Let's make dinner, " smothered chicken, green beans, and white rice|Quick dinner ideas. Step By step

chicken pieces

🥗Healthier: skinless chicken

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Skinless chicken is lower in fat; chicken thighs are often cheaper than breasts.

flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: all-purpose flour

Whole wheat flour is more nutritious; all-purpose flour is usually less expensive.

Start by cleaning the chicken thighs.

Season the chicken with salt, black pepper, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, chicken base, ginger extract, Cajun seasoning, dried basil, and dried thyme. Mix well and set aside to marinate for 30 minutes (or less if short on time).

Wash the rice and season it with garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Add about a tablespoon of butter and cover until it steams, then reduce heat to low to let it cook.

Prepare the green beans by cutting off the ends and putting a pot of water with a pinch of salt on to boil.

Once the water is boiling, blanch the green beans for about a minute, then transfer them to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.

In a nonstick pan, add bacon and cook until crispy without adding extra oil, as the bacon will render its own fat.

Once the bacon is crispy, add chopped onions and garlic to the pan and sauté until soft.

Add cubed potatoes to the pan and sauté along with the bacon, onions, and garlic.

Add the blanched green beans back into the pan, mixing everything together. Season with onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and chicken bouillon, then set aside.

In the same pan used for the chicken, sear the marinated chicken thighs until browned on both sides, scraping the bottom of the pan for flavor.

Add onions and garlic to the pan with the chicken and cook until translucent, scraping the bottom for flavor.

Stir in flour with the onions and cook for about a minute before adding chicken stock (about 1 to 1.5 cups).

If desired, add heavy cream to the mixture for a creamier sauce (optional).

Add back the juices from the marinated chicken and return the chicken to the pan.

Cover and let cook for about 15 minutes, checking for seasoning and doneness.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary