Smothered Chicken and Onion Gravy

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Ryman Auditorium & Broadway

📍 Where this dish comes from: Nashville, Tennessee · Ryman Auditorium & Broadway
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Smothered Chicken and Onion Gravy, plated and ready to serve

Smothered chicken is comfort food in its purest form — seared chicken braised low and slow until the meat falls off the bone and the gravy turns rich and dark. This version thickens the gravy with xanthan gum instead of flour, so it holds the same body without the added carbs.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Smothered Chicken and Onion Gravy

Smothered Chicken and Onion Gravy

Bone-in chicken thighs braised under a thick blanket of caramelized onion gravy until fall-apart tender.
Print Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 440kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • 2 large onions thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tsp xanthan gum
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Chopped parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  • Season chicken thighs generously with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
  • Heat avocado oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken, skin-side down, 5–6 minutes until deeply browned. Flip and sear 3 minutes more. Remove and set aside.
  • Add onions to the same skillet and cook 10 minutes, stirring often, until deeply caramelized.
  • Add garlic and cook 1 minute, then pour in broth, scraping up browned bits.
  • Whisk in xanthan gum a little at a time until gravy thickens slightly.
  • Return chicken to the skillet, skin-side up, spooning gravy over top.
  • Cover and simmer 20–25 minutes, until chicken is tender and cooked through.
  • Garnish with parsley and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 440kcal | Protein: 34g | Fat: 30g | Fiber: 2g
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Cooking Smothered Chicken and Onion Gravy in the kitchen

Health Benefits

  • Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs provide flavor and moisture along with collagen from the skin and bones.
  • Slow braising tenderizes the meat without needing breading or frying.
  • A gravy built from real pan drippings rather than a packaged mix.

Pairs Well With

  • Slow-Simmered Southern Green Beans
  • Cauliflower "Potato" Salad, Mustard Style
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