Creamy Smothered Chicken and Rice is an incredibly easy, yet impressive, one skillet recipe! Made with tender, juicy chicken simmered in the most flavorful rich and creamy sauce and served perfectly over cooked rice, this easy dish serves the ultimate comfort food your whole family will love!
I have made variations of this recipe for years and my family just can’t get enough of it! No matter how I spin it, it is always a winner. Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner, a budget-friendly meal or a classic, comfort food recipe, this one checks all the boxes. My favorite thing about it is how shockingly easy it is to make! I have most of the ingredients stocked in my fridge and pantry on the regular so it can easily be made in well under thirty minutes! Nothing beats simple, fast and satisfying all tied up into one beautiful skillet!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Easy – I love recipes that have straight forward, easy to follow instructions. This is that kind of recipe!
- Common ingredients – There is nothing fancy about the ingredients in this recipe. You likely have most of them on hand or in your refrigerator or freezer. I love being able to pull out stocked items and put together a delicious meal!
- Fast – Simply cutting your chicken into bite-size pieces is the most time consuming part of your prep. Once you fire up the stove, dinner will be ready in only twenty minutes!
- Make it your own! – This is an easy recipe to make your own! Sprinkle in some of your favorite spices, toss in some veggies for a spin, or make the sauce thicker or thinner depending on your preference.
Recipe Notes
This Creamy Smothered Chicken and Rice recipe is as simple as promised! Just a handful of common ingredients and twenty minutes of cook time for a family friendly, comforting dinner.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make this one skillet, smothered chicken recipe to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Long grain rice – The smothered chicken is served on top of or along side the rice, so choose whatever type of rice you prefer!
- Chicken breasts – You’ll be cutting these into bite size pieces
- Seasonings – garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, nutmeg, salt & pepper
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Fresh Garlic – You can either press your own or use minced garlic from a jar.
- Flour
- Chicken broth
- Heavy cream – Cream works best for this recipe, but can easily be substituted with half and half or milk.
- Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley – This is a garnish to be sprinkled on top, so you’ll want fresh parsley.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Creamy Chicken and Potatoes– If your family prefers mashed potatoes over rice, making that simple sub would be a great option! Who doesn’t love mashed potatoes smothered in a creamy sauce? Try this easy Garlic Smashed Potatoes recipe!
- Creamy Pesto Chicken – After cooking the sauce, stir in 1/4 cup of pesto. This will add such delicious flavor and will complement the parmesan cheese that’s already in the sauce.
- Creamy Chicken and Veggies– If you’d like to add some veggies to your sauce, bite-sized asparagus pieces, broccoli or cauliflower would be great options! Just briefly roast or saute them before adding, but not too much so they don’t become soft or mushy. The crunch they bring will be a great texture addition.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Creamy Smothered Chicken.
Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Season with onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium high heat and add chicken. Let chicken sear for 2-3 minutes then stir and cook an additional 3-4 minutes, or until cooked through.
Remove chicken from skillet. Reduce heat to medium, add butter and melt. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add flour and stir until it forms a paste.
Whisk in chicken broth and heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 1-2 minutes. Stir in salt, pepper, nutmeg and parmesan cheese.
Add the chicken bites to the sauce and stir to coat.
Sprinkle fresh, chopped parsley over the top, serve over rice and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Lighter sauce – Subbing the cream for a lighter option would definitely cut some calories from this recipe. If you choose to sub the cream for half and half or milk, I would recommend upping the flour to 3-4 tablespoons so the sauce thickens enough.
- Prep your ingredients – Once the chicken is cooked, this recipe tends to go fast! If you measure and prep your sauce ingredients before beginning, it’ll make it easier on you and you won’t have to worry about anything burning.
- Let the chicken sit – When cooking, wait until the oil is hot then add the chicken. Let the chicken sit on each side without moving it around much, so it gets a nice, delicious golden brown crust. If it starts to burn, your heat is too high.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Prep in advance – This is already a pretty quick recipe, but if you’re extremely short on time, you can always cut your chicken into pieces one or two days in advance. You can also go ahead and measure out the seasonings you’ll need for the chicken and for the sauce.
- Easiest rice – Make the rice your favorite way! Stove top, Instapot or even the microwave. The smothered chicken is the star of this dish, so make the rice however it’s easiest and most familiar for you!
What to Serve with Creamy Smothered Chicken and Rice
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of creamy comfort food, it will pair well with many of your favorite classic side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
Creamy Smothered Chicken and Rice Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
This recipe doesn’t freeze well, so I recommend only making enough for your meal plus a day or two of leftovers.
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Creamy Chicken Pasta– If you have leftover creamy chicken, warm it in a pan with any additional cream or chicken broth you may have, plus a bit more of the same seasonings. Cook your favorite pasta; penne or angel hair are both great options! Serve the creamy chicken over your pasta.
- Easy Chicken Pot Pie– Pull some frozen biscuits out, or make your own (I love these easy Bisquick Cheddar Bay Biscuits!) and serve your leftover smothered chicken over open-faced biscuits!
- Smothered Chicken Baked Potatoes– My favorite way to bake potatoes are in the Instant Pot! It’s SO easy! After your potatoes are cooked, serve leftover smothered chicken on top. Add any leftover veggies you might have in your fridge for a well-rounded meal!
Recipe FAQ’s
Can I use other types of chicken?
Yes! Although chicken breast is my favorite, you can use any cut of boneless skinless chicken. The cooking time may vary based on the type of cut and size of chicken you use. Make sure the chicken is cooked to 165°F for safe consumption.
How do I make the cream sauce thicker or thinner?
As you continue to cook the sauce, it will continue to thicken. It will also thicken a bit more as it cools. If you prefer the sauce to be thinner, you can add milk or chicken broth one tablespoon at a time until your desired consistency is reached.
More EASY Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy chicken recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Cowboy Chicken
- Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken
- Cheddar Bay Biscuit Chicken Pot Pie
Creamy Smothered Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain rice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1½ cup chicken broth
- 1½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook rice per package directions.
- While the rice cooks, heat a large skillet with olive oil over medium high heat. Season the chicken with the onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, then add it to the hot skillet. Let the chicken sear for 2-3 minutes then stir and cook an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (165˚F internal temp.)Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet and melt. Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, then add the flour and stir until it forms a paste, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in the chicken broth and heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Allow the sauce to simmer for 1-2 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Stir in the salt, pepper, nutmeg and parmesan cheese. Then stir back in the chicken bites.
- To serve, spoon the smothered chicken over the rice and garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Enjoy!
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