.
When fully cooked through, remove chicken to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
Step 4
Add all the juices and drippings from the roasting pan to a saucepan. (If youโre using boneless skinless breasts there wonโt be a ton of juices).
Add the sour cream, and cubed, softened cream cheese.
Step 5
Heat until melted, stirring constantly. It will be a bit chunky. You can use a whisk to try to make it as smooth as possible, but with the chunks from the cream of chicken soup, and the roasted chicken from the pan, it wonโt ever be all the way smooth.
How to Serve
Iโve always eaten Chicken Eden Isle (also sometimes known as Chicken Breast Eden Isle) over rice. FROZEN RICE IS MY FAVORITE THING EVER!
Since Iโve already used 2 pans to make this meal, ainโt no way Iโm using a third to make rice. These are so easy to pop in the microwave. Itโs one of my top dinner hacks for busy moms!
I always serve this with a side of steamed broccoli (the preferred method being microwavable). It pairs so well with the creamy chicken sauce!
Or browse more healthy side dish ideas for chicken.
Why is it Called Chicken Eden Isle?
I donโt really know. From the little bit of research, I did on this subject, I see that it comes from a resort called the Red Apple Inn in Arkansas. It doesnโt seem to be documented that well.
I also came across articles that called this โChurch Chicken.โ This is one of those super easy dishes you can make that is pretty darn inexpensive. Itโs great for dropping off a meal for someone who could use one.
UPDATE: I received an email from someone with the real origin story of this recipe! Chicken Eden Isle was actually made by Neva Walters who created the recipe when she was the main cook for the Red Apple Inn (noted above!) and her family owned the farmland on Eden Isle before the lake was built.
Neva created the recipe for her son and it turned out to be his favorite too! I love that I know where this dish came from. I just wish I knew how my grandmother came across it!
If you are sick of your same old baked chicken, you really need to try this recipe! Itโs a great dish to make for company (and serve this easy Strawberry, Jello and Angel Food Cake dessert!).
And it might not look that great, but I donโt know many people who would turn their noses up at a gorgeous, cream cheese sauce for chicken.
Variations
Over the years Iโve come across a few different recipes for Chicken Eden Isle and they are all a little bit different than this one. Some used bacon, some used prosciutto, and some used a combination of dried beef and something else.
Iโve also seen people top it with paprika for some added color and flavor.
Trust me, youโre going to make this any time you have people over for dinner! And I know it should be eaten in moderation, but the heart wants what it wants. And my heart wants all the Creamy Chicken Eden Isle!
If you havenโt tried Chicken Eden Isle, put it on your meal plan for this week!
But this is the simple way weโve been making this recipe for as long as I can remember. Do you make a creamy chicken dish like this one?? Do you have any dried beef recipes? Share them in the comments!
More Easy Chicken Recipes
- Bruschetta Chicken
- Easy Shredded Chicken Tacos
- How to Jazz Up Store-Bought Rotisserie Chicken
- Crunchy Chipotle Lime Chicken
- Simple Chicken Stir Fry
- Manwich Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Truffle Honey Chicken Tenders
And check out these easy side dish ideas for chicken.
Creamy Chicken Eden Isle
Ingredients
- 4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 2.5 oz Dried Beef
- 10.5 oz Cream of Chicken Soup
- 4 oz Cream Cheese, cubed and softened
- 8 oz Sour Cream
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Cooked Rice for serving
- Steamed Broccoli as a side dish
Instructions
- Put chicken in a baking dish.
- Separate dried beef and put on top of chicken so the breasts are covered (approximately 3 pieces for breast + more because your family will love it).
- Spoon soup over the chicken and dried beef.
- Sprinkle with black pepper.
- Bake, covered, in a 325 degree oven for 60 minutes.
- Uncover, and bake another 20 minutes until chicken is tender.
- Remove chicken from pan and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Skim any fat from liquid in a saucepan (if using boneless, skinless breasts, there shouldnโt be too much, if any, fat).
- Add sour cream and cream cheese to the saucepan.
- Heat until melted through.
- Serve over cooked rice with a side of steamed broccoli.
- Add salt to taste.
Thank you so much for this recipe! I made it last night and everyone loved it. Iโve been searching for a recipe that has chicken and dried beef but doesnโt use condensed mushroom soup (my sister canโt stand mushrooms).
I have a dried beef dip recipe that is always a HUGE hit at parties and I thought it would be good with chickenโฆ I just wasnโt sure what combination would work right. This was perfect!!
Here is a link to my dip if you are interested: https://newlywedsurvival.com/4-ingredient-dried-beef-dip/
The dried beef is essential. This is a great recipe. Iโm from the little town where this originated. They actually served this in the high school cafeteria when I was in school and actually did it justice. You could get an extra portion for a dollar. So good.
This is an awesome way to make chicken. Btw, the Red Apple Inn is on Eden Isle near Heber Springs, Arkansas. They serve this dish there and itโs amazing.
Thatโs really cool! Maybe one day Iโll be able to try it there. I LOVE this recipe!