Craving the savory, cheesy goodness of a restaurant favorite right at home? This Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken copycat recipe is your answer. We’ve cracked the code to bring you that perfectly grilled chicken breast, loaded with sautéed onions, mushrooms, and a blanket of melted jack cheese. It’s a simple, delicious meal that transforms a regular weeknight dinner into a special occasion. Get ready to impress your family with a dish they’ll ask for again and again.
This recipe delivers that signature Texas Roadhouse flavor you love. We’re talking juicy, flavorful chicken that’s grilled to perfection and then “smothered” in the most delicious toppings. It’s the ultimate comfort food that feels indulgent but is surprisingly easy to whip up. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the kitchen, this guide will walk you through every simple step.
Why You’ll Love This Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken Recipe
Restaurant Quality at Home: Save money and enjoy a famous dish without leaving your kitchen. The flavor is so spot-on, you’ll feel like you’re at the restaurant.
Quick and Easy: This recipe is straightforward and perfect for a busy weeknight, coming together in under 40 minutes.
Customizable: Easily adjust the toppings to your liking. Not a fan of mushrooms? Leave them out! Want to add some bacon? Go for it!
High in Protein: Packed with lean protein from the chicken, it’s a satisfying meal that will keep you full and energized.
What is Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken?
The famous Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken consists of a tender, marinated chicken breast that’s been grilled to perfection. It’s then topped—or “smothered”—with sautéed mushrooms and onions. The final touch is a generous layer of melted Monterey Jack cheese, creating a rich, savory, and utterly irresistible main course. Some variations also include a creamy gravy, but this copycat recipe focuses on the classic cheese, mushroom, and onion topping.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients to recreate the classic restaurant flavor. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
Juicy chicken topped with savory sautéed mushrooms and onions.
Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the star. Look for ones that are similar in size for even cooking.
Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the vegetables and grilling the chicken.
Seasonings: A simple blend of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika gives the chicken its signature savory flavor.
Yellow Onion: Sliced and sautéed until sweet and tender.
Mushrooms: Cremini or white button mushrooms, sliced and cooked until golden brown.
Monterey Jack Cheese: The key to that glorious, cheesy topping. Freshly grated melts best!
How to Make Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken (Step-by-Step)
Follow these simple steps to create a mouthwatering meal. It’s all about building layers of flavor, from seasoning the chicken to melting the cheese on top.
1. Prepare the Chicken
If your chicken breasts are very thick, it’s a good idea to pound them to an even thickness. This ensures they cook quickly and evenly. In a small bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Season both sides of each chicken breast generously.
2. Sauté the Toppings
Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and turn translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms to the skillet and continue to cook until they are browned and have released their moisture. Remove the onions and mushrooms from the skillet and set them aside.
3. Grill the Chicken
In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the hot skillet. Cook for 6-8 minutes per side, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). For an authentic touch, you can use a grill pan or an outdoor grill.
4. Smother and Melt
Once the chicken is cooked, reduce the heat to low. Top each chicken breast with a generous portion of the sautéed onions and mushrooms. Lay two slices of Monterey Jack cheese over the toppings on each breast. Cover the skillet with a lid for 1-2 minutes to allow the cheese to melt into a gooey, delicious blanket.
Look at that perfectly melted cheese!
Tips for the Perfect Copycat Recipe
Don’t Crowd the Pan: Cook the chicken in batches if necessary to ensure it gets a nice sear rather than steaming.
Grate Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting smoothly. Grating a block of Monterey Jack will give you the best results.
Even Thickness is Key: Pounding the chicken ensures it cooks evenly, so you don’t have dry edges and an undercooked center.
Let it Rest: Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes after cooking. This helps the juices redistribute, resulting in a more tender piece of meat. For another fantastic chicken dish, try this Creamy Cajun Chicken recipe.
What to Serve with Smothered Chicken
This Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken pairs beautifully with a variety of sides. For a true restaurant experience, serve it with a side of mashed potatoes or steak fries and some green beans. It’s also delicious with a simple side salad or some Crispy Roasted Cauliflower. If you’re looking for another comfort food classic, this Mississippi Pot Roast is always a winner.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store any leftover smothered chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, you can use the microwave, but for the best results, place the chicken in an oven-safe dish and heat at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through. This helps keep the chicken moist and the cheese perfectly melted. Need another easy weeknight idea? Check out these BLT Chicken Sliders.
Monterey Jack is the classic choice for Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken because it melts beautifully and has a mild, creamy flavor. Provolone or a mild cheddar would also work well as substitutes.
This recipe pairs perfectly with classic steakhouse sides like mashed potatoes, steak fries, steamed green beans, or a fresh garden salad. For a lower-carb option, serve it with roasted broccoli or cauliflower.
You can prepare the components ahead of time. Sauté the onions and mushrooms and store them in the fridge. You can also season the chicken. When ready to eat, grill the chicken and then add the toppings and cheese to melt just before serving for the best results.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the chicken in an oven-safe dish and warm at 350°F (175°C) until heated through. This prevents the chicken from becoming rubbery.
No, a regular large skillet works perfectly for this recipe! You’ll still get a delicious, juicy result by pan-searing the chicken according to the instructions.
The Best Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken
That’s all there is to it! A restaurant-worthy dinner that’s simple enough for any night of the week. This Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken recipe is a true crowd-pleaser, packed with flavor that your whole family will adore. We hope you love this copycat recipe as much as we do. If you try it, let us know how it turned out in the comments below and don’t forget to share your creations on Pinterest!
Get the best copycat recipe for the famous Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken!
Create the ultimate Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken at home! This copycat recipe features juicy grilled chicken topped with sautéed onions, mushrooms, and melted Monterey Jack cheese. A perfect, easy dinner for any night of the week.
4boneless, skinless chicken breastsabout 6 oz each
2tbspolive oildivided
1tspsalt
1/2tspblack pepper
1/2tspgarlic powder
1/2tsppaprika
1largeyellow onionthinly sliced
8ozcremini mushroomssliced
8slicesMonterey Jack cheeseor 1 cup shredded
Equipment
1 Large Skillet or Grill Pan
1 Meat Mallet Optional, for evening out chicken breasts.
Method
If chicken breasts are thick, pound them to an even 1/2-inch thickness. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Season both sides of the chicken breasts with the spice mixture.
Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and cook for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook until browned. Remove the vegetables from the skillet and set aside.
Add the remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil to the same skillet. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook for 6-8 minutes per side, until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Reduce the heat to low. Top each cooked chicken breast with the sautéed onion and mushroom mixture. Place two slices of Monterey Jack cheese on top of each. Cover the skillet and let the cheese melt completely, about 1-2 minutes.
Serve immediately, spooning any extra pan juices over the top. Enjoy with your favorite sides.
Nutrition
Calories: 495kcalProtein: 52gFat: 28gFiber: 2g
Notes
For best results, use freshly grated Monterey Jack cheese for a smoother melt. Pounding the chicken to an even thickness is crucial for even cooking. Feel free to add a splash of Worcestershire sauce to the mushrooms and onions for extra depth of flavor.
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
