Experience the heart of Louisiana with this Delicious Cajun Smothered Chicken! Bone-in chicken thighs are browned to perfection and slow-simmered in a rich, savory gravy with the "Holy Trinity" of aromatics. Enjoy this ultimate comfort meal served over a bed of white rice tonight!
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Louisiana Food = DELICIOUSNESS DEFINED!
We took a trip to Lafayette, Louisiana a few years ago. Lafayette is a beautiful place and delicious food is everywhere to be found!
The Cajun and Creole cuisines of Louisiana are generally considered to be some of the finest examples of regional cooking in the United States. Think gumbo, jambalaya, and étouffée...is your mouth already watering? 🙂
I've been remembering that trip and have been inspired to delve more into Cajun and Creole Cuisine. I was super excited to come across a dish called Cajun Smothered Chicken, which is not as well known as the aforementioned dishes. However, it is incredibly delicious and easy to make, and deserves a place at everyone's table!
What is Smothering?
Cajun Smothered Chicken involves using a cooking technique called "smothering." Smothering is very similar to braising. Basically this is a one pot dish that is cooked covered over a low heat for an hour or so with some chicken broth. The meat is cooked for this extended amount of time which results in perfectly tender chicken. You will also create a delicious and rich brown gravy! You will absolutely smother the chicken and rice (typically served with smothered chicken) with this gravy!
The smothering technique also involves browning the chicken, which has been dusted with flour. The flour helps to thicken the gravy. I'm telling you this GRAVY IS SO SO GOOD!
What Ingredients Will I Need To Make This Cajun Dish?
Cajun Smothered Chicken is so easy to make with easy to come by ingredients, which is a feature of Cajun cooking.
You will need the following for this great recipe:
- Bone in skin on chicken thighs
- All purpose flour
- Olive oil
- Chicken broth or chicken stock
- Celery
- Onion
- Green bell peppers
- Garlic
- Your favorite Cajun seasoning (you could also sub your favorite Creole seasoning)
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Bay leaf
You should easily be able to find these ingredients in your local grocery store.
Celery, onion, and green bell pepper are referred to as "The Holy Trinity" in Cajun and Creole cooking. These ingredients are indispensable in many Cajun and Creole dishes such as gumbo and jambalaya.
You may already have most of these ingredients for this chicken recipe in your refrigerator and pantry. So what are we waiting for? Let's make some southern Smothered Chicken!
The Method To Make Cajun Smothered Chicken!
One pot dishes are also characteristic of Cajun cuisine. So, in addition to being easy to make, this also boasts easy clean up. 😊
I recommend using a cast iron pan or large Dutch oven (with cover), which distributes heat better.
Start by seasoning your chicken with your favorite Cajun seasoning and then dusting the chicken with flour. Shake off any excess flour.
Next heat up some olive oil in your pan on a medium heat, and cook the chicken on both sides until golden brown. It should only take around 3-4 minutes for each side.
You will need to prep your Holy Trinity (everything should be diced) and have some minced garlic ready. Add the Holy Trinity, garlic, bay leaf, salt, pepper, and chicken broth to the pan with the browned chicken.
Stir everything around, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring this to the boil on medium-high heat, and then lower the heat to a simmer.
Cover, and cook for approximately one hour. Check it every 20 minutes or so and stir during these checks. Add a little additional broth if you feel like there is not enough gravy. If there is too much gravy, you can cook some of it off by removing the cover for the last 20 minutes.
At the end of the hour, you will have a rich delicious gravy with tender and juicy chicken pieces beckoning to be enjoyed!
How To Serve Cajun Smothered Chicken!
The time has come to sit down and enjoy this delicious comfort food!
Enjoy your succulent pan-fried chicken served with hot white rice! Spoon your mouthwatering homemade gravy which is replete with tender bits of the Trinity, on top of your Cajun Chicken and rice. I also like to add some splashes of Tabasco, another taste of Louisiana! My favorite is Tabasco Scorpion Sauce, but feel free to add your favorite hot sauce or some cayenne pepper if you like things spicy!
This dish pairs well with another smothered dish...Cajun Smothered Cabbage! Collard greens or your fave side of veggies would also be great sides for this dish.
Cajun Smothered Chicken is easy to make, budget friendly, and absolutely delicious! So, I hope you will take some time to enjoy this delicious taste of Louisiana soon!
This dish is inspired by and adapted from a recipe from Rouse's Cajun Issue Magazine, and the full recipe card with nutrition information can be found below.
FAQ
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in your refrigerator. This is best enjoyed within 3 days.
This recipe would also work well with pork chops! Simply sub pork chops for the chicken, and follow the directions using the pork chops.
Some Other Foods You May Enjoy!
Here are some other recipes that you may enjoy:
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Cheers!
Grace
Delicious Cajun Smothered Chicken!
Equipment
- Covered Cast Iron Pan or Dutch oven
Ingredients
- 2 lb chicken thighs, bone in and skin on
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup chicken broth plus additional if needed (can sub chicken stock)
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 small green bell pepper diced
- 8 cloves garlic minced (use more or less to suit your tastes)
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning plus add additional at the end of cooking to taste; can sub Creole seasoning
- ½ ts salt plus additional to taste
- ½ ts pepper plus additional to taste
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Season your chicken with the Cajun seasoning. Then dust each piece with flour and shake off any excess.
- Prep your veggies: dice the onion, green bell pepper, and celery. Mince the garlic.
- Heat the olive oil in a cast iron pan (preferably) on medium heat. Once the pan is very hot, add the chicken and brown on both sides. It should only take 3-4 minutes on each side to brown the chicken.
- Then add the bay leaf, diced onion, green bell pepper, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, and chicken broth to the pan with the browned chicken. Stir everything around, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring this to the boil on medium-high heat, and then lower the heat to a simmer. Cover, and cook for approximately one hour. Check it every 20 minutes or so and stir during these checks. Add a little additional broth if you feel like there is not enough gravy. If there is too much gravy, you can cook some of it off by removing the cover for the last 20 minutes.
- After the hour, taste and adjust the seasoning by adding salt, pepper, and additional Cajun seasoning to your tastes.
- Bon appetit!!
Scott
So easy and flavorful my family LOVE IT. I am a very spicy person so I add about 3 drops of Jamaican Scotch Bonnet, oh man so good.
Grace
Hi Scott! You ABSOLUTELY made my day! I'm so so happy that your family loved this dish and let me tell you...I'm with you on the spicy part! Next time I make this I'm going to add Scotch Bonnets as well! Thanks for trying this and taking the time to comment. I wish you a wonderful day! Grace
Summer M
I just made this for my husband… He LOVES it!!!! It was super easy to follow the instructions and this is a budget meal that is awesome! 💕
Grace
Hi Summer! I can't tell you how happy I am after reading your comments! Thanks so much for taking the time to try this recipe and post your comments here. I'm overjoyed that your husband loved the dish! Thanks again and have a wonderful day! Grace