Creamy Smothered Chicken & Rice One-Pan Wonder (Print Version)
Creamy smothered chicken and rice cooked in one pan with tender chicken, fluffy rice, and rich gravy. Easy comfort food ready in 45 minutes.
# Recipe Info:
Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 45 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cuisine: Southern American
Dietary: Contains dairy, gluten
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
02 -
1½ cups long-grain white rice
03 -
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
04 -
1 cup heavy cream
→ Aromatics & Base
05 -
1 large yellow onion, diced
06 -
4 cloves garlic, minced
07 -
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
→ Seasonings & Spices
08 -
2 teaspoons salt
09 -
1 teaspoon black pepper
10 -
1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 -
1 bay leaf
→ Finishing Touches
12 -
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
13 -
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
14 -
Extra cream if needed
# Instructions:
01 -
Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper, then lay skin-side down. Cook 6-7 minutes until golden, flip and cook 5 minutes more.
02 -
Remove chicken to a plate. Add diced onions to the same pan and cook 4 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 -
Sprinkle flour over onions and garlic, stirring constantly for 2 minutes until nutty and toasted.
04 -
Slowly whisk in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Add rice, half the cream, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
05 -
Return chicken to pan skin-side up. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer 25-30 minutes until rice is tender.
06 -
Remove from heat, stir in remaining cream. Let rest 5 minutes, remove bay leaf, garnish with parsley and serve.
# Notes:
01 -
Don't skip browning the chicken—those caramelized bits are the flavor foundation.
02 -
Keep heat low during simmering or rice will stick and burn on bottom.
03 -
Add extra broth when reheating leftovers since rice absorbs liquid over time.
04 -
Try adding frozen peas in the last 5 minutes for color and sweetness.
# Equipment Needed:
01 -
Large heavy-bottomed pan or cast iron skillet
02 -
wooden spoon
03 -
measuring cups
# Nutrition (Per Serving):
Calories: 485
Total Fat: 28g
Total Carbohydrate: 32g
Protein: 28g