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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
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!
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 large onions, sliced very thin
- 1 cup broth
- 4 medium chicken breasts
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
- 1 cup grated gruyere cheese (mozzarella works as well)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp of butter over medium-high heat.
- Once hot, add in all of the sliced onions and 1/4 cup beef broth. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until browned and softened.
- While onions are cooking, pound chicken breasts with mallot or roller until even and thinner that before. Anywhere around 1 inch thick all around.
- Season both sides of chicken with thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Set finished onions aside in a bowl. Add 1 tbsp of butter to skillet and then add chicken.
- Sear chicken for 5 minutes on each side. Once it has been seared on each side, set chicken aside on a plate and turn down stovetop to medium-low heat.
- In a small bowl, mix together 3/4 cup broth with 1 tbsp arrowroot powder.
- Add onions back to skillet, along with the broth arrowroot mixture. Whisk together for 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Turn off heat.
- Add chicken back to skillet and using a spoon, cover the chicken with the onions and sauce.
- Top each chicken breast with finely shredded gruyere cheese.
- Transfer skillet to oven and bake for 8-10 minutes or until internal temp reads 165F.
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Becca says
This is such an easy and delicious recipe!! My husband, who is not very easy to impress, was raving about this chicken! Thanks for another recipe that will become a staple around here.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Becca, so happy you both loved it! 🙂
Karen Mandell says
My hubs and I loved this recipe! The gruyere cheese on top was the chef’s kiss. Next time I will double the oniony sauce for extra deliciousness!
Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Karen, so glad you both enjoyed it!! 🙂
Kenna says
This was great. I’ve made this with different recipes before but this is my favorite. So easy and delicious!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kenna, so happy you loved it! 🙂
Kelly says
Delicious! My husband and I loved this meal
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kelly, so glad you both enjoyed it! 🙂
Kristyn Conrad says
This recipe is Amazing! It was a perfect fall meal paired with mashed potatoes and a vegetable. Will definitely make again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kristyn, so glad you loved it and great sides!!
Amanda says
I can’t wait to make this this week! I was wondering what are some good sides to serve with it?
Thanks!
Erin says
Hi Amanda, yay! Honestly, anything! You could make my https://www.erinliveswhole.com/healthy-green-bean-casserole/ or https://www.erinliveswhole.com/maple-balsamic-brussels-sprouts/ for starters! Let me know what you decide!
Grace says
Perfection!! Easy to make and so flavorful!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Grace, so glad you loved it! 🙂
Steph says
It’s so good will definitely add it to the rotation!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Steph, so happy you loved it!!
Jessie says
This is absolutely delicious and is made up of pretty standard pantry/kitchen ingredients! Easy weeknight meal. Adding this to our regular dinner rotation!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jessie, so happy you loved it!!
Brooke says
So good!! Maybe my fave ELH recipe. Perfect comfy meal combined with the mash and peas.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Brooke, so happy you loved it!! 🙂
Kerry says
Absolutely delicious – and easy without a ton of ingredients! So flavorful! Will be making many more times in the future.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kerry, so glad you loved it!!
Sam Fitzgerald says
So delicious! Added this to my weekly rotation. Easy and tasty.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sam, so glad you loved it!!
Alden G says
This dinner was so delicious!!! Like lick your plate good
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alden, so happy you loved it!!
Megan J says
The yummiest dinner I’ve made in a while !! Soooo good!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Megan, so happy you loved it!!
Caitlin says
Made this tonight for the family and it was a huge hit. I swear everyone was practically licking their plates clean! Delicious and easy to make. Will definitely be adding this into our rotating dinner menu.
Erin says
Hi Caitlin, so happy it was such a hit!! 🙂
Regina says
My family needed a quick GF chicken meal and this was the perfect solution! Everyone loved it and expressed needing to make it again soon!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Regina, so happy you loved it!!
Lizzie says
Made this for my cousin who came to visit and it was hands down one of the best dishes I’ve ever made!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lizzie, so happy you both loved it!!
Jessica says
I could eat this dish every week! The flavors are perfectly balanced and it comes together so easily. Great over some buttery rice or with a simple side salad. Both times we’ve made it my fiancé says it’s his favorite dinner of the week.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jessica, sop happy you both loved it!!
Rachel S says
A+++ recipe! SO GOOD! The chicken was flavorful, juicy & delicious! Paired with mashed potatoes and green beans. A perfect meal.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Rachel, so glad you loved it!!
Amanda says
Amazingly easy and delicious! My husband also loved it and this will be on our new rotation for dinners for sure! The sauce from the pan is amazing on top of mashed potatoes that we served it with and steamed veggies!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Amanda, so happy you both loved it! 🙂