Delight your family with this classic Southern smothered chicken and gravy recipe. With just a few ingredients, follow the easy steps to make a delicious dish that is sure to bring back memories of home-cooked meals.

Gather and prepare the ingredients.

Start by gathering the ingredients for the recipe. You will need 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, 2 teaspoons of paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Then prepare the chicken thighs by patting them dry with a paper towel. Coat them evenly in the flour mixture made up of garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Reserve any left-over flour mixture to help with gravy making later on.

Sear the chicken in a Dutch oven or large skillet.

Heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken and sear for 4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer the chicken onto a plate, reserving any drippings in the pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and add 1/4 cup of water or butter to deglaze, scraping up all of the brown bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon.

Add onions and seasonings to the pot or skillet.

Add the onions to the skillet or Dutch oven, stirring for about 3 minutes. Add garlic, salt, pepper and other desired seasonings. Cook until the onions are just beginning to soften, about another few minutes. Pour in a half cup of chicken broth and 1/4 cup of cream into the pot and stir to combine. Place the chicken back in the pan and spoon some of the sauce over it. Cover with a lid and cook for 8-10 minutes until cooked through.

Pour in liquid and bring to a simmer; lower heat and add peppers, if using them.

Once the onions have softened, pour in the remaining 1/2 cup of chicken broth and mix everything together. Feel free to add a little extra liquid if you want more gravy! Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat and add bell peppers, if desired. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the peppers are just starting to soften before continuing with the next steps.

Simmer until chicken is tender, about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally; adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, etc., to taste.

After adding the bell peppers and simmering for the recommended time, you will want to adjust the seasonings of your smothered chicken and gravy. Be generous with salt

and pepper. You can also add in a pinch or two (or more!) of cayenne pepper for a bit of kick if you’d like. Then use a wooden spoon to stir everything together and let the mixture simmer over low heat until the chicken is tender, about 25 minutes.