Description
Juicy chicken breasts smothered in a rich, creamy cheese sauce and served over fluffy rice—this Creamy Smothered Chicken Rice is a comforting, one-pan meal that’s perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)
- 2 cups cooked jasmine or basmati rice
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Start by seasoning your chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, pour in the olive oil.
3. Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the hot pan. Cook them for about 5-7 minutes on each side until they’re golden brown and fully cooked. Remove from pan and set aside.
4. In the same pan, add the diced onion and cook for about 3-4 minutes until translucent.
5. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
6. Pour in the chicken broth and use a spatula to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
7. Lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream, Dijon mustard, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken.
8. Stir in the shredded cheese until it melts into the sauce. Add a splash more chicken broth if the sauce is too thick.
9. Return the chicken to the pan, coating it with the creamy sauce. Let it simmer on low for another 3-4 minutes.
10. Scoop a serving of cooked rice onto each plate and spoon the creamy smothered chicken on top.
11. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the top before serving.
Notes
This recipe works well with chicken thighs if you prefer dark meat.
To lighten it up, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and reduce the cheese.
Add sautéed mushrooms or spinach for extra texture and nutrients.
Leftovers reheat beautifully—store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Searing, Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce and rice
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 160mg
Keywords: Creamy Smothered Chicken Rice, one-pan dinner, chicken recipe, comfort food