Smothered Chicken

Here’s a delicious recipe for smothered chicken:

Ingredients

For the Chicken

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter

For the Gravy

• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon thyme (optional)
• 1 teaspoon parsley (optional)

Instructions

Preparing the Chicken

1. Season the Chicken: In a small bowl, mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Season the chicken breasts evenly with this mixture.
2. Dredge in Flour: Place the flour in a shallow dish. Dredge each chicken breast in the flour, shaking off any excess.
3. Sear the Chicken: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.

Making the Gravy

1. Sauté the Vegetables: In the same skillet, add the sliced onion (and bell pepper, if using). Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
2. Make the Roux: Sprinkle the flour over the sautéed vegetables and stir well to combine. Cook for about 1-2 minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste.
3. Add the Broth and Cream: Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, ensuring there are no lumps. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until it thickens, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and season with salt, pepper, thyme, and parsley to taste.

Combining

1. Smother the Chicken: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning some of the gravy over the top. Reduce the heat to low and let the chicken simmer in the gravy for about 5-10 minutes to absorb the flavors.
2. Serve: Serve the smothered chicken hot, with the gravy generously ladled over the top. It’s delicious with mashed potatoes, rice, or over biscuits.

Enjoy your homemade smothered chicken!