Description
A comforting, Southern-style dish with tender chicken, rich gravy, and flavorful rice. Perfect for a cozy family dinner!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or chicken breasts)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, diced (optional)
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced (optional)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (or milk)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
For the Rice:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth or water
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. Cook the Rice:
- In a medium pot, bring 2 cups of chicken broth (or water) to a boil.
- Stir in the rice, butter, and salt. Cover and reduce to low heat.
- Simmer for 15 minutes or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes.
2. Prepare the Chicken:
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season with salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, and cook for 4-5 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
3. Make the Gravy:
- In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté the onion, garlic, bell pepper, and mushrooms until soft (about 3-4 minutes).
- Stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, followed by the heavy cream. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and smoked paprika.
- Simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
4. Smother the Chicken:
- Return the chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the gravy.
- Cover and simmer on low heat for 25-30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through (internal temp: 165°F).
Notes
- Swap white rice for brown rice, but adjust cooking time.
- Add a splash of hot sauce or cayenne for extra heat.
- For a thicker gravy, stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 teaspoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water).
Nutrition
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg