Description
Smothered Chicken and Rice brings pure Southern comfort straight to your dinner table with tender chicken nestled in a rich, creamy sauce over fluffy rice. Hearty and satisfying, this classic dish delivers pure homestyle goodness that makes your family gather around the table with smiles.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Dry Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Base Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon thyme
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Season 4 chicken breasts with 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika, plus salt and black pepper to taste.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer chicken to a plate.
- Pour 2 cups chicken broth and ½ teaspoon salt into a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then add 1 cup long-grain white rice. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-18 minutes until rice is tender.
- Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Whisk in 2 tablespoons flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until slightly golden.
- Slowly pour 1 ½ cups whole milk and ½ cup chicken broth into the skillet, whisking constantly to create a smooth sauce.
- Add ½ teaspoon garlic powder and ¼ teaspoon thyme to the sauce. Stir in ½ cup cheddar cheese and ½ cup Parmesan cheese until melted.
- Return chicken to the skillet, coating each breast with the creamy sauce. Cover and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes until chicken is fully cooked.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and plate it. Top with the smothered chicken and sauce. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top before serving.
Notes
- Let the chicken rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before seasoning to ensure even cooking and maximum flavor absorption.
- Choose a heavy-bottomed skillet for even heat distribution and perfect golden-brown searing of chicken without burning.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels, especially when adding cheese and seasonings to the sauce.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-39 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg