Southern Smothered Chicken Recipe
A True Southern Comfort Meal
Hi, dear readers! Today I'm happy to share a delectable recipe for Smothered Chicken with you that is sure to satisfy your taste buds. This meal is a traditional Southern comfort food that is ideal for dinner parties or a relaxing night in. Let's get this party started!
This recipe calls for 4 chicken quarters, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/8 cup salted butter, 3 cups heavy cream, 2 big onions, peeled and sliced, 2 teaspoons garlic salt, 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
To begin, thoroughly combine the chicken, flour, and spices in a mixing dish. Assemble the chicken by coating it evenly with the spices and flour. Set it away after you're finished. Don't toss the extra flour!
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Melt the butter in a pan, then add the chicken pieces a couple at a time to avoid crowding. Transfer the chicken to a 9x13 casserole dish and fry until the skin is crispy.
After the chicken is done, add the onions to the pan and simmer until golden. Next, in the casserole dish, arrange them on top of the chicken.
The Gravy Train!
It's now time to create the gravy! Don't toss the flour that you used to coat the chicken earlier. Mix the flour with the remaining fat in the skillet. If there isn't enough fat in the skillet, add a little vegetable oil or butter. Simmer for several minutes to eliminate the floury flavor. Finally, over low to medium heat, whisk in the heavy cream until a delicious gravy forms. In the casserole dish, pour the gravy over the chicken and onions.
Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and punch a hole in the center with a knife to allow steam to escape. Put it in the oven and bake for 1 1/2 hours.
Remove the Smothered Chicken from the oven and serve right away. Take pleasure in the delicate chicken, flavorful gravy, and caramelized onions. This meal goes well with mashed potatoes and your favorite green veggie.
An All Around Super Delicious Meal
Finally, this Smothered Chicken dish is a wonderful and nourishing supper suitable for any occasion. It's simple to make and full of flavor. So give it a go and let us know what you think in the comments section below. Good luck in the kitchen!
The History of This Classic Dish
Smothered Chicken is a traditional Southern recipe that has been passed down through generations. Its origins may be traced back to West Africa, where a cuisine similar to this is popular called "chicken yassa." The recipe developed through time to match the ingredients and cooking methods available in the American South.
Smothered Chicken is made by coating chicken pieces in flour and pan-frying them till crispy. After that, the fried chicken is coated in a flavorful sauce comprised of onions, flour, and chicken broth or cream. The meal is usually served with rice, mashed potatoes, or cornbread on the side.
Smothered Chicken has become a Southern culinary staple, frequently served at family gatherings, potlucks, and special events. The recipe has changed through time, with variants such as various spices, the addition of vegetables such as bell peppers and celery, and the use of other meats such as pork chops or turkey.
Smothered Chicken, in conclusion, is a tasty and soothing meal that has become an integral part of Southern culinary tradition.
What To Serve With This Dish
Smothered Chicken is a tasty and substantial meal that goes well with a variety of sides.
Here are some more foods that you might serve with this recipe:
Rice: A popular pairing is smothered chicken and rice. For extra texture, serve the chicken on a bed of fluffy white rice, brown rice, or even wild rice.
Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes are another traditional side dish that goes nicely with Smothered Chicken. To compliment the tastes of the chicken, season the potatoes with butter, garlic, or herbs.
Cornbread: Sweet, crumbly cornbread is a Southern classic that goes perfectly with Smothered Chicken. For a delightful and cozy lunch, serve the chicken and gravy with a slice of warm cornbread.
Roasted Vegetables: Roasted vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts provide a colorful and healthful side dish with Smothered Chicken. To enhance flavor, season the roasted veggies with salt, pepper, and herbs.
Green Beans: Steamed or sautéed green beans are a simple yet delectable side dish that goes well with Smothered Chicken. You might flavor the green beans with bacon, garlic, or lemon juice.
Collard Greens: Collard greens are a Southern classic and make an excellent side dish for Smothered Chicken. To enhance depth of flavor, season the collard greens with smoked ham hocks, bacon, or vinegar.
Macaroni and Cheese: A crowd-pleasing side dish that combines nicely with Smothered Chicken is creamy, cheesy macaroni and cheese. Serve the macaroni and cheese as a side dish or combine it with the chicken and gravy for a delicious supper.
