I’ll never forget my first bite of Texas Roadhouse’s Smothered Chicken. I was there for a steak, but my server recommended their signature chicken dish instead. Skeptical but curious, I agreed, and that decision changed my home cooking forever. The moment that tender chicken topped with gooey cheese and savory mushrooms touched my lips, I knew I had to recreate this dish in my kitchen. After numerous attempts and tweaks, I’ve perfected this copycat recipe that brings that steakhouse magic right to your dining table, without the wait or the price tag.
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Table of Contents
What Makes Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken So Good?
This isn’t just any chicken dish. The Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken stands out with perfectly seasoned, tender chicken breasts that provide the ideal canvas for a mountain of caramelized onions, earthy mushrooms, and melted Monterey Jack cheese. The combination creates a comforting, hearty meal that transforms ordinary chicken into something extraordinary. The beauty lies in its simplicity, allowing the quality ingredients to shine without complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.
Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken Ingredients
For this recipe, you’ll need:
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – Provides the tender, protein-rich foundation for this dish.
- Seasoned Salt – Infuses the chicken with a balanced blend of savory flavors.
- Ground Black Pepper – Adds a mild heat and depth to the seasoning.
- Mushrooms – Contributes an earthy, meaty flavor that complements the chicken.
- White Onion – Adds sweetness and aromatics when caramelized.
- Butter РCreates rich flavor while saut̩ing and helps brown the chicken.
- Salt – Enhances the natural flavors of the mushrooms and onions.
- Monterey Jack Cheese – Provides a creamy, mild flavor and that irresistible melted cheese pull.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Use Lawry’s or your favorite brand of seasoned salt.
- Button and creminis mushrooms are the same type of mushroom, just at different stages of growth. Both will work in this dish.
- You can substitute the Monterey Jack Cheese with Cheddar, Swiss, Provolone, or Gruyere.
- You can use olive oil instead of butter but the dish won’t have the same rich flavor.
How to Make Smothered Chicken
To prep this chicken for this dish:
- Dry the chicken breasts with a paper towel and slice them in half horizontally.
- Place one-half of the chicken breast on plastic wrap on the counter. Cover the chicken breast with another piece of plastic wrap.
- Use the flat side of a meat mallet to pound the chicken gently until it is an even thickness.
- Season both sides of the pounded chicken with seasoned salt and black pepper—reserve for later.
- Repeat with the remaining pieces of chicken.
To cook the onions and mushrooms.
- Clean the mushrooms under the faucet and lightly scrub them with a cloth towel.
- Slice the white onion and mushrooms.
- Place a large skillet, frying pan, or grill pan over medium heat and add butter.
- When the butter stops foaming, saute the sliced white onions with a pinch of salt few a few minutes until they soften.
- Add the sliced mushrooms to the skillet and saute until they brown.
- Transfer the cooked white onions and mushrooms mixture to a bowl and keep for later.
To finish cooking chicken smothered in onions, mushrooms, and cheese:
- Return the skillet to the heat. Increase the temperature to medium-high heat.
- Add some butter to the skillet, and when it stops foaming, put the chicken in the skillet. You may need to cook in two batches to prevent overcrowding the pan.
- Cook the chicken on one side until the edges begin to turn white on the top. Flip.
- Cook the other side for a few minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temp of 165°F.
- Switch off the heat and top the chicken with the shredded Monterey Jack cheese, onions, and mushrooms. If you are cooking the chicken in two batches, keep half the toppings for the second batch.
- Alternatively, you can place the cooked chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet, place the mushroom-onion mixture and cheese on top and bake or broil it until the cheese melts.
- Let the cheese melt and serve hot or keep warm, covered with aluminum foil in a LOW oven while preparing the rest of the chicken.
Copycat Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken
Recreate the famous Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken at home with this easy recipe. Tender chicken breasts topped with sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, and melted Monterey Jack cheese create a restaurant-quality meal in just 35 minutes.
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Servings: 4
Calories: 219kcal
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt such as Lawry’s
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter plus extra if needed
- 1 medium onion cut into 1/4-inch slices
- salt
- 1/2 pound button mushrooms sliced
- 1/4 pound Monterey Jack cheese shredded
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally. Place each half between sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound with a meat mallet until the chicken is of a uniform thickness. Season the chicken with seasoned salt and ground black pepper.
- Place the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. When the butter is hot, add the onions along with a two-finger pinch of salt. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the mushrooms and sauté for another 3 to 4 minutes, until the mushrooms begin to brown. Remove the mushrooms and onions from the skillet.
- If the skillet is dry, add a teaspoon of butter. Then place the chicken breasts into the hot skillet. Do not overcrowd the pan; you may need to cook the chicken in batches depending on the size of the skillet. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes on one side. Flip and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes on the other side.
- Top the chicken with the onions, mushrooms, and Monterey Jack cheese. Turn off the stove when the cheese has melted and serve.
Video
Notes
For the juiciest results, avoid overcooking the chicken. Monterey Jack can be substituted with cheddar, Swiss, or provolone cheese if preferred.
Nutrition
Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 843mg | Potassium: 457mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 324IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 225mg | Iron: 1mg
What to Serve With Smothered Chicken
This Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken recipe pairs well with a variety of sides and vegetables. Here are a few suggestions:
- Homemade Mashed Potatoes or a warm potato side adds some extra starch to help extend the meal and satisfy even the heartiest appetites.
- Seasoned Rice adds even more flavor to your dinner plate.
- Lawry’s Creamed Spinach is so rich and decadent that even non-spinach eaters will ask for seconds.
- Honey Roasted Carrots help balance the cheese’s richness and heat with a touch of sweetness.
- Texas Roadhouse Green Beans are a popular side at the restaurant.
- Steamed Broccoli is a great low-calorie side dish.
- Soups for and extra comforting meal.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Storing Leftovers
For best results, store the chicken separate from the topping:
- Cool all components to room temperature.
- Place chicken in one airtight container and toppings in another.
- Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze chicken (without toppings) in freezer bags for up to 3 months.
Perfect Reheating Methods
Stovetop Method (Preferred):
- Add a splash of chicken stock or water to a skillet over medium-low heat.
- Heat the chicken on both sides until it reaches 165°F internally.
- Top with the mushroom-onion mixture and cheese.
- Cover briefly until cheese melts, about 1-2 minutes.
Microwave Method (Quick Option):
- Rotate the plate and continue heating in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
- Place chicken on a microwave-safe plate.
- Heat at 50% power for 1 minute.
Favorite Chicken Recipes
- Texas Roadhouse Herb Crusted Chicken
- Chicken Bryan
- Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken
- Chicken Dijon
- Chicken Limone
- Chicken Romano
- Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Panda Express String Bean Chicken
- Peanut Sauce Chicken
- Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
- Texas Roadhouse Roadkill
Steakhouse Favorites
- Texas Roadhouse Rattle Snake Bites
- Longhorn Parmesan Crusted Chicken
- Outback Alice Springs Chicken
- Outback Bloomin Fried Chicken
Check out my easy chicken recipes and the best copycat restaurant recipes on CopyKat!
Love this Roadhouse recipe! It is a rotation meal at our place. A couple weeks ago we tried it with boneless, skinless thighs and before that with bone in turkey thighs. The beat goes on!