Description

Creamy Smothered Chicken and Rice is a soul-warming comfort dish featuring tender, seasoned chicken simmered in a rich garlic-herb cream sauce, served over fluffy long-grain rice. A hearty and flavorful one-pan meal for any night of the week.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken:

2 lbs chicken thighs or breasts
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp paprika
2 tbsp olive oil

For the Sauce:

2 tbsp butter
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried parsley
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp cornstarch (mixed with 1 tbsp water, optional)

For the Rice:

1½ cups long-grain white rice
3 cups water or chicken broth

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Instructions

Season and Sear Chicken: Pat the chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. In a hot skillet, sear chicken in olive oil for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown. Set aside.
Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, melt butter. Add diced onions and minced garlic, cooking for 2–3 minutes until soft and fragrant.
Make the Sauce: Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Add thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5–7 minutes to reduce slightly. For a thicker sauce, stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water).
Cook the Rice: Rinse rice under cold water until the water runs clear. In a saucepan, combine rice with water or broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes. Let sit off heat for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
Smother the Chicken: Return chicken to the sauce. Cover and simmer on low for 10–15 minutes until chicken is cooked through and tender.
Serve: Plate rice and top with smothered chicken and generous spoonfuls of sauce. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

This dish can be made with boneless thighs or breasts. For extra flavor, cook the rice in chicken broth. Leftovers reheat well the next day.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Comfort Food

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 plate with rice
Calories: 620
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 780mg
Fat: 36g
Saturated Fat: 16g
Unsaturated Fat: 17g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 41g
Cholesterol: 160mg