Description
Creamy Smothered Chicken with Rice is a comforting and delicious dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a rich, creamy sauce with garlic, onions, and mushrooms, served alongside fluffy long-grain white rice. This easy-to-make recipe combines savory herbs and spices for a flavorful meal perfect for weeknights or special dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Sauce:
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced (optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sour cream or cream cheese
For the Rice:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups water or chicken broth (for the rice)
For Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Start by seasoning both sides of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, paprika, thyme, and oregano. This helps to kick up the flavor of the chicken!
- Sear the Chicken: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and cook them for about 5-6 minutes on each side, until they are golden brown. When done, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- Cook the Onions and Garlic: In the same skillet, add the chopped onions. Sauté them for about 3-4 minutes until they soften and become translucent. Then, add the minced garlic and sliced mushrooms (if using) and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Make the Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the skillet to loosen any browned bits. Allow it to simmer for about 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly. Then, stir in the heavy cream and sour cream (or cream cheese) until everything is well combined and the sauce is nice and smooth. Let it simmer for a few minutes until it thickens up a bit.
- Simmer the Chicken: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon some of that luscious sauce over them, cover with a lid, and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Cook the Rice: While the chicken is cooking, rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. In a separate pot, bring 2 cups of water or chicken broth to a boil. Add the rinsed rice, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for about 15-18 minutes until the rice is tender and has absorbed the liquid.
- Serve: Once the rice is done, fluff it with a fork and serve it on plates. Top with the creamy smothered chicken and sauce from the skillet. Don’t forget to sprinkle some fresh chopped parsley on top for a burst of color and flavor!
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream and sour cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt.
- Mushrooms are optional but add great texture and flavor to the sauce.
- If you prefer, cream cheese can be used in place of sour cream for a thicker sauce.
- Use chicken broth instead of water to cook the rice for extra flavor.
- Make sure not to overcook the chicken to keep it tender and juicy.
- Serve with steamed vegetables or a crisp green salad for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing and Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with 1/4 cup rice and sauce
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: creamy chicken recipe, smothered chicken, chicken with rice, comfort food, easy chicken dinner
