Smothered Hen

Smothered Hen is a comforting Southern-inspired dish that includes seasoned rooster breasts simmered in a wealthy onion gravy till completely cooked. This straightforward one-pan meal is hearty, flavorful, and ideal for a satisfying household dinner.

Smothered Chicken on mashed potatoes and green beans

Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Smothered Hen

Taste: Savory and comforting with juicy seasoned rooster, candy onions, and a wealthy herb-and-garlic gravy.

Why Make It: Browning the rooster first builds a flavorful base, giving the gravy wealthy, slow-cooked taste in much less time.

Serving Solutions: Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, biscuits, or buttered noodles to take in the onion gravy.

Complete Time: 26 Minutes Serves: 4 Cooking Technique: Stovetop

Ingredient Notes

broth , oil , seasonings , chicken , onion , flour , butter , salt and pepper with labels to make Smothered Chicken

Hen Breasts: Pounding the rooster to a fair ½-inch thickness helps it cook dinner evenly, develop a golden-brown crust, and keep tender and juicy because it finishes simmering within the gravy. Use boneless skinless rooster thighs as a substitute of breasts for additional juicy rooster.
Yellow Onion: Yellow onions are an excellent all-purpose selection as a result of they soften effectively and add gentle sweetness. Candy onions can be utilized for a softer taste, whereas white onions will style a bit of sharper.
Garlic Powder, Sage, and Thyme: This easy mix provides heat, savory poultry taste with no lengthy cooking time. If most well-liked, poultry seasoning could be substituted for the sage and thyme.
Hen Broth: Common or low-sodium rooster broth each work effectively. Regulate the salt to style based mostly on the broth you employ.
Variations: Add sliced mushrooms with the onions for a mushroom-onion gravy. Stir in a splash of heavy cream on the finish for creamy smothered rooster.

Pound the Hen: Pound the rooster evenly so the thinner edges don’t overcook earlier than the middle is finished.
Use the Browned Bits: Scrape up the browned bits from the skillet when including broth as a result of they add a lot of taste.
Add Broth Slowly: Add whereas whisking to maintain the gravy clean.
Gravy Too Thick? Whisk in a splash of broth till it’s excellent.
Gravy Too Skinny? Simmer it uncovered for a couple of additional minutes.
Use a Thermometer: Cook dinner rooster to 165°F on the thickest half.

Saving Each Chew

Hold leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days and within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge. Reheat gently on the stovetop or within the microwave, including a splash of broth if the gravy has thickened.

Cozy Hen Dinners

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image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook dinner Time 21 minutes

Complete Time 26 minutes

Season the Hen

Place the rooster breasts between sheets of plastic wrap and pound to a fair ½-inch thickness.
Season with garlic powder, salt, sage, thyme and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.

Cook dinner the Hen

Warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth.
Add rooster and cook dinner 3 to 4 minutes per aspect, till browned, it doesn’t should be cooked by way of. Switch to a plate.

Make the Gravy

Scale back the warmth to medium and add the butter and onion to the skillet. Cook dinner for 4 to five minutes, stirring sometimes, till softened. Stir within the flour and the remaining ¼ teaspoon of pepper. Cook dinner for 1 minute whereas stirring.
Step by step whisk in rooster broth till clean. Add the rooster with any juices, deliver to a simmer and let cook dinner 5 to 7 minutes, till thickened and the rooster is cooked by way of. Style and season with further salt and pepper if desired.
Serve over mashed potatoes or buttered noodles.

Boneless, skinless rooster thighs can be utilized instead of rooster breasts. The rooster is cooked when it reaches 165℉ on the thickest half.
Should you’d like a richer gravy, stir in 2 to three tablespoons heavy cream earlier than simmering.
Hold leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days and within the freezer for as much as 3 months.

Diet info supplied is an estimate and can differ based mostly on cooking strategies and types of elements used.

Course Essential Course

Delicacies American

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