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Smothered chicken is a flavorful comfort food full of rich, creamy gravy, tender chicken cutlets, and savory mushrooms. Perfect on its own or paired with mashed potatoes, rice or pasta, you’re family will definitely want this on the weekly meal plan.
If I can give you anything, it would be stress-free dinner time and for your family to love what you serve. I am confident that this smothered chicken delivers on both! Simply pair this with my crockpot mashed potatoes, 1-hour dinner rolls, and garlic parmesan green beans with bacon. Dinner is served!
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Flavor: This meal is full of warm comforting flavor that your family will want to come home to.
- Budget-friendly: The ingredients needed will not break the bank, which is very helpful in today’s world.
- Simple: The ingredient list might seem long, but this dish comes together quickly and easily, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Smothered Chicken and Gravy
If you are looking for the taste of home, this meal will definitely give you that. With its roots planted in Southern cooking, this smothered chicken is not only flavorful but also rich in history. Traditionally, people serve this dish over rice. However, over time, cooks have adapted it to incorporate other traditions, such as serving it over mashed potatoes or pasta. Personally, I’ve enjoyed it with all three options and loved each one of them! In fact, it’s even delicious just on its own!
By cooking the chicken before smothering it in gravy, we get all the rich flavors that meld together from the browning process. You’ll be amazed at how simple this dish is, and it will quickly become a family favorite!
What Ingredients Do You Need to Make Smothered Chicken?
This list might seem long, but it mostly includes the herbs and spices needed to create that delicious flavor. For exact measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Chicken Breast: The perfect protein to absorb and complement all of the flavors going on in the dish.
- Egg: Acts as a binding agent to help the breading stick to the chicken cutlets.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Gives the dish a creaminess and depth of flavor and helps thicken the gravy.
- All-Purpose Flour: Helps the breading stick to the chicken and contributes to the thickening of the gravy.
- Breadcrumbs: Provide a crunch to the breading of the chicken and a warm flavor.
- Garlic Powder: Gives the dish a wonderful savory flavor that balances the creaminess of the sauce.
- Oregano: A vibrant herb that adds a bright flavor.
- Onion Powder: Enhances the depth of flavor and provides a consistent taste in each bite.
- Salt: Complements each flavor in the dish, enhancing the overall taste and comfort appeal.
- Pepper: Adds a note of spice and enhances the other flavors.
- Olive Oil: Keeps the chicken moist and tender during the cooking process.
- Yellow Onion: Provides a sweet and savory flavor with a soft and tender texture.
- Mushrooms: These perfectly absorb all of the flavors in the dish and add a wonderful texture that complements the chicken.
Gravy
- Butter: Helps thicken the gravy and adds a depth of flavor to the sauce.
- All-Purpose Flour: This flour is used to create a roux, which combines the flavor of the browned onions and will make the sauce thick.
- Beef Broth: The base of the gravy adds a rich, savory flavor.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Gives the gravy its creamy texture and flavor.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This is the secret ingredient that will make this dish delicious, and no one will understand how!
- Mustard Powder: Adds a gentle heat and warmth to the gravy.
- Salt and Pepper: To taste!
Smothered Chicken Recipe
Follow the simple steps below to enjoy this mouth-watering meal in less than an hour. This recipe will guide you through each step of the process to make sure you get the same results every time.
Chicken
- Prepare Chicken: First, slice the chicken breasts in half to create four thinner cuts of chicken.
- Egg Mixture: First, whisk together the egg and heavy whipping cream in a bowl until well combined.
- Breadcrumb Mixture: Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, bread crumbs, garlic powder, oregano, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl.
- Coat the Chicken in the Egg Mixture: Next, working with one cutlet at a time, coat the chicken in the egg mixture and allow any excess liquid to drip off before moving to the next step.
- Bread Chicken: Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, coating it thoroughly on all sides.
- Cook Chicken: Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side. Cook until golden brown and no longer pink. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and set it aside.
Gravy
- Saute Mushrooms: Remove any burnt bits from the bottom of the pan, then add the onion and mushrooms to the pan. Saute until the onions are translucent and tender. Remove the mushrooms and onions from the pan.
- Create a Roux: Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter to the pan. Once the butter is melted, gradually whisk in the flour to create a thick paste. Slowly add the beef broth and heavy cream to the roux, continually whisking as you add.
- Make the Gravy: Once the gravy is smooth and combined, whisk in the Worcestershire sauce and ground mustard. Then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the Mushrooms, Onions, and Chicken: Stir in the onions and mushrooms, then add the chicken back to the pan. Coat the chicken in the sauce and serve over mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice.
Tips and Pairing Ideas
This smothered chicken recipe is hard to get wrong. However, I do have a couple of suggestions to make the process even easier for you.
- Chicken cutlets: You can buy chicken cutlets at the store and use a meat tenderizer to pound them thinner before breading them. The cutlets should be just about ½ – ¾ inches thick, which will help the breading stay on.
- Broth options: I love using beef broth for this recipe, it adds a bit more punch of flavor and depth. However, you can substitute chicken broth. Both options work well, so choose the one that best suits your taste.
- Pairing ideas: This dish pairs wonderfully with Mashed Potatoes, rice, or Classic Biscuits.
How to Store Smothered Chicken
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Enjoy same day: The breading will become soggy after storage, so I suggest enjoying this dish on the same day.
More Simple and Delicious Chicken Meal Ideas
If you are looking for more flavorful chicken dinner ideas I’ve got you covered. These meals are packed with flavor and come together quickly and easily!
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Smothered Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts, boneless skinless
- 1 egg
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
Gravy
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Chicken
- Prepare the chicken by slicing the breasts in half horizontally to create four thinner cuts of chicken.
- Whisk together the egg and heavy whipping cream in a bowl until well combined.
- Combine the flour, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, oregano, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl.
- Next, working with one cutlet at a time, coat the chicken in the egg mixture, and then allow any excess liquid to drip off before moving on to the next step.
- Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, coating it thoroughly on all sides.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side. Cook until golden brown and no longer pink. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and set it aside.
Gravy
- Remove any burnt bits from the bottom of the pan, then add the onion and mushrooms to the pan. Saute until the onions are translucent and tender. Remove the mushrooms and onions from the pan and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter to the pan. Once the butter is melted, gradually whisk in the flour to create a thick paste. Slowly add the beef broth and heavy cream to the roux, continually whisking as you add.
- Once the gravy is smooth and combined, whisk in the Worcestershire sauce and ground mustard then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir in the onions and mushrooms then add the chicken back to the pan. Coat the chicken in the sauce and serve over mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
