Easy Smothered Chicken With Bok Choy and Mushrooms

Golden, crispy chicken smothered in a savory gravy with baby bok choy and mushrooms. This easy bok choy chicken recipe is comforting, flavorful, and made in one pan. Looking for another easy chicken dinner? Try my Teriyaki Baked Chicken Legs next.

Crispy Smothered Chicken with Roasted Baby Bok Choy and Mushrooms

This crispy smothered chicken is cooked in a creamy, savory gravy and finished with tender baby bok choy and mushrooms for a comforting, one-skillet bok choy chicken recipe that’s both hearty and balanced.

The chicken is pan-seared until the skin is golden and crispy, then gently simmered in a rich gravy made right in the same skillet. The baby bok choy and mushrooms are added at the end and lightly steamed, keeping them tender without overcooking. Everything comes together in one pan, which makes this bok choy chicken recipe feel approachable for weeknights while still being special enough to serve for company

I f you’re looking for a comforting dinner that combines crispy chicken, creamy gravy, and fresh vegetables, this bok choy chicken recipe delivers big flavor without complicated steps. Scroll down to the recipe card for exact measurements, easy instructions, and helpful tips.

How to Make Smothered Chicken and Bok Choy

1. Season Chicken
   Season chicken thighs, reserving a small amount of seasoning for the gravy.
2. Season the chicken thighs all over with the seasoning mixture, leaving 1 teaspoon reserved for the gravy.
3. Cook Onion & Garlic
   Sauté diced onion until soft, then add garlic and cook until fragrant.
4. Remove Aromatics
   Remove onions and garlic from the skillet and set aside.
5. Sear Chicken
   Sear chicken skin-side down until golden and crispy.
6. Make Gravy
   Add butter, flour, milk, bouillon, and reserved seasoning. Stir until smooth.
7. Simmer Chicken
   Return chicken, onions, and mushrooms to the skillet. Cover and simmer.
8. Add Bok Choy
   Place bok choy on top, cover, and steam until tender.
9. Serve
   Once bok choy is tender and gravy is creamy, serve hot.

This is a great dinner when you want something cozy but still put-together. It works well for weeknights, but it’s also nice enough to serve when you want a homemade meal that feels elevated without a lot of extra effort.

Scroll down to the recipe card for exact measurements, step-by-step instructions, and tips to make this crispy smothered chicken come out perfect every time.

Smothered Chicken Bok Choy Recipe

April Boller Wright

Tender southern smothered chicken is seared until the skin is crisp and golden then simmered in a creamy onion gravy. This comforting dish combines Asian bok choy and chicken for an easy and  delicious fusion weeknight dinner. 

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine Southern American

Servings 6 people

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 6 chicken thighs with skin on
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp tsp garlic powder (see note)
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp smoked paprika
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp or two of garlic
• 1/2 tsp or two of onion powder
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Skillet & Gravy

• 2 tbsp olive oil plus more if needed
• 1 small ed onion diced
• 1 tsp garlic minced
• 1 cup mushrooms sliced
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp flour
• 2 cups milk (plus a splash more if needed to thin)
• 2 tsp Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base

Vegetables

• 1 bunch baby bok choy, cleaned, dried, cut lengthwise then quartered

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

 

• Mix garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Reserve 1 tsp of this seasoning mix for the gravy.
• Season the chicken thighs all over with the seasoning mixture, leaving 1 teaspoon reserved for the gravy.
• Sauté onion + garlic: Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onion 2 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove onion/garlic to a plate.
• Sear chicken: Add a little more oil if the skillet looks dry. Sear chicken skin-side down first until the skin is crispy and deep golden, then sear the other side. Remove chicken to a plate. Carefully drain off most of the fat, leaving about 1–2 Tbsp in the skillet.
• Make the gravy: Reduce heat to medium. Add butter. Once melted, whisk in flour and cook 30–60 seconds. Slowly whisk in milk until smooth. Stir in Better Than Bouillon and the reserved 1 tsp seasoning. Bring to a gentle simmer.
• Simmer chicken + mushrooms: Add chicken back to the skillet, then add the cooked onion/garlic and mushrooms. Bring to a light boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 30 minutes. (Check the gravy—if it thickens too fast, add a splash of milk.)
• Scrape and smooth: Remove chicken briefly. Scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the skillet and stir into the gravy. If gravy is too thick, thin with a splash of milk. Return chicken to the skillet.
• Steam bok choy (one-pot): Lay bok choy on top of the chicken (it’s okay if a little sinks). Turn heat to medium-high until it starts bubbling, then reduce to low, cover, and cook about 6 minutes, until bok choy is tender.
• Serve: Taste the gravy and adjust salt, pepper, or onion/garlic powder if needed. Serve hot.

Notes

Notes

• Seasoning amounts: If you like stronger flavor, use 1 tsp each garlic powder and onion powder instead of ½ tsp.
• Searing tip: Don’t move the chicken while it sears—let it sit so the skin crisps.
• Doneness: Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F internal temp.
• Gravy too thick? Add milk a splash at a time until creamy.

 

 

 

Post and recipe was updated on 12/18/2025

Keyword smothered chicken, smothered chicken recipe, southern smothered chicken

Like this? Leave a comment below!Let us know how it was!

Don’t forget to check out these other keto friendly meals, beef with broccoli with a twist, or maybe these steak rolls, beef asparagus rolls, cheeseburger salad

If you think this southern smothered chicken with gravy looks good, save it to your Pinterest Board or share it on Facebook. Let’s connect on Pinterest too.