Description
French onion chicken brings together caramelized onions, melted cheese, and tender chicken in one comforting dish that comes together on your stovetop. Your family gets a restaurant-quality meal with deep, savory flavors that make weeknight dinners feel special.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3 pounds total)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Cheese:
- 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese, divided
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 450°F and gather your ingredients so everything is ready when you need it.
- Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, then add your 2 thinly sliced yellow onions and 1/2 cup chicken broth.
- Let the onions cook for 15-20 minutes at medium-high heat until they turn golden brown and become tender, then transfer them to a bowl and cover to keep them warm.
- Place each of your 4 chicken breasts on a cutting board and carefully butterfly them by slicing horizontally about 1/3 of the way up from the bottom, leaving about 1 inch uncut so the breast opens like a book.
- Cover your butterflied chicken with plastic wrap and pound each piece to an even 1/3 inch thickness using a meat mallet.
- Mix together 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning in a small bowl, then rub this mixture evenly over both sides of your chicken.
- Divide half of your caramelized onions and 1 cup of shredded Gruyere cheese equally among the 4 chicken breasts, distributing them down the center of each piece.
- Roll each chicken breast tightly from one end to the other, making sure your filling stays tucked inside, then secure each roll with kitchen twine at 2-inch intervals.
- Place your stuffed chicken rolls in the same skillet over medium heat and sear all sides for about 5 minutes per side (4 turns total) until they develop a golden crust.
- Transfer your skillet to the 450°F oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, basting occasionally with the pan juices.
- Switch your oven to broil setting, top each chicken roll with the remaining 1 cup cheese and leftover onions, then broil for 5 minutes until the cheese melts and turns golden.
- Remove from the oven and let your chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving warm on your plates.
Notes
- Caramelizing the onions properly takes patience – resist rushing this step since those 15-20 minutes develop the deep, sweet flavor that makes this dish special.
- Butterflying and pounding the chicken to even thickness ensures it cooks uniformly throughout, preventing dry edges while the center finishes cooking.
- Tie the rolls securely with cooking twine so the filling stays tucked inside during searing and baking rather than leaking out into the pan.
- For a gluten-free version, simply check that your chicken broth and Italian seasoning contain no hidden gluten, then proceed with the recipe exactly as written.
- Prep Time: 25-30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Baked Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 657 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 55 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg