These creamy Smothered Chicken Thighs are seared to perfection on the stove and covered in a homemade flour-based gravy. Baked to juicy perfection, this comforting recipe is easy to prep and will give you time for other things.
Break out your 12 to 15 inch skillet and enjoy comfort food at its finest! This juicy and tender chicken dinner is perfect for a weeknight meal.
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💚 About This Recipe
I love easy and comforting meals that only require one dish. This recipe for cast iron skillet chicken thighs is the perfect option for a filling and savory weekend dinner!
With a creamy homemade gravy and tender chicken thighs, this hot and filling dish is perfect for any family-friendly meal. You'll love the easy prep and minimal clean up after making this smothered chicken and gravy.
Just like my One Pot Chicken and Rice, Blackened Chicken Cutlets, and Marry Me Chicken, this is a guaranteed hit that will become a staple in your recipe book!
🧂 Ingredients Needed
- seasonings - for this recipe, I used garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, paprika, black pepper, and salt to taste.
- flour - all purpose flour is your best option here and ensures that your gravy gets nice and thickened.
- chicken thighs - chicken legs can be substituted, but thighs are a great option for tender and flavorful protein.
- vegetable oil - can be substituted for another similar oil like canola or light olive oil.
- butter - gives your gravy a delicious buttery flavor.
- onions - I recommend using white or yellow onions.
- chicken broth - you could also use vegetable broth, but the dish might be missing a bit of flavor and fullness.
- water - for additional liquid.
- heavy cream - ensures the gravy becomes thick and creamy.
- parsley - this optional herb is great for a colorful garnish that pulls everything together.
🔪 Instructions
- Combine garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, pepper, and salt with the flour.
- Set 1 cup of seasoned flour aside. Coat the chicken thighs in the remaining flour.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet and brown the chicken about 5 minutes on each side. Remove the chicken, then melt the butter and add the onions.
- Cook onions for 3-4 minutes or until softened, then add reserved seasoned flour and stir into onions.
- Add chicken broth and water and carefully stir. Stir in the heavy cream.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and nestle in the gravy. Bake in the oven at 425 degrees F for an hour. Garnish with parsley if desired.
❔ FAQs
Yes, in comparison to light meat like chicken breasts, it's quite difficult to overcook thighs. Dark meat tends to get more tender as it cooks, whereas light meat tends to dry out.
Absolutely! As long as the chicken reaches a proper internal temperature, it's entirely safe. Plus, these cast iron skillet chicken thighs are browned on the outside before being added back to the gravy.
Since there's less processing required for bone-in thighs, they can be sold at a lower cost. If you're on a tight budget, making this dish with bone-in thighs works perfectly fine. Be aware that cooking times might vary and you may need a bit of extra time for bone-in chicken thighs.
💭 Expert Tips and Tricks
- If you're using a 12-inch skillet, this recipe will fill up most of the dish. Use a 15-inch skillet if you're worried about crowding or overflow.
- Serve this dish hot, over top of pasta or rice, or with some hearty bread to dip in the gravy.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken thighs reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F.
📌 Making this cast iron skillet chicken thighs recipe is the perfect way to make an easy dinner that cooks without supervision! Prep, pop it in the oven, and in an hour, you'll have an incredible dinner.
💡 Substitutions and Variations
- Chicken legs or bone-in chicken thighs can be used instead.
- Fresh herbs like chives or parsley can be added to the gravy for extra flavor. Be sure to adjust salt and pepper to account for the flavor difference.
- For more nutrition, use additional vegetables like sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, or spinach.
- Add some Parmesan or mozzarella cheese into the gravy for a cheesier sauce.
- If you want a bit of a kick, add some red pepper flakes to your seasoned flour.
🥫 Storage and Reheating
Keep your smothered chicken and gravy in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, either place in the oven at 350 degrees F until hot and bubbly, or microwave in 1-minute increments.
This dish can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Allow the chicken to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
Pair your chicken thighs and gravy with an air fryer veggie so you don't have to worry about cooking two things in the oven at once. Make Air Fryer Broccoli, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes, or these Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts. You could also make this Homemade Cheddar Bacon Slow Cooker Bread, which would pair perfectly with the hearty gravy.
✔️ More Chicken Recipes You'll Love
- Pittsburgh Chicken Salad - This unique salad includes perfectly seasoned chicken and delicious, crispy french fries instead of croutons!
- Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs Dinner - With everything you need for a complete and healthy meal, this is a weeknight lifessaver.
- Air Fryer Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken - Bursting with flavor, this entree is a fun twist on the familiar appetizer that's great for a quick meal anytime.
- Buffalo Chicken Cups - This quirky appetizer from Cocktails and Appetizers combines bold buffalo chicken with crispy phyllo cups for a handheld savory treat everyone will love!
Smothered Chicken and Gravy
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📋 Recipe Card
Creamy One Skillet Smothered Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- salt (to taste)
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 2 ½ pounds chicken thighs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 onions, sliced into rings
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup heavy cream
- freshly chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- In a shallow dish, combine the seasonings with the flour. Set 1 cup of the seasoning flour aside. In the remaining seasoned flour, roll the chicken thighs.2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon black pepper, salt, 1 ½ cups all purpose flour, 2 ½ pounds chicken thighs
- In a large, oven-safe skillet (12 inches minimum), heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and brown the chicken on both sides, about 5 minutes on each side. Remove the chicken.½ cup vegetable oil
- Add the butter to the skillet and melt. Then, add the onions and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until softened.4 tablespoons butter, 2 onions, sliced into rings
- Add the reserved seasoned flour to the onions and stir until coated. Cook until the mixture begins to bubble, about 2 minutes more.
- Carefully add the chicken broth and water, stirring to blend with the flour. The gravy will thicken quickly. Stir in the heavy cream and return the chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the gravy.2 cups chicken broth, 2 cups water, 1 cup heavy cream
- Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 1 hour.
- Garnish with parsley if desired prior to serving.freshly chopped parsley for garnish
Notes
- This makes a very full 12 inch skillet. For more room, use a 15 inch skillet.
- Chicken legs can be substituted for the chicken thighs.
- Add fresh herbs like parsley or chives for a burst of freshness. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Be sure to cook your chicken to at least 165 degrees F.
- Feel free to customize the recipe with your favorite vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, or sun-dried tomatoes.
- If you like a cheesy sauce, you can sprinkle grated Parmesan or shredded mozzarella on top of the chicken and let it melt into the sauce.
- Serve the creamy smothered chicken thighs hot, ideally over cooked pasta, rice, or with a side of crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
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Happy cooking!
Ned says
Oh my gosh! What awesome comfort food and what better thing to make in my cast iron! Thank you for this amazing recipe!
Kristin King says
You're welcome! Enjoy! 🙂
Lisa says
My family all loves the dark chicken meat and they love this recipe. I love how easy it is to make.