Smothered Chicken Breast is baked in a flavorful soup-based gravy until perfectly moist and fork-tender. This homemade southern comfort food is a restaurant-quality entree for all occasions!

Want more smothered chicken recipes? Try Baked Smothered Chicken with Gravy and Smothered Chicken with Grits next!

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Ingredients for Smothered Chicken Breast
Ingredients for baked chicken breast
How to Make Smothered Chicken Breast
Pro Tip
Substitutions & Variations
Equipment
Storage
What to Serve with Baked Chicken
Recipe pointers
FAQ
Related
Pairing
📖 Recipe

close up view of smothered chicken breast

This smothered chicken breast recipe suits any occasion; from Sunday family supper to Thanksgiving dinner, or a delicious weeknight meal. It's perfectly seasoned, saucy, and so succulent! With about 10 minutes of easy prep work, this baked chicken entree comes together with very little effort.

Ingredients for Smothered Chicken Breast

Baked smothered chicken breast is made with skinless chicken breasts and a soup mixture enhanced with chicken broth and ample seasonings. Skip the homemade gravy this round because this mixture is easier and so satisfying! There's no need to add salt if your other seasonings contain them because the soup and broth contain it too.

cooked smothered chicken breast in baking dish

Ingredients for baked chicken breast

Chicken breast, boneless skinless
Cajun seasoning
All purpose seasoning
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Black pepper
Paprika
Poultry seasoning
Olive oil

Soup Mixture

Cream of chicken soup
Chicken broth
Cajun seasoning
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Black pepper
Bell peppers, thinly sliced

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Smothered Chicken Breast

Preheat your oven to 350°F and then grease a baking dish.

Step 1: Season chicken breasts with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, paprika, and poultry seasoning, ensuring full coating.

overhead view of soup mixture for smothered chicken recipe

Step 2: Mix cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper until smooth. Add bell peppers and mix.

seasoned chicken over soup mixture in a foil pan

Step 3: Spread 1 cup of soup mixture evenly in the baking dish. Then place seasoned chicken breasts on top without overlapping.

Step 4: Pour remaining soup mixture over chicken. Cover dish with foil and place smothered chicken breast in oven for 1.5 hours. Then uncover and bake for 30 more minutes to thicken the sauce.

a single serving of smothered chicken breast in a black takeout container

Step 5: Serve immediately with preferred side dishes. Or you can let it cool and store it for meal prep.

Pro Tip

When preparing the soup mixture, whisk it well to ensure it is smooth and clump-free. This will help create a creamy and consistent sauce for smothering the chicken.

Substitutions & Variations

Soup Mix - You can use cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of chicken.
Meat - This recipe can make smothered chicken thighs, chicken cutlets, or pork chops.
Spicy - Add cayenne pepper to either the chicken or the soup mixture for a kick of heat.
Fried Chicken - Coat the seasoned chicken in all-purpose flour and gently fry it in a large skillet with vegetable oil over medium-high heat until golden brown. Remove excess grease using paper towels or a wire rack. Then proceed to bake the chicken pieces in the sauce. This takes about 20 minutes but saves you time in the oven because it won't take as long to bake.

chicken breasts in soup mixture in a pan

Equipment

You will need a large bowl to season the chicken and later mix the ingredients for the sauce. Use a baking dish to contain and bake both elements.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave or covered on the stove over medium-low heat.

What to Serve with Baked Chicken

Serve smothered chicken breasts with white rice to absorb the gravy or mashed potatoes to make this homestyle meal extra hearty. Add some veggies to your plate by serving it with green beans or collard greens. A side of cornbread or biscuits is the perfect finishing touch.

Recipe pointers

For a thicker sauce, bake the dish covered with foil for the initial cooking time to allow the chicken to cook through. (This also keeps the chicken moist.)

Then, uncover the dish for the last 30 minutes. This helps evaporate excess moisture and concentrates the flavors, resulting in a richer sauce.

FAQ

What is the secret to moist chicken breast?

The key to moist chicken breasts is cooking them in a sauce or liquid to lock in moisture. Bake the chicken at a lower temperature (350 degrees F in the oven or over medium heat on the stove) and do not overcook them.

Why is it called smothered chicken?

"Smothered" is a technique often used in Southern cuisine. It involves cooking meat in a sauce or gravy in a covered pan or dish. The final dish is rich, moist, and savory.

How to make chicken breast soft and tender?

For tender chicken breasts, marinate the meat (if time allows) to tenderize the meat. When cooking, use methods involving moist heat (such as smothering), and use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) to prevent overcooking and maintain juiciness. Also, allow the cooked chicken to rest briefly (about 5 minutes) before serving to allow the juices to redistribute for optimal tenderness.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Southern smothered chicken breast:

📖 Recipe

Baked Smothered Chicken Breast

Smothered Chicken Breast is baked in a flavorful soup-based gravy until perfectly moist and fork-tender. This homemade southern comfort food is a restaurant-quality entree for all occasions!

Print Recipe Save Rate Recipe

Cook Time: 2

Total Time: 2

Course: Chicken

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baked chicken, baked chicken breast, chicken breast recipes, smothered chicken

Servings: servings

Calories: 297kcal

Author: Tamara J.

Ingredients

8 whole Chicken breast boneless skinless
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
1 tablespoon All purpose seasoning
½ tablespoon Garlic powder
½ tablespoon Onion powder
1 teaspoon Black pepper
1 teaspoon Paprika
1 teaspoon Poultry seasoning
2 tablespoons Olive oil
2 10.5 oz cans Cream of chicken soup
1 cup Chicken broth
½ tablespoon Cajun seasoning
2 teaspoons Garlic powder
2 teaspoons Onion powder
1 teaspoon Black pepper
3 cups Bell peppers thinly sliced

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a large baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Season the chicken breasts with all of the seasonings, including the Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, paprika, and poultry seasoning. Massage the seasoning into each chicken breast so that they are fully coated.
Add your cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, into a large bowl. Use a whisk to stir the soup mixture up until it is smooth and no more clumps are present.
Now add in the bell peppers, and just mix them in until they’re incorporated with the soup mixture.
Once the mixture is combined, pour about 1 cup into the bottom of the baking dish and spread it out in one even layer.
Now place your chicken breast over the soup mixture in the baking dish. Make sure the chicken is not overlapping. Pour the remaining soup over the chicken, trying to cover each piece evenly.
Cover the dish with foil and place it in the oven and bake for one and a half hours. Then remove the dish from the oven, uncover it, and place it in the oven to bake for another 30 minutes. This is to help thicken the sauce.
Carefully take the dish out of the oven, and serve the chicken right away with your favorite side dish. And enjoy!