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Born out of need but fine-tuned with affection - that's what Chicken Gloria is all about. This homemade version, featuring a smooth mushroom cream sauce and beautifully melted cheese, turns basic chicken into something really special. Whenever I cook it, my kitchen fills with the wonderful smells of sherry and garlic that promise pure comfort.
I made this for guests a few weeks ago. Everyone went quiet except for the noise of forks clearing plates. That's always a good sign you've got something fantastic.
Key Ingredients
- Whole Mushrooms: Cremini for richer taste
- Quality Sherry: Skip the grocery store cooking wine
- Full Cream: This isn't the place to cut calories
- Tasty Cheese: Try Muenster or Swiss varieties
- Real Garlic: The jarred stuff won't work here
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Making The Dish
- First Steps:
- Cut your chicken pieces to the same thickness - this really matters. Season them well and coat in flour. When I first tried making this, I skipped the flour part. Bad move - it's what gives you that nice golden outside and helps thicken everything up later.
- Getting That Color:
- Make sure your pan is seriously hot - you want to hear that chicken sizzle when it touches the surface. Don't crowd the pan; work in smaller batches. I've learned not to poke at it too soon - when it's ready to turn, it'll come off the pan easily.
- Mushroom Goodness:
- All those tasty bits left from cooking chicken become the base for your mushrooms. Let them turn golden and smell amazing. If your kitchen doesn't smell fantastic at this point, something's wrong.
- Building Your Sauce:
- This part needs a bit of time. Pour in sherry first and let it bubble down a little - watch those amazing smells fill your kitchen. Then add cream, which turns everything into a velvety dream.
My mother called me just days ago saying she'd dreamed about this meal. That's what truly good comfort food does - it sticks in your memory.
Delicious Companions
To round out your meal:
- Buttery egg noodles catch all the sauce
- Oven-roasted green beans for freshness and snap
- Fresh bread for wiping plates clean
- Simple green salad cuts through the richness
- Nice white wine (something you'd happily drink)
Keeping It Fresh
- Stays good 3-4 days in covered container
- Warm up slowly to keep sauce smooth
- Tastes better warmed in oven than zapped
- Can prep ahead up to final baking
- Cream sauce texture changes if frozen
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Common Questions
- Can I swap out the mushrooms?
- Sure thing - try portobellos or wild mushroom mix for a twist.
- Don't have any sherry?
- Marsala or a dry white wine works too, but sherry gives that special flavor.
- Want to prep it early?
- Put everything together up to 24 hours ahead, let it warm up before cooking.
This Chicken Gloria has become what I cook for everything from family Sunday meals to when the in-laws visit. It shows how basic ingredients can turn into something amazing with just a bit of care and time.
It doesn't matter if you're feeding two people or ten, this meal hits that sweet spot between homey and fancy. And those crunchy cheese bits around the edges? They're your reward as the cook - perfect for snacking while you serve.
Just remember, a good sauce is worth everything, and this one's absolute gold.