Description
Succulent French Onion Chicken brings classic French bistro comfort to your dinner table with caramelized onions and melted gruyère. Hearty and elegant, this dish delivers rich flavors that will make you feel like a gourmet chef in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Onions and Aromatics:
- 3 large onions
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme
Dairy and Seasoning:
- 1 cup gruyère cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
Instructions
- Prepare chicken by patting breasts dry with paper towels and seasoning generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Slice onions into thin, uniform half-moon shapes, ensuring even caramelization potential.
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat, creating a rich cooking foundation.
- Add sliced onions to the skillet, stirring occasionally and allowing them to slowly caramelize for 25-30 minutes until deep golden brown and wonderfully fragrant.
- Mince garlic and fresh thyme, then incorporate into the caramelized onions during the last 3-4 minutes of cooking.
- Deglaze the skillet with white wine, scraping up all the flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Push onion mixture to the side and increase heat to medium-high, adding seasoned chicken breasts to the skillet.
- Sear chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and developing a beautiful crust.
- Pour chicken broth around the chicken, reduce heat to medium-low, and let simmer for 8-10 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
- Drizzle heavy cream over the chicken and onions, creating a luxurious sauce.
- Sprinkle gruyère cheese generously over each chicken breast, allowing it to melt and become gloriously bubbly.
- Transfer skillet to a preheated 400°F oven and bake for 5-7 minutes until cheese is completely melted and slightly browned.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 3-4 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
Notes
- Achieve perfect caramelization by slicing onions uniformly and cooking them slowly over low heat, which develops rich, sweet flavor without burning.
- Prevent dry chicken by using a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches 165°F, ensuring juicy and tender results every time.
- Substitute dairy ingredients for dietary needs: use lactose-free cheese, plant-based cream, or nutritional yeast for vegan and lactose-intolerant variations.
- Enhance meal prep by preparing caramelized onions in advance and storing them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, reducing overall cooking time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg