Description
French Onion Chicken is a comforting and flavorful dish combining tender, seared chicken breasts with a rich, caramelized onion sauce inspired by classic French onion soup. Topped with a melty blend of Gruyère and mozzarella cheeses, this recipe delivers savory goodness perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Onion Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
Cheese Topping
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese (or Swiss cheese)
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt, pepper, dried thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder on both sides.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for about 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Caramelize Onions: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and cook slowly, stirring occasionally for about 15-20 minutes until onions turn soft, translucent, and caramelized.
- Add Garlic and Deglaze: Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in beef and chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, dried thyme, and optional sugar. Stir well to combine and deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits.
- Simmer Sauce: Let the onion sauce simmer for about 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon some onion sauce over each piece.
- Add Cheese and Melt: Sprinkle shredded Gruyère and mozzarella cheeses evenly over the chicken and onions. Cover the skillet with a lid or foil and let it cook over low heat for 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Serve the French Onion Chicken hot, spoon extra caramelized onions and sauce over the top for full flavor.
Notes
- Use Gruyère cheese for authentic French onion flavor but Swiss cheese works well as a substitute.
- For thicker sauce, let the onions simmer longer to reduce the broth further.
- You can prepare the caramelized onions ahead of time and reheat when ready to assemble the dish.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt, as broths and Worcestershire sauce may vary in sodium.
- This dish pairs well with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables.
