Description
Hearty smothered chicken and rice delights diners with Southern comfort cooking. Creamy sauce and tender chicken create a satisfying meal that brings families together around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- 1 cup long-grain rice (uncooked)
- ½ cup (120 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Salt, to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Orchestrate kitchen workspace and ignite oven to 350F (175C), establishing ideal culinary conditions for the impending dish.
- Flavor Foundation: Lavishly coat chicken thighs with a harmonious symphony of salt, pepper, and paprika, ensuring comprehensive seasoning coverage.
- Searing Brilliance: Unleash olive oil in a formidable oven-safe skillet, transforming its surface into a crackling canvas. Execute precise chicken searing, cultivating a mesmerizing golden-brown exterior within 3-4 minutes per side. Relocate seared chicken to a temporary sanctuary.
- Aromatic Layering: Within the identical skillet, coax onions into translucent submission. Introduce minced garlic, allowing fragrant whispers to permeate the cooking environment for a brief 30-second interlude.
- Rice Transformation: Integrate rice into the caramelized onion landscape, delicately enrobing each grain. Stream chicken broth and milk, sprinkle thyme, parsley, and black pepper. Orchestrate a gentle simmer while stirring methodically.
- Strategic Assembly: Crown the rice mixture with seared chicken thighs, positioning skin-side upward to maximize flavor potential and visual allure.
- Moisture Preservation: Seal the skillet with a robust lid or aluminum foil, capturing essential steam and moisture.
- Culinary Metamorphosis: Slide the concealed skillet into the preheated oven, allowing 35-40 minutes for transformative cooking. Confirm rice tenderness and chicken’s internal temperature for comprehensive doneness.
- Cheesy Finale: During the concluding moments, unveil the skillet and lavishly distribute shredded cheddar cheese across the surface. Return to oven for a quintessential 5-minute melting ritual.
- Presentation Perfection: Extract from oven and permit momentary repose. Optional: Embellish with freshly chopped parsley, creating a vibrant visual flourish. Serve immediately while radiating warmth and gastronomic allure.
Notes
- Sear for Maximum Flavor: Create a golden-brown crust on chicken by ensuring the skillet is hot before adding thighs. This locks in juices and develops deep, rich flavors.
- Perfect Rice Texture: Stir rice gently and avoid over-mixing to prevent starch release, which can make the dish gummy. Aim for fluffy, separate grains that absorb the broth beautifully.
- Chicken Doneness Check: Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches 165°F internally. This guarantees safe consumption while maintaining tender, juicy meat.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Sprinkle cheese evenly and return to oven briefly to achieve a uniform, creamy golden topping without burning or creating tough cheese edges.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg