Smothered Chicken

Smothered Chicken

from southernliving.com
Entree
45 min
4 servings

Smothered chicken is another way of saying you're serving creamy chicken and gravy. Bacon and smoked paprika add a rounded flavor to the gravy so it's more flavorful and robust.

Ingredients

  • ½ cupall-purpose flour
  • 2 ¾ tsp.kosher salt, divided
  • 2 tsp.garlic powder
  • 1 ½ tsp.smoked paprika
  • 1 ½ tsp.onion powder
  • 1 tsp.freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ tsp.cayenne pepper
  • ½ cupfinely chopped sweet onion, from 1 small onion
  • 1 ½ tbsp.minced garlic, from 4 cloves
  • 1 ½ lb.boneless skinless chicken thighs, pounded to about 1/4-inch thick
  • 3 tbsp.canola oil
  • 3slices uncooked bacon, chopped
  • 1 ½ cupschicken broth
  • ½ cupwhole milk
  • 2scallions, thinly sliced (for garnish)

Directions

  1. 1

    Dredge chicken: Stir together flour, 2 teaspoons salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, pepper and cayenne in a medium shallow bowl or pie dish. Dredge chicken in flour mixture, allowing flour to coat all sides. Shake excess off chicken pieces, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Reserve 1/4 cup flour mixture; set aside.

  2. 2

    Cook chicken: Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Add half of the chicken pieces and cook until golden on each side, about 3 minutes per side. Remove chicken from skillet and let rest on a plate while you cook remaining chicken pieces.

  3. 3

    Cook bacon: Add bacon to pan drippings and cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until bacon is browned and crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove bacon from skillet and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

  4. 4

    Make gravy: Cook onions in bacon drippings until starting to soften, about 3 minutes, then add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add reserved flour mixture to skillet and stir constantly until raw flour smell has dissipated, about 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in chicken broth and milk, then cook, whisking constantly, over medium-high until mixture is thick, about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt.

  5. 5

    Finish cooking chicken: Add chicken and any accumulated juices back to skillet, nestling chicken pieces into gravy, and cook 5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and gravy is thick. Garnish chicken with cooked bacon and scallions to serve.