French Onion Chicken | Joyful Healthy Eats

Why This French Onion Chicken Is a Family Favorite

Everything about this recipe is a win! Here’s why my family loves it—and why you will too!

• Easy to make. This is a one-skillet recipe with minimal prep work. Most of the time is hands-off while you wait for the onions to get jammy and caramelized. (And trust me, it’s worth the wait!)
• Sweet, savory flavor. The thing that makes French onion anything so irresistible is the flavor, which is sweet from the onions, umami from the beef broth, and ultra cheesy. I add garlic and thyme too, along with some Dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar for a pop of brightness, so this is a dish with layers of flavor.
• Tender, juicy chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are sliced into cutlets, pan-fried in butter (YUM!), then nestled into the caramelized onions and smothered in cheese to lock in all the juiciness and flavor. 

What You’ll Need

A lot of the ingredients you’ll need are pantry staples! Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

• Chicken – Buy boneless skinless chicken breasts and then slice them into cutlets.
• Seasonings – Salt and black pepper, along with garlic powder and dried thyme.
• Unsalted butter – Pan-frying the chicken in butter makes it extra delicious!
• Sweet onions – Like Vidalia, Maui, or Walla Walla.
• Olive oil – For cooking the onions.
• Garlic – I love layering garlic powder and fresh garlic in this French onion chicken.
• Flour – This helps thicken the onion mixture.
• Worcestershire sauce – A flavor bomb that adds umami and depth to the dish.
• Balsamic vinegar – Balsamic vinegar is acidic, but also sweet; you could swap in sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar, but they lean more tart.
• Dijon mustard – Dijon has a sharp flavor that adds complexity.
• Beef bone broth – You can use regular beef broth, but I like bone broth for the richness and nutrients.
• Gruyere cheese – I like to shred it myself for the best melt, but Trader Joe’s does sell shredded gruyere in bags if you want to cut down your prep time!

How to Make French Onion Chicken

Ready for the best chicken dinner you’ve had in a LONG time? Let’s get started!

• Prepare. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and warm a skillet over medium-high heat.
• Brown the chicken. Melt the butter in the pan and add the chicken. Cook both sides until browned, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate.

• Caramelize the onions. Add the olive oil to the pan, followed by the onion. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are browned and meltingly tender.
• Add the next few ingredients. Stir in the garlic, flour, garlic powder, and thyme. Cook for a minute, stirring constantly, to cook out the raw flavor of the flour.
• Make it saucy. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, mustard, and broth. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes; the liquid should be absorbed, but what’s left in the pan should be saucy and jammy, like French onion soup without the broth.

• Finish. Add the chicken to the pan and sprinkle the cheese over the top. Place the cover on the pan until the cheese melts, then serve.

Recipe Tips and Variations

Here are a few more notes on this French onion chicken recipe, along with some ideas for switching things up.

• Swap in fresh thyme. If you have fresh thyme on hand, you can add a few sprigs to the onions as they caramelize instead of using dried, then remove them just before serving.
• Try a different cheese. While gruyere is the traditional cheese for French onion soup, you can also use Swiss, fontina, or provolone, or layer in a few different cheeses, like Parmesan for flavor and mozzarella for meltiness.
• Deglaze the pan if you need to. If there are some browned-on bits at the bottom of the pan, you can scrape it up with a wooden spoon to incorporate it back into the onion mixture after you add the broth.
• Try it with pork chops. French onion pork chops would be awesome too! Just swap the chicken breasts for pork chops; follow the same method of pan-frying them, removing them, then adding them back at the end of the recipe.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• Refrigerator: Transfer leftover French onion chicken to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: You can freeze leftovers in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
• To reheat: Warm leftovers in the microwave or in a skillet set over medium heat.

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