Creamy Smothered Chicken & Rice One-Pan Dinner

Introduction

If you’re seeking a comforting family dinner that’s both satisfying and simple to prepare, this Creamy Smothered Chicken & Rice One-Pan Dinner delivers on all fronts. This dish weaves tender chicken, creamy sauce, and fluffy rice into a flavorful casserole that’s perfect for busy weeknights, guaranteed to please kids and adults alike. Minimal prep and one pan means less chaos in the kitchen—and more time enjoying your evening.

Why This Creamy Smothered Chicken & Rice One-Pan Dinner Is a Must-Try

What makes this recipe a standout is its harmony of flavors—all achieved in a single pan. Succulent, golden-browned chicken is nestled atop seasoned rice and bathed in a rich, creamy sauce. The rice slowly absorbs the savory chicken juices and cream, creating perfectly cooked, ultra-flavorful grains every time. No need for multiple pots, and cleanup is a breeze!

Meal-Prep Friendly and Adaptable

This one-pan dinner isn’t just easy, it’s meal-prep friendly. The hearty protein, grains, and sauce store beautifully, making it ideal for lunches or next day leftovers. You can also customize by swapping in different vegetables or adding cheese for extra richness.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section, streamlining your grocery trips and helping you plan out the week’s meals with ease.

Instructions

1. Brown the Chicken: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with ½ teaspoon salt, paprika, and pepper. Sear chicken 3–4 minutes per side, until golden brown (it will finish cooking in the oven). Transfer chicken to a plate.
2. Sauté Aromatics: In the same pan, add onion and mushrooms (if using). Sauté until softened, 3–4 minutes. Stir in garlic and thyme; cook 1 minute more.
3. Layer and Smother: Stir in rinsed rice and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, mixing to coat rice in the aromatics. Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Nestle chicken pieces on top of the rice. Cover tightly with a lid or foil and bake for 25 minutes.
4. Create the Creamy Sauce: While baking, whisk together milk (or half-and-half) and sour cream in a bowl until smooth. After 25 minutes in the oven, carefully remove lid/foil. Pour the creamy mixture evenly over the chicken and rice. Sprinkle frozen peas or mixed vegetables over the top.
5. Bake Uncovered: Return to the oven and bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes more, until chicken is cooked through and rice is creamy and tender.
6. Finish and Serve: Let stand 5 minutes for sauce to thicken slightly. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve directly from the pan.

Serving Suggestions for Maximum Enjoyment

For a little extra flair, serve with a crisp salad or roasted green vegetables. This dish is hearty enough on its own, but a squeeze of lemon over each serving or a small sprinkle of grated Parmesan takes it to the next level.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields four generous servings. Each portion contains approximately 475–525 calories, depending on the dairy used. It’s a balanced one-pan meal packed with protein, veggies, and grains.

Why You’ll Love This Creamy Smothered Chicken & Rice One-Pan Dinner (Recap)

By bringing the classic flavors of smothered chicken and creamy rice together in a single pan, this recipe saves time and delivers all the flavor and comfort you crave. With just a handful of steps, you get a satisfying, delicious dinner and easy clean-up.

Weekly Meal Planning

This creamy one-pan dinner is a game-changer for meal prep enthusiasts and anyone wanting to simplify weeknight meals. Save and schedule this recipe to your weekly plan in CookifyAI and enjoy automatic ingredient consolidation. Your smart shopping list will gather ingredients from all planned meals, eliminate duplicate items, and help you stay organized at the store.

Planning Benefits:

• Instantly calculates total ingredient amounts across multiple planned recipes
• Organizes all grocery items by department (produce, dairy, pantry, etc.)
• Reduces accidental duplicate buys
• Keeps your weekly meal prep on track without the hassle

Pro tip: When planning meals, schedule this recipe with others on CookifyAI to optimize your ingredient usage—especially useful if you have leftover rice or chicken!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Enjoy the comforting flavors and the simplicity of this delicious Creamy Smothered Chicken & Rice One-Pan Dinner—perfectly suited to both spontaneous weeknight meals and organized weekly meal plans!