Ingredients:
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions:
- Pat the chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Heat vegetable oil in a 12-inch oven-safe cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Sear the thighs for 5–7 minutes per side until they develop a deep mahogany-colored crust. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Melt butter into the remaining chicken fat in the same pan. Add sliced onions and sauté for 5–8 minutes until translucent and slightly browned.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for 60 seconds until fragrant.
- Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to remove the raw flour taste.
- Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce, scraping the bottom of the pan to release the caramelized brown bits (fond).
- Stir in the heavy cream until the sauce is smooth and bubbling.
- Return the seared chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan, nestling them into the gravy. Transfer the skillet to the oven to bake until the chicken is fall-apart tender.
- Serve the smothered chicken over a bed of cooked white rice or mashed potatoes.