Go Back
+ servings
White plate with breaded chicken cutlet, white gravy, corn pudding and bananas. Brown and white surface.
Print

Chicken with White Gravy (a la Maryland)

This retro chicken dish has breaded chicken with white gravy, creamed corn, and fried bananas, and it was pretty popular when I was growing up. This rendition is slightly more modern, but the essence is there.
Course Main dishes
Cuisine International
Keyword chicken maryland
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

For the corn pudding:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 3 cups corn kernels fresh or frozen (defrosted)
  • cup chopped onion
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • teaspoon Black pepper or to taste
  • teaspoon sugar
  • ¾ cup shredded cheese such as Parmesan, white Cheddar, Monterrey Jack or Fontina

For the baked breaded chicken:

  • 4 chicken breasts whole, boneless and skinless
  • 1 cup flour
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • Olive oil for baking

For the white gravy:

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • cup hot chicken stock
  • ½ cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives

For the bananas:

  • 2 bananas peeled, cut in half and then in quarters
  • 4 teaspoons butter

Instructions

  • Make the corn pudding first. While it's baking, prepare the chicken and cook it in the same oven.
  • Fry the bananas at the last moment.

For corn pudding:

  • Turn on the oven to 375°F (190ºC).
  • Butter a large ceramic or glass dish.
  • If fresh, cook ⅔ cup heavy cream in salted boiling water until soft. If frozen, let the corn come to room temperature and drain excess water.
  • Melt 1 tablespoon unsalted butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet, and add the corn and ⅓ cup chopped onion and let it soften a little over medium heat for a few minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
  • In a large bowl stir 3 eggs with ½ cup whole milk and ⅔ cup heavy cream. Don’t beat, just integrate well.
  • Sift 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour over the egg mixture and stir well with a wire whisk.
  • Add the corn mixture, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, ⅛ teaspoon sugar1 ½ teaspoons salt and ⅛ teaspoon Black pepper . Mix well.
  • Add ½ cup of the shredded cheese and stir everything.
  • Place in the dish and sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup cheese on top.
  • Bake for about 40-45 minutes, until golden and puffed and almost firm inside. Don’t overbake or it will start to dry.

For the chicken:

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF (180°C). Lightly oil a baking tray.
  • Cut 4 chicken breasts horizontally in half so you have 8 thinner chicken pieces.
  • Place 1 cup flour on a shallow plate and season with Salt and black pepper to taste. Place 2 eggs, lightly beaten on another shallow plate. Add 1 cup panko breadcrumbs to another shallow plate.
  • Take one chicken piece at a time and coat it in the flour mixture, lightly shaking off excess.
  • Dip it quickly in the egg mixture and then completely coat it in the panko breadcrumbs, making sure the crumbs are well adhered.
  • Repeat with the rest of the chicken.
  • Arrange in a single line on the prepared oven tray (you might need two trays), drizzle lightly with more olive oil and bake for 10 minutes. Turn over and bake for 5 or 10 more minutes until golden and fully baked inside.

For the white gravy:

  • In a skillet melt 2 tablespoons butter.
  • Add 2 tablespoons flour, ¼ teaspoon onion powder and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder and stir with a whisk to mix. Cook for a minute over low heat, stirring constantly.
  • In a thin stream, slowly add ⅔ cup hot chicken stock and ½ cup milk while stirring constantly. Whisk to mix well and make sure there are no lumps.
  • Remove from the heat, add 3 tablespoons heavy cream and season with Salt and black pepper to taste.

For the bananas:

  • Melt 4 teaspoons butter in a skillet over medium heat and add 2 bananas.
  • Cook for about 1 minute on each side, until golden but not mushy. Serve immediately.

To serve:

  • Place one chicken breast, whole or sliced in each serving plate. Pour some white gravy, add half a fried banana and one serving of corn pudding. Sprinkle plates with 2 tablespoons chopped chives on top of the gravy. Serve immediately.

Notes

Make ahead: the corn pudding and white gravy can be refrigerated for 2 or 3 days, well covered or in airtight containers.
Fried chicken: instead of baking, fry the breaded chicken breasts like the original dish. 
Serve with a green salad to add freshness. 
QR Code linking back to recipe