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!
Want more smothered chicken recipes? Try Baked Smothered Chicken with Gravy and Smothered Chicken with Grits next!
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Southern smothered chicken breast:
Baked Smothered Chicken Breast
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!
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Insanely delicious. If you haven’t tried this yet, just know you’re missing out! This meal has now been added to my weekly rotation!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