Finally, Smothered Chicken may be served with a number of sides to make a great and filling supper. There are lots of alternatives for classic Southern sides like cornbread and collard greens, as well as more standard sides like mashed potatoes and green beans.
What To Do With Leftovers:
If you have any leftover Smothered Chicken, make sure to store them appropriately to preserve their safety and freshness.
Here are some suggestions for storing leftover Smothered Chicken:
Let the leftovers to cool to room temperature before storing: Once you've finished eating, allow the Smothered Chicken to cool to room temperature before storing. Bacteria can thrive when hot food is left at room temperature, leading to foodborne diseases.
Splitting Into Portions: If you have a significant lot of Smothered Chicken remaining, try splitting it into smaller portions before keeping. This will allow you to reheat only what you need later.
Pick a storage container: Smothered Chicken leftovers can be kept in airtight glass, plastic, or stainless steel containers. Make sure the container is big enough to hold the chicken and gravy without spilling.
Label the container: To keep track of when it was manufactured and what's inside, label the container with the date and contents. This will assist you in remembering how long food has been stored and what has to be reheated later.
Refrigerate or freeze leftovers: Smothered Chicken may be refrigerated for up to four days or frozen for up to three months. If you intend to freeze the leftovers, place them in a freezer-safe container and let them cool fully before freezing.
Reheat: To reheat the remaining Smothered Chicken, place them in a microwave-safe dish and cook on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring regularly, until heated through. Instead, reheat the chicken in a 350°F preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until hot.
Finally, keeping Smothered Chicken leftovers is straightforward if you follow these basic guidelines. You may enjoy your wonderful leftovers for days or even weeks by keeping them in airtight containers, labeling them, and carefully refrigerating or freezing them.
The Delicious Outcome
Finally, this Smothered Chicken dish is not only tasty but also inexpensive, making it an excellent choice for a filling family lunch. This dish is simple and inexpensive to make, using materials such as chicken, flour, onions, heavy cream, and basic spices.
This meal is not only inexpensive, but it is also a crowd-pleaser that will satisfy even the pickiest eaters in your family. Everyone will want more of the crispy and juicy chicken coated in a flavorful sauce with a wonderful combination of spices and onions.
What's more, the finest part? This dish's leftovers may be readily preserved in the fridge or freezer for future meals. Just keep the remaining chicken and gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven or microwave when ready to serve.
So, why delay? Make this wonderful and inexpensive meal for supper today and enjoy the tastes of home-cooked pleasure. You can enjoy a hearty and cozy lunch without breaking the budget with this Smothered Chicken dish.
Smothered Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken quarters, separated
- 1 1/2 cups of flour
- 1/8 cup of butter, salted
- 3 cups of heavy cream
- 2 large onions, peeled & sliced
- 2 tsps of garlic salt
- 1 tsp of dried parsley flakes
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a bowl add your chicken, flour and spices and mix well. Make sure the chicken is evenly coated everywhere with the spices and the flour. When done set to the side. Do not throw away that flour!
- Preheat your oven to 375F.
- In a skillet add your butter and allow it to melt.
- Then add your chicken pieces a few at a time to make sure there is no crowding.
- Add chicken to a 9x13 casserole dish once you’ve fried each batch.
- When done frying all the chicken, they can still be raw in the inside. You just want the outside and the skin crispy. Add them to the casserole dish in different batches.
- Do not throw away that flour!
- Once all the chicken is done cooking, add your onions to the skillet and let them sauté until brown.
- Once onions are done add them on top of the chicken.
- Now, add the flour to the skillet. There should be enough grease leftover, if there isn’t, add a little vegetable oil or butter to the skillet.
- Mix together until a nice soft paste if formed.
- Cook that paste for several minutes to cook the floury taste out.
- Then add in your heavy cream in a low to medium heat and stir well until a nice savory gravy is made.
- Pour the gravy over the chicken.
- Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil tightly and pierce a hole with a knife in the middle of the aluminum foil for steam to escape.
- Place into the oven and cook for 1-1 1/2 hours.
- Once done, remove the oven and serve immediately! Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories
588.59Fat
47.4 gSat. Fat
25.64 gCarbs
24.36 gFiber
1.38 gNet carbs
22.97 gSugar
4.27 gProtein
17.18 gSodium
686.24 mgCholesterol
179.29 mg
