Looking for a delicious, budget-friendly meal the whole family will love? This creamy chicken and gravy with rice is a simple, comforting recipe that’s easy to make and perfect for busy weeknights.
This post is part of our $10 Dinner Ideas series, brought to you by Brigette on our team! Each week, she will be sharing easy, delicious, and affordable family-friendly dinner ideas that cost less than $10 to make, use everyday ingredients, and are super quick meals.
Creamy Chicken and Gravy over Rice
This is one of my easiest frugal recipes that I have made countless times over the years. My family will actually beg me to make this (which is honestly pretty funny to me since it’s hardly even a “real” recipe in my opinion, haha!). It’s a perfect way to use up leftover cooked chicken or rice. In fact, if your chicken and rice are already cooked, you can have this meal on the table in 15 minutes or less!
It’s perfect for the upcoming chilly fall evenings where you need a quick, cheap, comforting meal that will keep your entire family full and happy for hours.
Creamy Chicken and Rice with Gravy Dinner Menu:
- Chicken gravy
- Rice
- Broccoli
- Apples
Ingredients for Dinner with Creamy Chicken Gravy over Rice
- 3 cups cooked, diced chicken (this is equivalent to 1-lb uncooked chicken) (Aldi — $2.49/lb)* – $2.49
- 1 stick butter (Aldi – $3.39/lb) – $0.85
- 1/2 cup flour (Harris Teeter – $1.97 for 19 cups) – $0.05
- 2 1/2 cups dry rice (Aldi – $1.99 for 7.5 cups) – $0.66
- 2 – 3 cups chicken broth (Aldi – I used 2 chicken bouillon cubes and 2 1/2 cups water) – $0.14
- 2 cups milk (Aldi – $3.05 for 16 cups) – $0.38
- Fresh broccoli (Aldi – 1.41lbs @ 1.79/lb) – $2.52
- Sliced apples (Aldi – $1.99 for 3lbs) – $0.90
- Salt, pepper, and other spices, as desired
Grand Total for Dinner: $7.99 (serves 6)
How to Make Creamy Chicken, Rice, and Gravy
1. Prepare 1 pound of boneless chicken using your favorite method. (Boil, grill, air fry, bake, etc. I love to sprinkle it with spices and bake it at 425 degrees until done – timing depends on the thickness of the chicken, but is usually around 20 minutes. I went ahead and baked the entire package of chicken breasts, although I didn’t use it all in this recipe.) Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, dice it into smallish pieces.
2. While your chicken is baking, cook 2 1/2 cups of rice using your preferred method. I always boil mine on the stove.
3. In a large frying pan, melt 1 stick butter over medium-low heat.
4. Whisk in 1/2 cup flour.
5. Gradually whisk in 2 cups of milk and 2-3 cups of chicken broth (depending on how thick you want it – it will thicken more after you take it off the stove), stirring constantly until thickened.
6. Stir in diced chicken and heat through. Season to taste with salt and pepper (as well as any other spices you want!) and serve over rice.
7. Steam the broccoli and slice the apples (or serve with whatever sides you prefer).
Creamy Chicken Gravy over Rice
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked diced chicken (This is equivalent to 1-lb uncooked chicken.) (Aldi — $2.49/lb)* – $2.49
- 1 stick butter (Aldi – $3.39/lb) – $0.85
- 1/2 cup flour (Harris Teeter – $1.97 for 19 cups) – $0.05
- 2 1/2 cups dry rice (Aldi – $1.99 for 7.5 cups) – $0.66
- 2-3 cups chicken broth (Aldi – I used 2 chicken bouillon cubes and 2 1/2 cups water) – $0.14
- 2 cups milk (Aldi – $3.05 for 16 cups) – $0.38
- fresh broccoli (Aldi – 1.41lbs @ 1.79/lb) – $2.52
- sliced apples (Aldi – $1.99 for 3lbs) – $0.90
- Salt, pepper, and other spices, as desired
Instructions
-
Prepare 1 pound of boneless chicken using your favorite method (Boil, grill, air fry, bake, etc. I love to sprinkle it with spices and bake it at 425 degrees until done – timing depends on the thickness of the chicken, but is usually around 20 minutes.) Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, dice it into smallish pieces.
-
While your chicken is baking, cook 2 1/2 cups of rice using your preferred method. I always boil mine on the stove.
-
In a large frying pan, melt 1 stick butter over medium-low heat.
-
Whisk in 1/2 cup flour.
-
Gradually whisk in 2 cups of milk and 2-3 cups of chicken broth (depending on how thick you want it – it will thicken more after you take it off the stove), stirring constantly until thickened.
-
Stir in diced chicken and heat through. Season to taste with salt and pepper (as well as any other spices you want!) and serve over rice.
-
Steam the broccoli and slice the apples (or serve with whatever sides you prefer).
Nutrition
More Recipes You’ll Love:
- Creamy Tortellini Soup and Pumpkin Crescent Rolls ($10 Family Dinner Idea)
- Homemade French Bread Pizza ($10 Family Dinner Idea)
- Easy Baked Chicken Breast
- Homemade French Bread Recipe
- Easy and Freezer Friendly Individual Chicken Pot Pies
- Barley Chicken Soup
- Freezer- Friendly Italian Lemon Chicken Recipe
And, be sure to check out all our easy dinner recipes here!
Do you have a favorite family dinner for under $10 or a suggestion for what I should make next? Share your ideas in the comments below!
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