What is French Onion Chicken
French onion chicken is such a great dish! Featuring tender chicken breasts smothered in a savory, caramelized onion and rich cheese sauce reminiscent of classic French Onion Soup.
A super easy dinner to prepare that is a huge favorite with the whole family!
This meal also perfectly aligns with a low-carb diet due to its minimal carb content, primarily derived from onions. It’s a fantastic choice for those of us watching our carb intake, offering a satisfying and flavorful alternative to carb-heavy dishes.
We love this one-pot French onion chicken recipe because it is flavor-packed, super easy and can be made ahead of time. The recipe has no flour and is also gluten-free and grain-free.
I have also included a slow cooker French Onion Chicken cooking method. I know a lot of you like to set and forget in a slow cooker.
Related Chicken Breast Recipes: Chicken Piccata Milanese / Chicken Limone
Note: For a creamy, rich onion gravy add thickened heavy cream (heavy whipping cream) and parmesan cheese to the sauce. Alternatively, add 1/4 cup cream cheese to the broth and stir through until smooth and creamy.
How to Make French Onion Chicken
Step 1. If the chicken breasts are large, cut them into smaller portions. Pat them dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
Step 2. In a large cast-iron pan, heat 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and butter. When butter starts to foam, sear chicken (in batches if needed) until lightly golden on each side, about 2-3 minutes. (The chicken will not be cooked through). Transfer chicken to a plate and loosely cover in foil. Set aside.
Step 3. Heat remaining oil and butter in the pan over medium heat. Add onions and a pinch of salt, cover with lid, and cook, stirring intermittently, until onions are soft (15-20 minutes). Remove lid, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until onion is deep golden and caramelized.
Step 4. Add the garlic, vinegar, 1/3 cup beef broth, and Dijon mustard. Scrape any golden tasty bits from the bottom of the pan and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Step 5. Preheat oven to 220°C fan/240°C static (475°F). Place the chicken into the pan between pillows of onions. Top with cheese and thyme.
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Step 6. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (internal temp 75°C/165°F).
What to Serve With It
Good sides help make a good meal shine. I love keeping this a low-carb chicken dinner I serve it with a dollop of cauliflower mash or Fondue Mash from Festive Table (so much better than mashed potato), green beans, and Soul Bread to mop up the delicious sauce. For those of you who love their carbs, try some crusty bread, and a pile of mashed potatoes.
Variations
- Vegetarian Twist: Replace chicken with portobello mushrooms for a hearty vegetarian alternative.
- Wine Infusion: Add a splash of white wine to the sauce for an extra layer of depth and complexity.
- Herby: Add fresh rosemary, thyme, or tarragon to add a touch of freshness to the casserole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
You absolutely can. Freeze in an airtight container. Defrost them in the fridge overnight. Gentle reheat in a skillet with the lid or in the microwave.
Next Chicken Recipes To Try
I sure hope you love my keto French onion chicken breast recipe. Here are just a few more delicious low-carb dinner recipes to try soon.
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French Onion Chicken
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 1 kg (2 lb) skinless chicken breast fillets (approximately 4 chicken breasts)
- Salt flakes and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (30g)
- 3 tablespoons salted butter (45g)
- 2 large brown onions (340g) thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar or balsamic vinegar
- ⅓ cup beef stock (80ml) or chicken stock, see notes
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (15g)
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère (100g)
- ¼ cup shredded parmesan (25g)
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves finely chopped
Instructions
CONVENTIONAL METHOD
- If the chicken breasts are huge cut into serving size portions. Pat them dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
- In a large cast-iron pan, heat 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and butter. When butter starts to foam, sear chicken (in batches if needed) until lightly golden on each side, about 2-3 minutes. (The chicken will not be cooked through). Transfer chicken to a plate and loosely cover in foil. Set aside.
- Heat remaining oil and butter in pan over medium heat. Add onions and a pinch of salt, cover with lid, and cook, stirring intermittently, until onions are soft (15-20 minutes). Remove lid, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until onion is deep golden and caramelized.
- Add the garlic, vinegar, beef stock, and Dijon mustard. Scrape any golden tasty bits from the bottom of the pan and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Preheat oven to 220°C fan/240°C static (475°F).
- Place the chicken into pan between pillows of onions. Top with cheese and thyme.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (internal temp 75°C/165°F).
