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Home » Recipes

How To Make Delicious Cajun Smothered Chicken!

Jun 17, 2021Last Modified: April 18, 2022

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how to make delicious Cajun Smothered Chicken!

Cajun Smothered Chicken in a cast iron pan
Jump to:
  • Louisiana Food = DELICIOUSNESS DEFINED!
  • What is Smothering?
  • What Ingredients Will I Need To Make This Cajun Dish?
  • The Method To Make Cajun Smothered Chicken!
  • How To Serve Cajun Smothered Chicken!
  • Some Other Foods You May Enjoy!
  • Delicious Cajun Smothered Chicken!

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 gravy! You will absolutely smother the chicken and rice (typically served with smothered chicken) with this gravy!

Cajun Smothered Chicken cooking in a cast iron pan

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:

  • Bone in skin on chicken thighs
  • All purpose flour
  • Olive oil
  • Chicken broth
  • Celery
  • Onion
  • Green bell pepper
  • Garlic
  • Your favorite Cajun seasoning
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Bay leaf
Chicken broth, olive oil, Nunu's Cajun seasoning, salt, pepper, celery, green bell pepper, onion, bay leaf, garlic, and a white bowl with seasoned and flour dusted chicken thighs

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.

Diced onion, celery, and green bell pepper with a bay leaf on top

You may already have most of these ingredients in your refrigerator and pantry. So what are we waiting for? Let's make some Cajun 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 (with cover), which distributes heat better.

Start by seasoning your chicken with your favorite Cajun seasoning and then dusting the chicken with flour.

chicken thighs seasoned with Cajun seasoning and dusted with flour on a white plate

Next heat up some olive oil in your pan on a med high heat, and brown the chicken on both sides. It should only take around 1-2 minutes for each side.

browned chicken thighs in a cast iron pan

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, and chicken broth to the pan.

Chicken thighs covered with diced onion, green bell pepper, celery, and garlic
Now that's what I call smothering!

Stir everything around, 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. At the end of the hour, you will have a rich delicious gravy with tender chicken thighs beckoning to be enjoyed!

Cajun Smothered Chicken cooking in a cast iron pan

How To Serve Cajun Smothered Chicken!

Cajun Smothered Chicken in a cast iron pan

Enjoy your Cajun Smothered Chicken served with hot white rice! Spoon your mouthwatering 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 if you like!

This dish pairs well with another smothered dish...Cajun Smothered Cabbage!

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.

Some Other Foods You May Enjoy!

Super Easy and Delicious Boudin Balls!

Boudin Balls on a white serving tray

Tabasco Scorpion Sauce

Variety of Tabasco Sauces

If you'd like to come along on this food journey with me, please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 🙂

Cheers!

Grace

Cajun Smothered Chicken in a cast iron pan

Delicious Cajun Smothered Chicken!

This was inspired by and adapted from a recipe from Rouse's Cajun Issue Magazine
One pot easy and delicious Cajun dish which your whole family will enjoy! Try this mouthwatering Cajun Smothered Chicken today!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 1 hr 4 mins
Total Time 1 hr 14 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Cajun, louisiana
Servings 2 servings
Calories 1027 kcal

Equipment

  • Covered Cast Iron Pan

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
  • 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)
  • ½ tablespoon Cajun seasoning add additional at the end of cooking to taste
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 bay leaf

Instructions
 

  • Season your chicken with the Cajun seasoning. Then dust each piece with flour and shake off any excess.
    Chicken thighs seasoned and dusted with flour on a white plate
  • Prep your veggies: dice the onion, green bell pepper, and celery. Mince the garlic.
    Diced onion, celery, and green bell pepper with a bay leaf on top
  • Heat the olive oil in a cast iron pan (preferably) on med high. Once the pan is very hot, add the chicken and brown on both sides. It should only take 1-2 minutes on each side to brown the chicken.
    browned chicken thighs in a cast iron pan
  • Then add the bay leaf, diced onion, green bell pepper, celery, garlic, and chicken broth to the pan. Stir everything around, cover, turn down the heat and simmer for 1 hour. Check and stir every 20 minutes or so and add a tiny bit of additional broth if you feel there is not enough gravy.
    Chicken thighs covered with diced onion, green bell pepper, celery, and garlic
  • After the hour, taste and adjust the seasoning by adding salt, pepper, and additional Cajun seasoning to your tastes.
    Cajun Smothered Chicken cooking in a cast iron pan
  • Bon appetit!!
    Cajun Smothered Chicken in a cast iron pan

Notes

Serve this Cajun Smothered Chicken with some hot cooked white rice.  Be sure to spoon lots and lots of the tender veggies and delicious gravy on top of your chicken and rice!
Enjoy this most delicious dish, courtesy of Louisiana Cajun Country!
 

Nutrition

Calories: 1027kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 68gFat: 72gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gMonounsaturated Fat: 32gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 378mgSodium: 362mgPotassium: 1191mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1484IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 91mgIron: 4mg
Keyword cajun food, chicken thighs, smothered chicken
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Scott

    May 01, 2022 at 12:51 pm

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
    • Grace

      May 01, 2022 at 3:29 pm

      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

      Reply
  2. Summer M

    January 28, 2023 at 6:58 pm

    5 stars
    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! 💕

    Reply
    • Grace

      January 29, 2023 at 9:06 am

      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

      Reply

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About Me

Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

By the way most of these recipes are Toby taste tested and Toby approved!!

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