Easy Smothered Chicken Thighs Recipe

If you’re craving a comforting, no-fuss weeknight meal, these Smothered Chicken Thighs are for you. Juicy, flavorful chicken thighs are seasoned to perfection, baked with sweet onions and peppers, and simmered in a rich, savory gravy. It’s a hearty dish that tastes like it took all day—but the oven does most of the heavy lifting.

How to make Smothered Chicken Thighs?

This recipe is incredibly simple! Start by seasoning the bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs in a bowl. Sear the chicken in a hot cast iron skillet to lock in all the flavor. Add in the peppers and onions then pour over the delicious gravy. Add knobs of butter then cover with foil. Bake in the oven. When the chicken is almost done baste the chicken with the gravy and place back in the oven.

Serve with white rice and that’s it! You can have dinner on the table in just over an hour with minimal prep work and dishes to clean up—and that, my friends, is a WIN!

Ingredients for Smothered Chicken Thighs

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Chicken Thighs: Bone in, and skin on. For maximum flavor.
• Seasonings: I used a variety of pantry staples. onion powder, garlic powder, Badia Complete seasoning, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, Tony’s seasoning, salt and pepper.
• Olive oil: use a good quality olive oil.
• Bell Peppers: I used green and red bell peppers thinly sliced.
• Yellow Onion: As the chicken bakes, the onions caramelize, adding the most incredible flavor.
• Butter: Unsalted. As the chicken bakes, and the juices + butter create the best sauce.
• Water + Flour

That’s it! Simple, comforting, and delicious. I’m sure you have all these ingredients right in your kitchen to make these Smothered chicken thighs.

Tips For Smothered Chicken Thighs

Here’s what you need to know to make sure your chicken thighs turn out perfectly:

• Pat your chicken dry: Before seasoning, pat the chicken thighs dry to remove as much moisture as possible. This will make sure the skin gets extra crispy.
• Baste the chicken in it’s juices/gravy. This is going to make the chicken extra juicy and lock in all that delicious flavor.
• Sear the chicken first: this helps lock in all that delicious flavor initially while also creating a delicious crust.
• Don’t forget to flip: Halfway through flip the chicken thighs to ensure even cooking. This will also allow for both sides to get crispy.
• Use a Meat Thermometer: If you’re unsure whether your chicken is done, a meat thermometer can put your mind at ease. Ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F. You can also use a fork to take a quick peek!

How to serve?

Complete your meal by pairing these Smothered chicken thighs with any of the following:

• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Honey Sriracha Roasted Broccoli
• Easy and Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Asparagus
• Rice
• Side Salad
• Roasted Veggies

Recipe variations:

• add more veggies. Pair these baked chicken thighs by adding more veggies. Mushrooms or sweet potatoes will work great.
• Add balsamic to give it a nice tangy flavor.

More Weeknight Recipes To Try

• Ultimate Blackened Chicken Sandwich
• Creamy Shrimp Stuffed Salmon
• Creamy Salmon and Broccoli Pasta Bake
• Million Dollar Spaghetti

If you try this Smothered Chicken Thighs, please be sure to leave a comment, and or tag me on Instagram @cookwithci. I would love to see your recreations and hear your thoughts.

Smothered Chicken Thighs

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Prep Time 40 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 55 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Southern

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

• 4 chicken thighs bone in, skin on
• 2 tsp of olive oil
• 5 tbsp of unsalted butter
• 1/2 green bell pepper thinly sliced
• 1/2 red bell pepper thinly sliced
• 1/2 yellow onion thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder
• 2 tbsp All purpose flour
• 1 tsp Badia Complete seasoning
• 1 tsp Tony’s creole seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• fresh thyme

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Clean and pat dry chicken thighs, removing as much moisture as possible.
• Add a drizzle of olive oil and the seasoning blend, ensuring the seasoning gets under the skin. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
• In a cast iron skillet over medium high heat, add 1 tbsp of butter and 1 tsp of olive oil. Sear the chicken on both sides until a nice crust forms, approximately 7 minutes per side. Then turn off the heat.
• In the same bowl used to season the chicken, combine 1 1/2 cups of water, 1 tsp of chicken bouillon, and flour, whisk until smooth. Pour this mixture over the chicken, then add the peppers and onions. Top each chicken thigh with a 1 tbsp of butter and sprigs of fresh thyme.
• Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 55 minutes. Afterward, baste the chicken with the gravy, then return it to the oven uncovered and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
• Remove from the oven and allow it to cool. Serve this flavorful smothered chicken over a bed of rice or creamy mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

Keyword Baked Chicken, Smothered Chicken

Did you make it? 

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