Description
This Paprika Chicken Skillet features tender boneless, skinless chicken thighs seasoned with a smoky and sweet paprika blend, cooked to perfection in a creamy garlic sauce with onions. It’s a quick and flavorful one-pan meal perfect for a comforting dinner, served best over rice, mashed potatoes, or pasta to soak up the delicious sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Spice Rub
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For Cooking
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 small yellow onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Spice Rub: In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, sweet paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to create an even spice blend.
- Season the Chicken: Rub the spice mix evenly over both sides of the chicken thighs to ensure full flavor penetration.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken thighs and cook for 4–5 minutes on each side until they are browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: Reduce heat to medium and add butter to the same skillet. Add the sliced onions and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Then add minced garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute to release its aroma.
- Deglaze and Make Sauce: Pour in chicken broth while scraping the bottom of the pan to lift any browned bits. Stir in the heavy cream and lemon juice, and simmer the sauce for 2–3 minutes until it slightly thickens.
- Combine and Finish Cooking: Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, spoon the sauce over them, and simmer for an additional 2 minutes until the chicken is heated through and well coated.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped parsley over the chicken for freshness and serve hot over your choice of rice, mashed potatoes, or pasta to enjoy the creamy sauce.
Notes
- Serve over rice, mashed potatoes, or pasta to soak up the delicious sauce.
- You can substitute chicken breasts for thighs; just adjust the cooking time accordingly to avoid drying.
- For extra spice, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the spice rub.
- To make this dish dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or a non-dairy cream alternative.
