Creamy Smothered Chicken and Rice (Printable Version)
Tender chicken in a rich parmesan cream sauce served over fluffy rice for the ultimate comfort food dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
04 - ½ teaspoon paprika
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ For the Creamy Sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
07 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
10 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
11 - 1 cup chicken broth
12 - 1 cup whole milk
13 - ½ cup heavy cream
14 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
15 - ½ teaspoon dried parsley
16 - ½ teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
17 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
18 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ For the Rice
19 - 1½ cups long-grain white rice
20 - 3 cups water or chicken broth
21 - ½ teaspoon salt
# How To Make It:
01 - Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and paprika on both sides.
02 - In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Sauté onion and mushrooms for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
04 - Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in chicken broth, milk, and heavy cream.
05 - Add thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until slightly thickened. Stir in Parmesan.
06 - Return chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the sauce. Cover and cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes, until chicken is cooked through (internal temperature: 165°F).
07 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. In a saucepan, bring water or broth and salt to a boil. Add rice, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15-18 minutes until tender. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
08 - To serve, place a portion of rice on each plate, top with chicken breast, and spoon creamy sauce over everything.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The creamy sauce comes together faster than you can set the table, making it perfect for weeknights when you're running on fumes
- Leftovers actually taste better the next day, if they last that long in my house
02 -
- Resist the urge to crank up the heat when thickening the sauce, or the dairy might separate and you'll end up with a grainy mess
- Letting the chicken rest in the sauce for even five minutes before serving makes an incredible difference in how juicy it stays
03 -
- Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly into the sauce without any risk of separating
- A splash of white wine in the sauce adds brightness that balances all that creamy richness