Easy Chicken and Gravy Recipe: Homemade Comfort in Minutes
Chicken and gravy represent the ultimate comfort food that crafts ordinary meals into heartwarming experiences.
Rich, velvety textures and savory flavors meld together in this classic dish that speaks directly to our culinary souls.
Home cooks everywhere understand the magic of creating a meal that feels simultaneously sophisticated and nostalgic.
Quick preparation techniques make this recipe accessible for busy individuals seeking delicious home-cooked meals.
The combination of tender meat and smooth sauce creates a harmonious balance that satisfies deep hunger and emotional cravings.
Professional chefs and home cooking enthusiasts appreciate how simple ingredients can produce such remarkable results.
Southern kitchens have long celebrated this timeless recipe as a symbol of hospitality and love.
You’ll fall in love with this straightforward approach to making a crowd-pleasing dinner that brings everyone to the table.
What to Know About Easy Chicken and Gravy
Savor Quick Comfort: This recipe transforms simple chicken into a hearty, satisfying meal in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights when you crave homemade deliciousness.
Master Foolproof Cooking Technique: The one-pan method makes this dish incredibly beginner-friendly, allowing even novice cooks to create a restaurant-quality meal with minimal kitchen skills and cleanup.
Unlock Rich, Layered Flavor Profile: The combination of seasoned chicken, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce creates a deeply savory gravy that turns ordinary chicken breasts into a mouthwatering main course that everyone will love.
Customize with Ease: The recipe offers flexibility to adjust seasonings, making it adaptable to personal taste preferences and what you have in your pantry, ensuring a delightful meal every single time.
What Goes Into Easy Chicken and Gravy
Chicken:
Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that forms the base of the dish, choose fresh and evenly sized for consistent cooking.
Seasoning Blend:
Salt, Pepper: Essential for enhancing the natural flavors of the chicken.
Onion Powder, Garlic Powder: Adds depth and aromatic savory notes to the chicken.
Italian Seasoning: Provides a classic herb blend with Mediterranean flavor profile.
Cooking and Gravy Ingredients:
Olive Oil: Helps prevent sticking and adds a light, clean cooking medium.
Unsalted Butter: Creates rich flavor and helps with browning the chicken and making gravy.
All-Purpose Flour: Crucial for thickening the gravy and creating a smooth texture.
Beef Broth (or Chicken Broth): Forms the liquid base for the flavorful gravy.
Worcestershire Sauce: Optional ingredient that adds complexity and umami depth.
Fresh Chopped Parsley: Bright garnish that adds fresh flavor and visual appeal.
Directions to Make Easy Chicken and Gravy
Step 1: Slice and Season Chicken
Carefully slice chicken breasts lengthwise into even fillets
Sprinkle each piece with seasonings
Ingredients for seasoning:
Salt
Black pepper
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Step 2: Sizzle the Chicken
Warm olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat
Cook chicken until golden brown on both sides
Ensure each side gets about 5 minutes of cooking time
Transfer cooked chicken to a clean plate
Step 3: Create Luxurious Gravy
Use the same skillet for extra flavor
Melt remaining butter over medium heat
Add flour and cook briefly to remove raw flour taste
Pour beef broth slowly while whisking continuously
Ingredients for gravy:
Butter
Flour
Beef broth
Italian seasoning
Worcestershire sauce
Salt
Pepper
Step 4: Enhance Gravy Flavor
Stir in additional seasonings
Adjust taste according to preference
Ensure smooth and consistent texture
Step 5: Reunite Chicken and Gravy
Gently return chicken to skillet
Simmer until chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature
Allow sauce to thicken slightly
Step 6: Finishing Touches
Sprinkle fresh parsley on top
Serve immediately over creamy mashed potatoes
Enjoy your delicious home-cooked meal!
Pro Kitchen Tips for Easy Chicken and Gravy
Slice Smartly: Cut chicken breasts evenly to ensure uniform cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
Season Generously: Don't be shy with seasonings; they create depth of flavor and transform a simple chicken recipe into something extraordinary.
Heat Control Matters: Maintain medium-high heat to achieve a perfect golden-brown exterior without burning the chicken or creating tough meat.
Whisk Continuously: When preparing gravy, whisk constantly to prevent lumps and create a smooth, silky sauce that coats the chicken beautifully.
Temperature Check: Always use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches 165°F, guaranteeing safe and juicy results every single time.
How to Store and Reheat Easy Chicken and Gravy
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping chicken and gravy together for maximum flavor preservation.
Chill: Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days, ensuring the container is sealed tightly to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
Reheat: Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of beef broth to restore moisture and prevent drying out. Stir occasionally until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F | 73°C, ensuring safe and delicious reheating.
Side Ideas for Easy Chicken and Gravy
Pair with Buttery Chardonnay: A crisp, medium-bodied white wine complements the rich, savory chicken gravy and cuts through the buttery flavors, creating a balanced and elegant dining experience.
