This Southern Smothered Chicken Recipe is comfort food at its best. It features crisp bacon, lightly breaded chicken breasts, and lusciously creamy seasoned gravy made from common pantry spices. The family is always delighted to see this recipe cooking in the skillet when they come home from work and school.
The Best Southern Smothered Chicken
Smothered Chicken is a classic Southern comfort dish of tender chicken smothered in a rich and flavorful gravy. This hearty dish is sure to warm your heart and soul. It is one of our favorite chicken dishes and pairs well with many sides, but I love to serve it with instant pot mashed potatoes, southern green beans, and homemade biscuits.
Smothered Chicken Ingredients
How to make Smothered Chicken
First, cook the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until brown and crispy. Chop the bacon up and set it aside. Be sure to reserve the bacon grease. Then, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, ginger, and cinnamon. Next, set aside about 1/4 cup of the seasoned flour mixture. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Dredge the chicken in the remaining flour mixture, shaking off the excess flour. Melt a little butter in the skillet with the bacon grease over medium heat. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until golden brown on both sides. Then, plate the chicken.
If you don’t have at least 4 tablespoons of fat left in the skillet, add enough butter to make up the difference. Whisk in the flour mixture that you set aside. Continue whisking and cooking over medium-low heat for about 3 minutes. Scrap those delicious brown bits off the bottom of the skillet. Slowly stir in the milk and chicken broth, alternating between the two while whisking constantly. Add the chicken back to the pan and simmer for about 10 minutes to warm the chicken and finish cooking it. Finally, sprinkle with crispy chopped bacon and garnish with fresh parsley or thyme.
Beth’s Recipe Tips
- If your chicken breasts are oversized, cut them in half or use chicken cutlets. If they are too thick on one end, pound them with a meat mallet.
- You can make it with thighs, legs, or breasts. They can be bone-in, skin-on, or skinless.
- Use the bacon grease to brown the chicken. It adds extra flavor and a crispy texture that can’t be beaten.
- Don’t overcook the chicken. Chicken is cooked through when it hits an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- If the gravy gets too thick, add a little more milk or chicken broth.
- Remember to scrape the skillet to get those magical browned bacon and flour bits that add tons of flavor to your gravy.
- Make it Louisiana-style smothered chicken by substituting 1 tablespoon of Cajun or Creole seasoning for all the spices.
What to Serve With Smothered Chicken
I like to serve it over rice, egg noodles, twice-baked potato casserole, or garlic mashed potatoes. For a vegetable side dish try creamed peas and pearl onions, Southern green beans, or glazed carrots. For dessert enjoy fried apples or blackberry cobbler.
Storage and Reheat
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen in a freezer-proof container for up to 3 months. For best results, thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating on low in a skillet or the microwave at reduced power.
More Chicken Recipes
Southern Smothered Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2-3 tablespoons butter
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley or thyme
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until brown and crispy. Chop the bacon up and set it aside. Reserve the bacon grease.
- Whisk together the flour, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, ginger, and cinnamon. Set aside 1/4 cup of the flour mixture.
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Dredge the chicken in the remaining flour mixture shaking off the excess. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in the skillet with the bacon grease over medium heat. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until it is golden brown on both sides. Plate the chicken.
- Melt enough butter in the skillet to have 4 tablespoons of fat in the skillet. Turn heat to medium-low. Whisk in the flour that you set aside. Continue whisking and cooking for about 3 minutes, scraping the brown bits off the bottom of the skillet.
- Slowly add the milk and chicken broth alternating between the two while whisking constantly. Add the chicken back to the pan and simmer for 10 minutes to warm the chicken and finish cooking it. Sprinkle with the chopped bacon and garnish with fresh parsley or thyme.
Notes
- If your chicken breasts are oversized, cut them in half or use chicken cutlets. If they are too thick on one end, pound them a little bit with a meat mallet.
- Use the bacon grease to brown the chicken. It adds extra flavor and a crispy texture that can’t be beaten.
- Don’t overcook the chicken. Chicken is cooked through when it hits an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- The spices for the breading and gravy are unusual yet delicious. They will tantalize your taste buds.
- If the gravy gets too thick, add a little more milk or chicken broth.
- Don’t forget to scrape the skillet and get those magical browned bacon and flour bits that add tons of flavor to your gravy.
- Make it Louisiana-style smothered chicken by substituting 1 tablespoon of Cajun or Creole seasoning for all the spices.
- Serve the chicken over rice, mashed potato, or egg noodles. Pour the sauce over the top.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze in a freezer-proof container for up to 3 months. For best results, thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating on low in a skillet or in the microwave at reduced power.
Nutrition
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Iryna
Creamy and delicious chicken recipe! Perfect for family dinners. Thank you!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine!
Dana
This is so delicious, hearty,and cozy! Definitely going to make this one again. We all loved the flavors.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Dana! So glad that you all liked it!
Cara
Had this chicken over mashed potatoes, and it might actually be my new favourite meal. Best way to eat chicken!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Cara! So glad that you liked it!
Becky
This recipe didn’t disappoint. I made it this evening for dinner, and it is so flavorful. I’ll be saving this one to make when company comes.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Becky! So glad that you enjoyed it!
Lisa Stott
I made this dish to go along with our Christmas dinner, and everyone loved it! I will definitely be making this again! Thank you so much for these awesome recipes!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Lisa! So glad that everyone liked it. Merry Christmas!!
Debby Lockhart
I made this last night for dinner. It was delicious. At first I thought I would have leftovers for lunch today. Yeah it was gone. Really loved this one
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Debby! So glad that you liked it!1
Elise
This sounds super yummy. My family will definitely want it with chicken thigh.
Kushigalu
Drooling over this delicious chicken recipe. thanks for sharing.
Anosa
Been looking for something to cook and good thing I was able to drop by here. Thanks for this and I will definitely try this out. Hopefully I can make this over the weekend.
Thena Franssen
Wow! This looks absolutely amazing! I can’t wait to make this for my family!
Edgar
.it’s time to get back my paprika into the kitchen! I love the sight of the breast here!
Abida
Loved the recipe since it’s looking so easy to make and delicious to eat. I will definitely check it out.
Sandy
Has anyone used an “alternative flour” to make it keto friendly or gluten free?
Lizzy
That sauce!!! So good! Served it up alongside some lovely wild rice pilaf. The chicken was tender and delicoius. But I seriously just cannot get over that sauce! Yum!!!!
Sara
Loved all the flavors in this dish from the creamy sauce to the crispy bacon! Easily, a new favorite recipe; my whole family loved it!
Kristyn
My favorite kind of meal!! Chicken & mashed potatoes! Anything topped with bacon is a win for me & that gravy is drinkable 🙂