Description
This Easy Creamy Smothered Chicken And Rice Dinner Recipe is a comforting and flavorful dish that the whole family will love. It’s simple to prepare and delivers restaurant-quality results right in your kitchen.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Paprika
- Olive oil or butter
- Onion, chopped
- Garlic, minced
- All-Purpose Flour
- Chicken Broth
- Cream Cheese
- Heavy Cream
- Dried Italian seasoning or dried thyme (optional)
- Long-grain white rice (like Basmati or Jasmine), cooked separately
- Fresh chopped parsley (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts or thighs dry. Season generously with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil or butter. Sear chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F/74°C). Remove and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add a splash more oil if needed. Sauté chopped onion for 3-5 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn. Scrape up any browned bits from the pan.
- Sprinkle flour over onions and garlic; stir for 1 minute. Slowly pour in chicken broth, whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low.
- Stir in cream cheese until fully melted and smooth. Pour in heavy cream, stirring until beautifully combined. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper to taste, and add any dried herbs.
- Return seared chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the sauce. Spoon sauce over the chicken. Simmer gently for 5-7 minutes, allowing chicken to finish cooking and absorb flavors. Adjust sauce thickness with more broth/cream if too thick, or a cornstarch slurry if too thin.
- Serve the creamy smothered chicken immediately over a bed of warm, fluffy rice. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Searing and simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: Don't rush the sear for the chicken to lock in flavor. Scrape up browned bits for added flavor in the sauce. Adjust sauce thickness as needed and feel free to add vegetables like mushrooms or spinach for extra nutrition.