Description
Smothered Chicken and Rice is a hearty, one-pot comfort meal featuring tender, juicy chicken in a creamy, well-seasoned gravy, served over fluffy rice. Perfect for weeknights or special occasions, this dish is rich, flavorful, and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or chicken breasts)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Gravy:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream (or whole milk)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Rice:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (jasmine or basmati)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
-
Season and Sear the Chicken
- Pat the chicken dry. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear chicken, skin-side down, for 4–5 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
-
Make the Gravy
- Reduce heat to medium and add butter. Sauté onions until soft, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly add chicken broth while whisking to prevent lumps.
- Add heavy cream, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 3–4 minutes until thickened.
-
Cook the Rice
- In a separate pot, bring chicken broth to a boil. Stir in rice, salt, and pepper. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 15 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before fluffing.
-
Simmer the Chicken in the Gravy
- Return the chicken to the pan with the gravy. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20–25 minutes until fully cooked (165°F internal temperature).
-
Assemble and Serve
- Fluff the rice and serve with smothered chicken and gravy on top. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Spicy: Add ½ teaspoon cayenne or hot sauce to the gravy.
- Mushroom Gravy: Stir in 1 cup sliced mushrooms with the onions.
- Cheesy Rice: Mix in ½ cup shredded cheddar or Parmesan.
- Slow Cooker: Brown the chicken, then cook all ingredients in a slow cooker on low for 4–6 hours.
- Vegetable Additions: Stir in peas, carrots, or bell peppers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern, American
Keywords: smothered chicken, chicken and rice, comfort food, one-pot meal, Southern cooking