French Onion Chicken

Turn your favorite soup into a complete protein-rich meal with French Onion Chicken. Made with broth, onions, butter, chicken, and cheese, the classic soup is getting a total upgrade!

Your favorite soup is becoming a complete meal

Most of us have found ourselves cozied up before a bowl of piping how french onion soup. It is one of the best comfort soups with its thick bread and top layer of perfectly broiled cheese.

But did you know you can take those same flavors (and many of the ingredients) and turn them into a sauce for using on top of chicken? Today I’m showing you how to make french onion chicken for the ultimate protein-rich meal that’s just as cozy as its soup counterpart!

It’s made by topping the chicken with a thick french onion style sauce. You’ll need many of the same ingredients like onions, broth, and cheese, but we’ll add to the recipe with some chicken breasts and an array of seasonings.

Ingredients in french onion chicken

One of the many great things about this dish is that you likely have everything you need to get started. Chicken breasts are a staple in my kitchen along with onions, seasonings, and of course, cheese! Because gruyere isn’t as frequently used (and therefore not as much of a staple), feel free to use up the mozzarella you have sitting in your meat and cheese drawer!

• Butter: First, you will need 3 tbsp of butter. 2 tbsp will be used for the onions and 1 tbsp for the chicken.
• Onions: Use 2 large onions, sliced very thin. I recommend white or yellow onions.
• Broth: 1 cup of broth will help to make up the french onion portion of the chicken sauce.
• Chicken breasts: As for the chicken, use 4 medium chicken breasts. This will create 4 large portions.
• Seasonings: For flavor, you will need three seasonings. Use 1 tsp each of thyme, salt, and pepper.
• Arrowroot powder: 1 tbsp of arrowroot powder will thicken up the french onion sauce. You can also use cornstarch.
• Cheese: Finally, complete the dish with 1 cup of grated gruyere. If you have mozzarella, that will work too!

Tools needed to make this recipe

To make french onion chicken, you will need a cutting board and chopping knife to prep the onions. From there, grab a skillet, mallet or roller, small mixing bowl, plate, whisk, and spoon! A spatula may come in handy for stirring as well.

For measuring, you will need the following sized cups: 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/4 cup, and 1 cup.

How to make this french onion chicken recipe

French onion chicken is made on the stove by searing the chicken in a bed of butter. From there, it’s topped with a thick and creamy french onion sauce that gives the chicken a world of flavor!

To begin, preheat the oven to 400ºF.

In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp of the butter over medium-high heat.

Once hot, add all of the sliced onions and 1/4 cup of the beef broth. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the onions are browned and softened.

While the onions are cooking, pound the chicken breasts with a mallet or roller until they’re even and thin. They should be about 1 inch thick all around.

Next, season both sides of the chicken with the thyme, salt, and pepper.

Set the finished onions aside in a bowl. Add 1 tbsp of butter to the skillet and then add the chicken.

Sear the chicken for 5 minutes on each side. Once fully seared, set the chicken aside on a plate and reduce the stove heat to medium-low.

Then, mix the remaining 3/4 cup of the broth and the arrowroot powder in a small bowl.

Add the onions back to the skillet, and then add the broth and arrowroot mixture. Whisk together for 2-3 minutes, or until thick. Turn off the heat.

Add the chicken back to the skillet and, using a spoon, cover the chicken with the onions and sauce.

Top each chicken breast with finely shredded gruyere cheese.

Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165ºF.

Best onions for french onion chicken

I recommend using either white or yellow onions in your recipe. White onions are famously used for french onion soup thanks to their sweet flavor, but yellow onions work too. They offer more of an “oniony” flavor while still contributing a bit of sweetness. For an extra potent flavor, you could use red, though I wouldn’t recommend it.

What to serve with this dish

To add some greens to your plate, I recommend serving up this chicken alongside broccoli, asparagus, or brussels sprouts. You can also go for a leafy salad complete with a light and zesty dressing, like a lemon vinaigrette!

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Adding chicken to a meal is one of my favorite ways to sneak in extra protein. Making a salad? Add chicken! Pasta? Add chicken! It’s so easy to add to almost any type of dish. Here are some more classic recipes that use the protein-rich staple!

• Pesto Chicken Salad Recipe
• Healthy Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry
• Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
• Caprese Chicken Quinoa Bake

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa