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Budget-Friendly Creamy Chicken

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This budget-friendly creamy chicken is made with tender bone-in chicken, warm homemade broth, garlic, sour cream, and fresh dill. The sauce turns silky and rich without heavy cream or milk, making it a cozy and affordable chicken dinner.
Cozy budget-friendly creamy chicken in a silky sour cream sauce with fresh dill
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients 

For the Chicken

  • 2 lb bone-in skin-on chicken pieces, such as drumsticks or thighs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion halved
  • 1 large carrot cut into large pieces
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 5 cups water or chicken broth

For the creamy sauce

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups warm chicken cooking broth
  • 1/2 cup sour cream room temperature
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
  • 1/4 cup fresh dill chopped

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pan or pot over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and brown them lightly for 2 to 3 minutes per side. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked at this point.
  • Add the onion, carrot, bay leaves, salt, black pepper, and water or chicken broth. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cover and cook for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
  • Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside. Strain the cooking broth and keep it warm. Measure out 3 cups of warm broth for the creamy sauce.
  • In a clean pan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk for 1 to 2 minutes, until smooth and lightly bubbly.
  • Slowly pour in the warm chicken broth while whisking constantly. Keep whisking until the sauce becomes smooth, creamy, and slightly thickened.
  • In a small bowl, mix the sour cream with a few spoonfuls of warm chicken broth or warm sauce until smooth. Stir the sour cream mixture into the pan and keep the heat low.
  • Add the minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and let the sauce warm gently. Do not boil the sauce after adding the sour cream.
  • Return the chicken to the pan and spoon the creamy sauce over the top. Cover and simmer gently for 5 to 8 minutes, until the chicken is warm and coated in the sauce.
  • Stir in the fresh dill at the end. Serve warm with mashed potatoes, rice, bread, or anything that can soak up the sauce.

Notes

  • Use bone-in chicken for the best flavor. The bones and skin help make the broth richer, which gives the sauce a deeper homemade taste.
  • Keep the heat low after adding the sour cream. Sour cream sauces stay smoother when they are warmed gently and not boiled.
  • Fresh dill is important in this recipe. It gives the creamy sauce a brighter, fresher flavor and makes the dish taste more homemade.
  • If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of warm chicken broth until it loosens back up.
Cozy budget-friendly creamy chicken in a silky sour cream sauce with fresh dill
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