French Onion Chicken Bake (Print version)

Baked chicken with caramelized onions and melted Gruyere for rich, comforting flavor.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Onions

05 - 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1 teaspoon sugar
10 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/4 cup dry white wine
13 - 1/2 cup beef or chicken broth

→ Topping

14 - 1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
02 - Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides. Set aside.
03 - In a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sear chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly golden. Remove chicken and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, melt butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add sliced onions and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until onions soften and turn golden, about 15-20 minutes.
05 - Sprinkle sugar over onions and continue to cook, stirring, until deeply caramelized, about 10 minutes more.
06 - Add minced garlic and thyme; cook for 1 minute.
07 - Deglaze the pan with white wine, scraping up browned bits, then simmer until liquid reduces by half, about 2 minutes.
08 - Stir in broth and simmer for 2 minutes more.
09 - Nestle seared chicken breasts into the onion mixture in the skillet. Spoon some onions over the chicken.
10 - Sprinkle shredded Gruyere evenly over the chicken and onions.
11 - Transfer skillet to the oven and bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F) and cheese is melted and golden.
12 - Remove from oven, let rest 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • Captures the classic flavor of French onion soup in a hearty main course.
  • Uses a single ovenproof skillet for easy preparation and cleanup.
  • Tender chicken breasts stay juicy under a blanket of sweet onions and nutty cheese.
02 -
  • Don't rush the onions; slow caramelization is key to developing the signature sweet and savory depth.
  • Deglazing with wine helps release all the flavorful browned bits (fond) from the bottom of the pan.
  • Let the dish rest for 5 minutes after baking to allow the juices to redistribute within the chicken.
Go back