Description
A comforting and creamy chicken dish featuring tender chicken breasts and fluffy rice, all enveloped in a silky sauce infused with garlic, thyme, cheddar, and Parmesan.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless (skinless chicken breasts)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon salt
- For the Creamy Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon thyme
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken breasts for about 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of chicken broth and ½ teaspoon salt to a boil. Stir in the rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15–18 minutes until tender.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat, whisk in flour, and cook for 1–2 minutes until lightly golden.
- Slowly whisk in milk and chicken broth while stirring constantly until smooth. Stir in garlic powder, thyme, cheddar, and Parmesan, cooking until the sauce thickens and cheeses melt.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and spoon sauce over it. Cover and simmer on low for 10 minutes.
- Serve the chicken over the fluffy rice and garnish with parsley.
Notes
For added flavor, consider adding crispy bacon bits to the sauce or mushrooms after removing the chicken. Adjust the creaminess with a splash more chicken broth if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing & Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 75mg