Smothered Chicken Breasts with Creamy Thyme Sauce Recipe
A comforting and flavorful recipe for smothered chicken breasts cooked in a rich, creamy sauce with onions, garlic, and herbs. This dish features tender chicken breasts simmered in a savory sauce infused with Dijon mustard and thyme, perfect for a cozy family meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat oil: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat to prepare for browning the chicken.
- Season chicken: Season the 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts evenly on both sides with salt and pepper to enhance flavor.
- Brown chicken: Add the chicken breasts to the hot skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté onions: In the same skillet, add the thinly sliced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes soft and translucent.
- Add garlic: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
- Deglaze skillet: Pour in 1 cup of chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the skillet to loosen any browned bits, which adds depth to the sauce.
- Make sauce: Stir in 1 cup of heavy cream, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and 1 teaspoon dried thyme to the skillet and mix well to combine all flavors.
- Return chicken to skillet: Place the browned chicken breasts back into the skillet and spoon some of the creamy sauce over them to coat evenly.
- Simmer: Reduce heat to low, cover the skillet, and let the chicken simmer for 5-10 minutes. This allows the sauce to thicken and the chicken to absorb the delicious flavors.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the dish before serving to add color and a fresh herbal note.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add a splash of white wine when deglazing the skillet.
- Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- If you prefer a lighter sauce, substitute the heavy cream with half-and-half or a milk alternative.
- Make sure not to overcook the chicken to keep it juicy and tender.
Keywords: smothered chicken, creamy chicken, chicken breasts, skillet chicken, easy chicken dinner
