Description
A hearty, one-pan comfort food dish featuring bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs baked in a rich, creamy onion gravy. This recipe is forgiving, meal-prep friendly, and delivers a perfect golden crust with tender meat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6–8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 3 large yellow onions, sliced thin
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (divided)
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and thyme. Lightly dust with flour, shaking off excess.
- Heat butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken skin-side down for 4-5 minutes until crispy, then flip and cook 2-3 minutes more. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add sliced onions to the same skillet and sauté for 8-10 minutes until soft and caramelized.
- Sprinkle remaining flour over onions and stir for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then stir in heavy cream.
- Place browned chicken in a 9×13 baking dish. Pour gravy over chicken, ensuring onions cover the meat. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15-20 minutes more until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Pat chicken dry for crispy skin. Use low-sodium broth to control saltiness. For extra crispy skin, broil for the last 2 minutes. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy; store in fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently with a splash of broth or water.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 pieces of chicken
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: smothered chicken, creamy onion gravy, one-pan dinner, comfort food, chicken thighs, easy weeknight dinner, gluten-free option