Creamy Smothered Chicken and Rice (Printable)

Tender chicken in rich creamy sauce over fluffy rice for a comforting family dinner ready in under an hour.

# 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

# Directions:

01 - Season chicken breasts evenly with salt, pepper, and paprika on both sides.
02 - Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to skillet. Sauté onion and mushrooms 3–4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Stir flour into skillet and cook 1 minute. Gradually whisk in chicken broth, milk, and heavy cream until smooth.
05 - Add thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Simmer 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened. Stir in Parmesan until melted.
06 - Return chicken to skillet, nestling into sauce. Cover and cook over low heat 15–20 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F internally.
07 - Rinse rice under cold water until clear. Bring water or broth and salt to boil in saucepan. Add rice, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 15–18 minutes until tender. Remove from heat and let stand covered 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.
08 - Portion rice onto plates, top with chicken breast, and spoon creamy sauce over entire dish.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The velvety sauce comes together with pantry staples and tastes like it simmered all day
  • Chicken stays juicy while cooking directly in the creamy sauce
  • One skillet means minimal cleanup maximum comfort
02 -
  • Dont let the garlic brown or it'll turn bitter and overwhelm the delicate sauce
  • Room temperature milk prevents the sauce from breaking when added
  • Let the sauce simmer gently not boil violently or it may separate
03 -
  • Pound chicken to even thickness before cooking for uniform doneness
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of using pre-grated for better melting

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