SLOW COOKER FRENCH ONION CHICKEN
- If the chicken breasts are huge cut into serving size portions. Pat them dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
- In a large cast-iron pan, heat 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and butter. When butter starts to foam, sear chicken (in batches if needed) until lightly golden on each side, about 2-3 minutes. (The chicken will not be cooked through). Transfer chicken to a plate and loosely cover in foil. Place into the slow cooker.
- Heat the remaining oil and butter in pan over medium heat. Add onions and a pinch of salt, cover with lid, and cook, stirring intermittently, until onions are soft (15-20 minutes). Remove lid, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until onion is deep golden and caramelized.
- Add the garlic, vinegar, beef stock, and Dijon mustard. Scrape any golden tasty bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- About 15 minutes before serving, sprinkle shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese over the chicken. Cover and let it melt.
Notes
Storing:
Refrigeration: Store any leftover French Onion Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Freezing: While the dish is best enjoyed fresh, you can freeze individual portions for up to one month. Reheat thoroughly before serving.Ingredient Tips:
Chicken Breast: Ensure the chicken breasts are patted dry to achieve a golden sear during cooking. Cheese Choices: Experiment with different cheeses like Emmental or Swiss if Gruyere is not available for a personalized touch. Stock Selection: Choose a high-quality beef or chicken stock for a rich and flavorful sauce or make your own beef stock. Thermomix TM6 High Heat Mode: FRENCH ONION CHICKEN IN THE THERMOMIX® (TM6) I have chosen not to give a Thermomix cooking method in our step-by-step instructions. The overall cooking time, extra handling, and flavours developed from cooking in a wide pan are lost in the Thermomix. The below tips for chicken and the onions have been provided if the Thermomix is your only source of cooking apart from an oven or air fryer. Chicken Searing: Use the High Heat mode on the Thermomix TM6 for efficient searing. Follow the conventional method for the remaining steps. Caramelizing onions: You can use the high heat function for caramelizing the onions if you wish, but overall the cooking time of the dish is much longer. I have also included how to make it in the slow cooker too.Your Own Notes
Nutrition
27 responses to “Easy French Onion Chicken”
So easy, so so yummy this is a great dish. Winner winner Chicken Dinner. Served with Cauliflower mash and steamed broccolini
Delicious, definitely a cook again recipe (but all Meganโs recipes are).
The whole family loved this one. Made it twice with chicken, going to try it with beef this weekend.
So so good and the easiest recipe.
Husband and all 4 kids said this could go on the weekly rotation! Easy to prepare and delicious…a real crowd pleaser
Absolutely delicious and not that difficult to make. This will become a regular meal in our house. Great that we get 3 meals out of it. So tasty!
Absolute favourite โค๏ธ
This will definitely be a regular in our house, even for the non keto family members ๐
An easy to prepare delicious chicken dish. So full of flavour.
Will be on regular rotation here.
Absolutely fabulous!
It’s my go to more often than not.
Thanks Megan and Dave
This French Onion Chicken dish is absolutely amazing, you would never believe that it is a keto recipe. Put this one on your list as it is sure to be a winner with the whole family ๐
I LOVE French onion everything. Super excited to try this French onion chicken, especially with the Gruyรจre on top! I love the serving suggestions you recommended too. I think I’ll make this with the cauliflower mash.
This dish definitely hit the jackpot with my family and my guests over the weekend, my son said to make it for his Uni as well to take away. We absolutely loved it so delicious! Thank you so much for sharing.This french onion chicken was so flavorful. Nothing beats how deliciously cheesy it was. Can’t wait to make it again!
I love french onion soup so I knew this would be good…but it was incredible! Such a great way to turn french onion soup into a big dinner.
Only one thing to say about this fish! Ingenious! Never thought of doing a chicken version of French Onion soup with a cheesy twist. Mouthwatering and a great family style meal for the week!
Thanks for sharing!Oooh I just made French onion pork chops…soooo good! Need to make it next with chicken. What a fabulous meal…mouthwatering photos!
This Easy French Onion Chicken was a huge hit at my house. It was cheesy and full of rich flavor. I served it with mashed potatoes and green beans and my family ate every last bite .
What a great meal, Megan! This chicken is perfection – juicy and tender and absolutely so much flavour from the onions, mustard and cheese. Your serving suggestion of green beans is ideal.
I am drooling with the looks of this cheesy smooth and caramelised chicken combination. Looks so juicy and tempting. My family to love it.
I am searching for chicken recipes for my 22-year-old boy; yours popped up on my computer. I’m passing it to him because he oversees dinner tonight. The idea of the onion soup flavor is super tempting. I’ll come back to let you know the results.
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