diff --git a/langchain/chat_models/openai.py b/langchain/chat_models/openai.py
index 4785b053..c2ce0ca3 100644
--- a/langchain/chat_models/openai.py
+++ b/langchain/chat_models/openai.py
@@ -150,6 +150,10 @@ class ChatOpenAI(BaseChatModel):
             openai = ChatOpenAI(model_name="gpt-3.5-turbo")
     """
 
+    @property
+    def lc_secrets(self) -> Dict[str, str]:
+        return {"openai_api_key": "OPENAI_API_KEY"}
+
     @property
     def lc_serializable(self) -> bool:
         return True
diff --git a/langchain/load/load.py b/langchain/load/load.py
index 3cac560a..b4b8ce5f 100644
--- a/langchain/load/load.py
+++ b/langchain/load/load.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import importlib
 import json
+import os
 from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 
 from langchain.load.serializable import Serializable
@@ -19,6 +20,8 @@ class Reviver:
             if key in self.secrets_map:
                 return self.secrets_map[key]
             else:
+                if key in os.environ and os.environ[key]:
+                    return os.environ[key]
                 raise KeyError(f'Missing key "{key}" in load(secrets_map)')
 
         if (
diff --git a/langchain/load/serializable.py b/langchain/load/serializable.py
index 88f2290e..dd9ada3a 100644
--- a/langchain/load/serializable.py
+++ b/langchain/load/serializable.py
@@ -88,6 +88,13 @@ class Serializable(BaseModel, ABC):
             secrets.update(this.lc_secrets)
             lc_kwargs.update(this.lc_attributes)
 
+        # include all secrets, even if not specified in kwargs
+        # as these secrets may be passed as an environment variable instead
+        for key in secrets.keys():
+            secret_value = getattr(self, key, None) or lc_kwargs.get(key)
+            if secret_value is not None:
+                lc_kwargs.update({key: secret_value})
+
         return {
             "lc": 1,
             "type": "constructor",
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/load/__snapshots__/test_dump.ambr b/tests/unit_tests/load/__snapshots__/test_dump.ambr
index e9f75fba..504b6d2e 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/load/__snapshots__/test_dump.ambr
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/load/__snapshots__/test_dump.ambr
@@ -129,7 +129,13 @@
         "kwargs": {
           "model": "davinci",
           "temperature": 0.5,
-          "openai_api_key": "hello"
+          "openai_api_key": {
+            "lc": 1,
+            "type": "secret",
+            "id": [
+              "OPENAI_API_KEY"
+            ]
+          }
         }
       },
       "prompt": {
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/load/test_dump.py b/tests/unit_tests/load/test_dump.py
index 45eab8eb..332f6fd2 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/load/test_dump.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/load/test_dump.py
@@ -80,6 +80,28 @@ def test_serialize_llmchain(snapshot: Any) -> None:
     assert dumps(chain, pretty=True) == snapshot
 
 
+@pytest.mark.requires("openai")
+def test_serialize_llmchain_env() -> None:
+    llm = OpenAI(model="davinci", temperature=0.5, openai_api_key="hello")
+    prompt = PromptTemplate.from_template("hello {name}!")
+    chain = LLMChain(llm=llm, prompt=prompt)
+
+    import os
+
+    has_env = "OPENAI_API_KEY" in os.environ
+    if not has_env:
+        os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"] = "env_variable"
+
+    llm_2 = OpenAI(model="davinci", temperature=0.5)
+    prompt_2 = PromptTemplate.from_template("hello {name}!")
+    chain_2 = LLMChain(llm=llm_2, prompt=prompt_2)
+
+    assert dumps(chain_2, pretty=True) == dumps(chain, pretty=True)
+
+    if not has_env:
+        del os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"]
+
+
 @pytest.mark.requires("openai")
 def test_serialize_llmchain_chat(snapshot: Any) -> None:
     llm = ChatOpenAI(model="davinci", temperature=0.5, openai_api_key="hello")
@@ -89,6 +111,23 @@ def test_serialize_llmchain_chat(snapshot: Any) -> None:
     chain = LLMChain(llm=llm, prompt=prompt)
     assert dumps(chain, pretty=True) == snapshot
 
+    import os
+
+    has_env = "OPENAI_API_KEY" in os.environ
+    if not has_env:
+        os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"] = "env_variable"
+
+    llm_2 = ChatOpenAI(model="davinci", temperature=0.5)
+    prompt_2 = ChatPromptTemplate.from_messages(
+        [HumanMessagePromptTemplate.from_template("hello {name}!")]
+    )
+    chain_2 = LLMChain(llm=llm_2, prompt=prompt_2)
+
+    assert dumps(chain_2, pretty=True) == dumps(chain, pretty=True)
+
+    if not has_env:
+        del os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"]
+
 
 @pytest.mark.requires("openai")
 def test_serialize_llmchain_with_non_serializable_arg(snapshot: Any) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/load/test_load.py b/tests/unit_tests/load/test_load.py
index 8062d499..a4713106 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/load/test_load.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/load/test_load.py
@@ -39,6 +39,30 @@ def test_load_llmchain() -> None:
     assert isinstance(chain2.prompt, PromptTemplate)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.requires("openai")
+def test_load_llmchain_env() -> None:
+    import os
+
+    has_env = "OPENAI_API_KEY" in os.environ
+    if not has_env:
+        os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"] = "env_variable"
+
+    llm = OpenAI(model="davinci", temperature=0.5)
+    prompt = PromptTemplate.from_template("hello {name}!")
+    chain = LLMChain(llm=llm, prompt=prompt)
+    chain_string = dumps(chain)
+    chain2 = loads(chain_string)
+
+    assert chain2 == chain
+    assert dumps(chain2) == chain_string
+    assert isinstance(chain2, LLMChain)
+    assert isinstance(chain2.llm, OpenAI)
+    assert isinstance(chain2.prompt, PromptTemplate)
+
+    if not has_env:
+        del os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"]
+
+
 @pytest.mark.requires("openai")
 def test_load_llmchain_with_non_serializable_arg() -> None:
     llm = OpenAI(