Rustic Roasted Vegetable Side: Roast colorful bell peppers, zucchini, and carrots with herbs to add a vibrant, fresh contrast to the hearty chicken and creamy gravy.
Crusty Artisan Bread Companion: Serve warm, crusty sourdough or French bread to soak up the delicious gravy, adding a delightful textural element and enhancing the overall meal's comfort factor.
Fresh Herb Salad Accent: Toss a light mixed green salad with lemon vinaigrette and fresh herbs like basil and thyme to provide a zesty, refreshing counterpoint to the rich chicken dish.
Recipe Variations for Easy Chicken and Gravy
Rustic Ranch Chicken: Replace beef broth with ranch dressing mix and chicken broth for a tangy, creamy southern-style flavor profile that adds zesty excitement to the classic recipe.
Mediterranean Herb Chicken: Swap Italian seasoning with fresh oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Add crumbled feta cheese and kalamata olives to create a Greek-inspired gravy that transforms the dish with Mediterranean flair.
Spicy Cajun Chicken Gravy: Incorporate Cajun seasoning instead of salt and pepper. Mix in cayenne pepper and paprika to give the gravy a bold, spicy kick that brings New Orleans-style heat to the plate.
Mushroom Comfort Chicken: Sauté sliced cremini or button mushrooms in the skillet before making the gravy. Their earthy flavor will enhance the sauce's depth and create a rich, comforting meal perfect for cooler evenings.
Delightful chicken and gravy promises comfort straight from Grandma’s kitchen. Juicy chicken nestles in rich, velvety sauce, delivering pure home-style satisfaction you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
2 chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise to make 4 fillets
Seasoning:
1.5 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking and Gravy Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1.5 cups beef broth (or chicken broth)
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
Transform chicken breasts into thinner, more uniform fillets by carefully slicing each piece lengthwise, creating four even portions.
Generously coat the chicken with a blend of aromatic seasonings, ensuring each fillet is evenly and thoroughly seasoned.
Preheat a large skillet with a combination of olive oil and butter, creating a perfect searing environment with medium-high heat.
Carefully place seasoned chicken into the hot skillet, allowing each side to develop a golden-brown crust, approximately 5 minutes per side.
Remove beautifully seared chicken and set aside on a clean plate, preserving its moisture and warmth.
Utilize the same skillet to create a rich, velvety gravy by melting remaining butter over medium heat.
Sprinkle flour into the melted butter, stirring continuously to create a smooth roux that will thicken the sauce.
Slowly introduce beef broth while whisking vigorously, eliminating any potential lumps and creating a silky consistency.
Enhance the gravy’s flavor profile with a harmonious blend of Italian seasoning, additional onion powder, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
Gently reintroduce the seared chicken into the simmering gravy, allowing it to cook through and absorb the robust flavors.
Continue cooking until the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature and the gravy achieves a perfect, slightly thickened texture.
Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant, aromatic finish.
Serve immediately atop creamy mashed potatoes, creating a comforting and satisfying meal.
Notes
Transforming simple chicken breasts into a mouthwatering meal happens with just a few pantry staples.
Cooking this dish creates a rich, comforting gravy that hugs each tender chicken piece perfectly.
Minimal ingredients and quick preparation make this recipe a weeknight dinner superhero that saves time and satisfies hunger.
Recipe Development and Testing, Culinary Education, Food Writing and Blogging, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Global Cuisine Exploration
Education
Johnson & Wales University
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts
Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and contemporary cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development. Emphasized hands-on experience in diverse culinary traditions.
Le Cordon Bleu Paris
Program: Diplôme de Cuisine
Focus: Advanced instruction in French culinary techniques, including sauce preparation, pâtisserie, and haute cuisine.
Alex Reed is an inventive chef and food creator with a passion for dishes that balance taste, health, and sustainability.
Trained at Portland Community College and holding an Advanced Pastry Arts certificate from Oregon Culinary Institute, Alex brings more than 10 years of practical culinary experience to every recipe he develops.
His background uniquely blends traditional cooking skills with modern, mindful eating principles. As the founder of Beard and Bonnet, Alex creates recipes that encourage readers to cook confidently.
Alex Reed
Founder & Lead Content Writer
Expertise
Recipe Development and Testing, Culinary Education, Food Writing and Blogging, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Global Cuisine Exploration
Education
Johnson & Wales University
Le Cordon Bleu Paris
Alex Reed is an inventive chef and food creator with a passion for dishes that balance taste, health, and sustainability.
Trained at Portland Community College and holding an Advanced Pastry Arts certificate from Oregon Culinary Institute, Alex brings more than 10 years of practical culinary experience to every recipe he develops.
His background uniquely blends traditional cooking skills with modern, mindful eating principles. As the founder of Beard and Bonnet, Alex creates recipes that encourage readers to cook confidently.