Smothered Chicken Thighs with Creamy Gravy Recipe
A classic Southern-inspired dish featuring tender, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs smothered in a rich, creamy onion gravy. This comforting meal is made by browning the chicken, sautéing aromatics, and simmering everything together in a luscious sauce until perfectly cooked and flavorful.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
For Cooking
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
Gravy
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Season the chicken thighs generously on both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, and dried thyme for a flavorful base.
- Heat Oil: Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat to prepare for browning the chicken.
- Brown Chicken: Place the chicken thighs skin side down in the hot skillet and sauté for 5-7 minutes until the skin is golden and crispy, then flip and cook another 5 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same skillet, add chopped onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Create Roux: Sprinkle all-purpose flour over the sautéed onion and garlic, stirring constantly to combine and cook for 2 minutes to remove any raw flour taste.
- Add Broth: Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring to avoid lumps, scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the skillet. Bring the mixture up to a simmer.
- Add Cream: Stir in the heavy cream and bring the gravy back to a gentle simmer, allowing it to thicken slightly.
- Return Chicken: Place the browned chicken thighs back into the skillet skin side up, spoon some gravy over the top, ensuring even coating.
- Simmer: Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to low, and let everything simmer for 40-50 minutes until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through.
- Finish with Butter: Stir in butter just before serving to enrich the gravy with a smooth, luscious finish.
- Garnish: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the dish for added color and a fresh flavor boost.
Notes
- Use bone-in, skin-on thighs for the best flavor and juiciness.
- Adjust seasoning to your preference, especially salt and pepper.
- Simmering low and slow ensures tender chicken and thick gravy.
- Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the delicious gravy.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently on the stovetop.
Keywords: smothered chicken thighs, creamy chicken gravy, Southern chicken recipe, bone-in chicken, comfort food chicken
