Description
Smothered Chicken and Rice is a comforting Southern-inspired dish that combines tender chicken thighs with flavorful rice in a creamy sauce, baked to perfection. This one-pot meal is easy to make and perfect for a cozy dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Rice Mixture:
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (uncooked)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Garnish:
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Season chicken: Pat the chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Sear chicken: In a large oven-safe skillet, sear chicken thighs until golden. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté onion and garlic: In the same pan, sauté onion, then add garlic.
- Prepare rice mixture: Stir in rice, thyme, salt, chicken broth, and heavy cream.
- Add chicken: Nestle seared chicken on top of the rice mixture.
- Bake: Cover and bake for 35–40 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes.
- Rest and garnish: Let rest, garnish with parsley, and serve.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- You can substitute boneless thighs, but adjust baking time.
- Add mushrooms or spinach for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with rice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
