Creamy Chicken Gravy and Rice ($10 Family Dinner Idea)

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)

Colorful plate with creamy chicken, rice, and gravy with steamed broccoli and fresh apple slices.

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.

Baking sheet filled with cooked chicken breasts seasoned with herbs.

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.

A stovetop pan filled with smooth, creamy white gravy being whisked.

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).

A colorful plate featuring creamy chicken and gravy over rice, served with steamed broccoli and fresh apple slices.

Creamy Chicken Gravy over Rice

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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. 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!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword apple,, chicken, easy dinner, family favorite, homemade, weeknight dinner

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Servings

Calories 681kcal

Author Brigette

Cost $8

Ingredients

3 cups cooked diced chicken (This is equivalent to 1-lb uncooked chicken.) (Aldi — $2.49/lb)* – $2.491 stick butter (Aldi – $3.39/lb) – $0.851/2 cup flour (Harris Teeter – $1.97 for 19 cups) – $0.052 1/2 cups dry rice (Aldi – $1.99 for 7.5 cups) – $0.662-3 cups chicken broth (Aldi – I used 2 chicken bouillon cubes and 2 1/2 cups water) – $0.142 cups milk (Aldi – $3.05 for 16 cups) – $0.38fresh broccoli (Aldi – 1.41lbs @ 1.79/lb) – $2.52sliced apples (Aldi – $1.99 for 3lbs) – $0.90Salt, 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).