Description
Soul-satisfying smothered chicken delights home cooks with Southern comfort. Creamy sauce and tender meat create a hearty meal that connects family and friends around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or boneless)
- ½ cup (60 g/2.1 oz) all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsps (30 ml/1 fl oz) olive oil
- 3 tbsps (45 g/1.6 oz) butter
- 2 cups (480 ml/16.2 fl oz) chicken broth
- ½ cup (120 ml/4 fl oz) heavy cream
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp (15 ml/0.5 fl oz) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp (5 g/0.2 oz) salt
- ½ tsp (2.5 g/0.1 oz) black pepper
- ½ tsp (2.5 g/0.1 oz) garlic powder
- ½ tsp (2.5 g/0.1 oz) smoked paprika
- ½ tsp (2.5 g/0.1 oz) dried thyme
- ½ tsp (2.5 g/0.1 oz) red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Meticulously dry chicken pieces with paper towels to guarantee a crisp exterior, eliminating excess moisture.
- Season Protein: Craft a robust spice blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, thoroughly massaging the seasonings into every chicken surface.
- Flour Coating: Delicately dredge chicken pieces in flour, expertly shaking off excess to create a light, uniform exterior that promises golden crispiness.
- Sear Chicken: Ignite a large skillet over medium-high heat, introducing cooking oil and strategically positioning chicken pieces to maximize caramelization without overcrowding.
- Brown and Develop Flavor: Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes per side, cultivating a rich, golden-brown crust while ensuring nearly complete internal cooking.
- Create Braising Liquid: Transition heat to medium-low, introducing chicken broth to generate a shallow, flavor-enhancing cooking environment around the meat.
- Simmer and Finish: Cover skillet with a snug lid, allowing chicken to gently simmer and complete cooking while maintaining optimal moisture and tenderness.
- Verify Doneness: Utilize a meat thermometer to confirm internal temperature reaches a safe 165°F, guaranteeing perfectly cooked chicken.
- Rest and Serve: Allow chicken to rest 3-5 minutes, enabling juice redistribution and ensuring a supremely succulent final presentation.
Notes
- Moisture Matters: Pat chicken completely dry before seasoning to guarantee a crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in flavor.
- Spice Massage: Thoroughly work seasonings into chicken meat, allowing spices to penetrate deeply for maximum taste complexity.
- Flour Finesse: Lightly dust chicken with flour, shaking off excess to create a delicate, even coating that prevents soggy breading.
- Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to confirm 165°F internal temperature, guaranteeing safe and perfectly cooked chicken every time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 920 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg