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Southern Smothered Chicken

Tender chicken thighs smothered in creamy onion and bell pepper gravy, a classic Southern comfort food favorite.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 0.5 tsp paprika
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 cup all-purpose flour for dredging
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 medium onion thinly sliced
  • 1 bell pepper sliced, any color
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
  • fresh parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • Mixing bowls
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Tongs

Method
 

  1. Pat chicken thighs dry and season with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  2. Dredge chicken in flour, shaking off excess.
  3. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and brown chicken 4–5 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
  4. Add butter to the skillet, then sauté onions and bell peppers until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
  5. Sprinkle flour over vegetables to make a roux. Gradually whisk in chicken broth, then stir in cream, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme.
  6. Return chicken to skillet, spoon gravy over top. Cover and simmer 25–30 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
  7. Garnish with parsley and serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or grits.

Notes

For extra flavor, marinate chicken in buttermilk for 1–2 hours before cooking.