My Smothered Chicken and Gravy is a busy cook’s dream come true! Made with juicy white meat chicken, this quick-fix dinner with creamy gravy tastes like it took all day to make.
An Easy Skillet Smothered Chicken & Gravy
I love making an old-fashioned dinner like country-fried steak or chicken and dumplings every now and then! Doesn’t everyone? 🤔 HOW.ever, I am more into making a quick and easy dinner, because most of the time, life gets busy and hangry 11 year olds just can’t wait.
Which brings me to my point about this dish – it is best of both worlds; old fashioned and quick. Tender, juicy chicken smothered in creamy gravy is a comforting classic. By the way… have you tried my Smothered Pork Chops, yet?! TO DIE FOR!
Anywho! With this tasty, easy preparation, smothered chicken comes together in just one skillet! Also, in an attempt to stay away from those carbs, we’re not going to use good ol’ flour to thicken the sauce. Instead, we’re using just chicken broth and heavy cream. I hope you will love the taste of this easy, low carb chicken breast dinner.
It’s great to serve this meal on its own, with just (cauliflower) rice or salad as side dishes. You could also make it as part of a much larger menu, for a holiday, birthday, or even a potluck. The flavors work well with just about any side dish. It’s delicious, versatile and hassle-free. Perfection! 👌
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make my easy smothered chicken, you’ll need boneless skinless breasts, an onion, heavy cream, and a few other pantry staples. It’s super easy!
For the Chicken Breasts
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded 1/2 inch thick
- Seasoning Salt, Paprika, & Fresh Ground Black Pepper
- Avocado Oil & Butter
For the Gravy
- Butter
- Onions, Garlic, & Herbs
- Chicken Broth & Heavy Cream
How to Make Smothered Chicken
This recipe comes together in one skillet, which makes cleaning up nice and easy. You can make the process even faster and easier by getting all of your ingredients out before you start cooking. Be sure to have a plate ready for the cooked chicken breasts, also!
- Season Chicken with seasoning salt, paprika, and pepper.
- Cook: Heat oil and butter in a large skillet, sear chicken for about 5-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through (165°F internal temp). Cook in batches if needed, then set aside covered.
- Cook Onions, Garlic & Herbs: In the same skillet, melt extra butter, add onions with a pinch of salt, and caramelize for about 10 minutes. Add garlic and herbs, and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Add Broth & Cream: Pour in broth, scrape the pan, whisk in the cream, and simmer for a minute.
- Assemble Dish: Return the chicken and its juices to the skillet, and simmer on low for 2 minutes, or until heated and gravy thickens.
- Optionally, top chicken with cheese and let it melt. Mozzarella, Provolone, or Monterey Jack are all good choices.
Tips for Success
Wondering how to make sure your smothered chicken comes out just right? Check out these tips for some extra advice!
- Temperature Test: Use an instant-read thermometer to test your chicken for doneness, and test it a little bit sooner than you think the chicken is done. It’s easy to cook it a little longer if necessary, but once the chicken is overcooked, it will become dry quickly.
- Dairy-Free: You can make a dairy-free version of this dish by using your favorite non-dairy milk instead of heavy cream. Add a cornstarch slurry to thicken as desired.
- Dried Herbs: If you don’t have fresh herbs on hand, try using dried. You can use about a teaspoon of your favorite dried herb(s).
What to Serve with Smothered Chicken
I love serving this chicken and gravy dish with something to take advantage of the gravy, like bread, potatoes or rice! Salad is also a great idea. Here are some recipes to get you started!
- Bread: How about skillet bread? Rosemary and Garlic No-Knead Skillet Bread, to be specific? Now we’re talking!
- Mashed Potatoes: My Slow Cooker Country Style Garlic Mashed Potatoes are so easy to make, and they go wonderfully with any kind of gravy.
- Tomato Salad: This Heirloom Tomato Salad is bursting with fresh, vibrant flavor and color. It’s the perfect contrast to the richness of the chicken!
More Chicken Dinner Ideas
ENJOY!
Smothered Chicken and Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
- ¾ teaspoon seasoning salt, or to taste (I use Lawry's)
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil, or olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tablespoon chopped fresh herbs
- ¾ cup low sodium chicken broth
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Pat dry the chicken breasts with paper towels, then season chicken breasts with seasoning salt, paprika, and pepper.
- Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until butter is melted.
- Add chicken to skillet and sear for 5 to 7 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through. Chicken is cooked through when the internal temperature reaches 165˚F. Please use an Instant Read Meat Thermometer for accuracy. The thicker the chicken, the longer it will take to cook. If the skillet isn't big enough, cook the chicken in batches.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a plate and keep covered.
- Return skillet to heat and add a tablespoon of butter; melt over medium heat.
- Stir in sliced onions and add a pinch of salt. Cook onions for 10 to 12 minutes or until very soft and caramelized, stirring frequently. If the onions are browning too quickly, reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Add garlic and fresh herbs; continue to cook for 20 seconds.
- Pour in chicken broth, and using a wooden spoon, scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Whisk in the heavy cream and simmer for 1 minute.
- Return chicken and all the chicken juices to the skillet.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook for 2 to 3 more minutes, or until chicken is heated through and sauce has thickened. At this point, you can also add a slice of cheese on top of each chicken breast and cook until melted.
- Remove skillet from heat; garnish chicken with parsley and serve with the onions and gravy.
Notes
- Check chicken doneness with an instant-read meat thermometer slightly before you think it’s done. Chicken is cooked through when its internal temperature registers at 165˚F. You can cook more if needed, but overcooked chicken gets dry fast.
- For a dairy-free option, replace heavy cream with non-dairy milk and thicken with a cornstarch slurry.
- Herbs: I like to add half a tablespoon of chopped fresh herbs to my gravy for extra flavor and a hint of freshness. But you can use rosemary, thyme, or whatever you like or have on hand. If using dried herbs, 1 teaspoon should be just about enough.
- Storing: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- Freezing: You can freeze this dish for up to two months, although the creamy gravy may separate. It’s still safe to eat.
- Reheating: Warm chicken and gravy in a covered pan over low heat.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
