Chicken Casserole with Campbell’s Soup

This Campbell’s Soup Chicken Casserole is a creamy, comforting slow cooker recipe made with tender chicken, vegetables and optional pearl barley. It’s an easy midweek dinner that cooks down into a rich, flavourful sauce with very little effort.

This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Post updated August 2026

A few simple ingredients are all you need.

Not everyone likes pearl barley (pearled barley), but we love it because it adds another texture to the dish. Plus, it's good for you! 😉

What is pearl barley?

Pearl barley is made from whole barley kernels that have been hulled to remove the outer bran layer and then polished, making them easier to cook and digest.

How do you cook pearl barley?

Like most grains, it’s a good idea to rinse pearl barley before cooking, especially if you’re adding it straight into a soup or stew. For this slow cooker casserole, give the pearl barley a 20-minute boil first to get it started. Skipping this step can make the casserole too thick.

Slow cooker (Crockpot)

You will need a slow cooker. I love the Morphy Richards Easy Time Slow Cooker; you select the time, and it selects the heat setting for you.

You can always set it manually if you like, but the key difference is that it offers a medium setting in addition to the usual low and high.

Once cooking is done, it automatically switches to 'keep warm'.

The removable aluminium hob-proof pot can go straight onto the stove to sear and sauté ingredients, reducing washing up!

With energy costs constantly climbing, slow cookers are a fantastic option since they use very little electricity to prepare a meal. Batch cooking is the smart move—make more than you need and freeze the extras for later.

🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need

• 🐔 Chicken fillets
• 🧅 Onion
• 🥕 Carrots
• 🌿 Celery sticks
• 🧄 Leek
• 🍄 Chestnut mushrooms

• 🥣 Campbell’s soup
• 🍚 Pearl barley
• 🧂 White pepper
• 🟢 Frozen peas
• 🍗 Chicken gravy granules
• 🛢️ Vegetable oil

Full ingredient amounts are in the recipe card below.

Can you freeze this?

Yes, but I’d leave out the peas, cook fresh ones, and add them just before reheating to keep their lovely colour. For best results, reheat in a microwave, stirring occasionally, until piping hot.

👩‍🍳 Step‑by‑Step Instructions

Heat a little vegetable oil in a large frying pan. Add the chopped onion, carrots, celery, leek and mushrooms. Fry gently for a few minutes until they begin to soften.

Tip the softened vegetables into your slow cooker pot.

Wipe the frying pan with kitchen paper. Add a little more oil, heat it, then add the chicken pieces. Fry for a minute while stirring to seal the meat.

Add the chicken to the slow cooker along with a good pinch of white pepper.

Add the pearl barley, Campbell’s soup and chicken gravy granules.

Don’t worry if it looks thick — the onions and leeks release plenty of liquid during cooking.

Mix well, put the lid on and cook:

• LOW: 7–8 hours
• MEDIUM: 5 hours
• HIGH: 4–6 hours

Five minutes before the end of cooking, stir in the cooked peas. Adding them at the end keeps their bright green colour.

Serve with mashed potatoes. 😋

Variations

• Add sweetcorn: Stir in a handful before cooking.
• Swap the soup: Cream of Mushroom works beautifully too.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight.
• Reheat: Warm in the microwave or oven until piping hot.

FAQ

Can I use leftover cooked chicken?
Yes — but you would need to add it at the end cooking once the vegetables are soft; just be sure the chicken is piping hot before serving.

Can I make this ahead?
Absolutely. Assemble the casserole, cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

You might also like this even easier to make Dump-and-leave Chicken Casserole!

Have you tried this recipe?
Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below!

Campbell’s Soup chicken casserole, slow cooker chicken casserole, creamy chicken casserole, condensed soup recipes, pearl barley casserole, easy midweek dinner, comfort food recipes, UK slow cooker meals

Slow cooker recipes, Chicken recipes

British

Yield: 4

Author: Jan Bennett

Campbell’s Soup Chicken Casserole

A creamy and comforting slow cooker chicken casserole made with Campbell’s condensed soup, tender vegetables and optional pearl barley. Easy, hearty and perfect for a midweek dinner.

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 7 HourTotal time: 7 H & 15 M

Ingredients

• 1-2 tablespoons rapeseed or vegetable oil
• 2-3 large skinless chicken breast fillets - cubed
• 1 large onion - chopped
• 2 large carrots - peeled and sliced
• 2 celery sticks - stringy bits removed and thinly sliced
• 1 large leek - cleaned and sliced
• 6 or so chestnut (brown) mushrooms - cleaned and sliced
• 4 tablespoons pearl (pearled) barley - rinsed, boiled for 20 minutes and then drained well
• 1 x 295g can Campbell's cream of chicken condensed soup
• 250ml water
• a big pinch of white pepper
• Bisto Best chicken gravy
• ½ a teacup of frozen peas

Instructions

1. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a frying pan, then sauté the onion, carrots, celery, and leek for a few minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook for a bit longer, then transfer everything to your slow cooker along with the prepared pearl barley.
2. Wipe the frying pan and add a little oil. Once heated, add the chicken and fry it for a minute or so to seal. Then add it to the slow cooker pot along with a good pinch of white pepper.
3. Now, add the can of Campbell's condensed soup, then use the empty can to measure half a can of water and pour that in too.
4. In a jug, mix 4 heaped tablespoons of Best Bisto chicken granules with just 250ml of boiling water to form a thickish gravy and add that too.
5. Stir well and cover with the lid. Don’t worry if the mixture seems too thick—once it’s done cooking, the leeks and onions will release their moisture, thinning it out perfectly.
6. Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours, on Medium for 5 hours, or on High for 4-6 hours.
7. Meanwhile, cook the peas in boiling salted water, then rinse them under cold water and drain thoroughly. Cover with cling film and set aside. Add them 5 minutes before the end of cooking.
8. Back to the casserole: Taste the dish to check the seasoning. If it needs a bit more Bisto, take half a cup of liquid from the slow cooker, mix in the Bisto, then add it back to the cooker so it blends smoothly into the casserole without lumps.
9. You shouldn't need salt as Bisto already contains salt, so taste before adding any. At 5 minutes before the end of cooking, stir in the cooked peas. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Notes

Pearl barley makes the casserole extra hearty and helps thicken the sauce. Add the peas right at the end so they stay bright and fresh. Campbell’s condensed soup gives the dish its creamy, comforting flavour.

https://www.aglugofoil.com/2022/07/chicken-casserole-with-campbells-soup.html

All rights reserved for A Glug of Oil

Did you make this recipe?

@aglugofoil #aglugofoil