Description
This Smothered Chicken recipe features tender, pan-fried chicken breasts cooked in a rich, flavorful homemade gravy made with onions, chicken broth, and cream. It's a comforting dish that's perfectly seasoned with garlic, onion, paprika, and a touch of cayenne for a subtle kick. Ideal for a hearty weeknight dinner, this recipe uses simple pantry staples to create a delicious, restaurant-style meal at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 2 large chicken breasts
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1/2 tablespoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Cooking
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium-to-large onion (sliced)
Gravy
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup heavy/whipping cream
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise to create four thinner cutlets. Season each piece generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Mix the Coating: In a bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Stir well. Reserve 2 tablespoons of this mixture separately to thicken the gravy later.
- Coat the Chicken: Spread the remaining seasoned flour on a plate. Dredge each chicken piece in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken pieces and cook for about 5 minutes on each side until golden but not fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook the Onions: Reduce the heat to medium-low and add butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are softened and golden brown, about 15-20 minutes. Adjust the heat to prevent burning if needed.
- Make the Gravy Base: Sprinkle the reserved 2 tablespoons of seasoned flour over the onions in the skillet. Cook for about a minute, stirring constantly to cook the flour without browning it too much.
- Add Liquids: Pour in the chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce while stirring, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the heavy cream to combine and form a creamy gravy.
- Finish Cooking: Return the chicken to the skillet, nestling it in the gravy. Cook for another 5-7 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked (internal temperature of 165°F) and the gravy thickens. Increase heat if necessary to maintain a gentle simmer.
- Season and Serve: Taste the gravy and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve the smothered chicken hot, spooning plenty of the rich gravy and onions over each portion.
Notes
- This smothered chicken recipe delivers juicy, pan-fried chicken in a rich and flavorful homemade gravy made from pantry staples.
- Cooking the onions low and slow brings out a natural sweetness and depth of flavor essential to the gravy.
- The flour seasoning mixture doubles as a coating for the chicken and a thickener for the gravy, ensuring consistency and added flavor.
- Adjust cayenne pepper to taste for a milder or spicier dish.
- Using a cast iron skillet or heavy pan helps achieve a nice sear and even cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 25mg