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Creamy Smothered Chicken and Rice That’s Better Than Takeout

Creamy Smothered Chicken and Rice Dinner Plate
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There’s something undeniably comforting about a plate of creamy smothered chicken and rice. This dish brings together tender, juicy chicken, a rich and flavorful sauce, and perfectly cooked rice to soak up all that creamy goodness.

Ingredients

Scale
  • For the Chicken:
  • 2 lbs chicken thighs or chicken breasts
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • For the Sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (mixed with 1 tablespoon water to thicken, if needed)
  • For the Rice:
  • 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
  • 3 cups water or chicken broth

Instructions

1. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.

2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken for 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.

3. In the same pan, melt butter and sauté diced onions for about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

4. Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, then add heavy cream, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add cornstarch slurry if thicker sauce is desired.

5. Rinse rice under cold water. In a separate pot, bring water or broth to a boil, add rice, reduce heat, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before fluffing.

6. Return chicken to the sauce, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10–15 minutes until fully cooked.

7. Serve chicken over rice, spooning extra sauce on top. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

If you prefer a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.

Leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld.

You can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream if you want a lighter version.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://paulakitchen.com/creamy-smothered-chicken-and-rice/