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Calling all French onion soup lovers, this French Onion Chicken Skillet is about to become your new favorite dinner! Juicy chicken is smothered in sweet caramelized onions, topped with gooey melted Gruyère cheese, and cooked to perfection in one skillet.
It has all the rich, savory flavors you love from classic French onion soup, but transformed into a hearty and satisfying chicken dinner. The caramelized onions take a little time, but they’re absolutely worth it. The flavor is seriously amazing!
This is one of my favorite meals to make because it feels fancy and indulgent, yet it’s so easy to pull together. Cozy, comforting, and full of flavor, this one-pan recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners or sharing with guests. For more delicious one skillet meals, try our cream of mushroom chicken skillet and ground turkey enchilada skillet next!
Why You Will Love This French Onion Chicken Skillet
- Delicious: The perfectly seasoned chicken and caramelized onions are an amazing combination.
- Made in One Skillet: You can make this French onion chicken in one skillet! Talk about an easy yet incredibly delicious meal!
- Easy: It is such a flavorful dinner that is easy to make.
- Incredibly Flavorful: This French onion chicken is packed with so much flavor. For another delicious recipe, try our French onion Greek yogurt dip next!
“This was a five star meal for us. All the great taste of French Onion Soup in a meal! This will become a staple in our home!”
– karen
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken: Chicken tenders work perfectly in this recipe.
- Butter: To caramelize the onions.
- Onion: Slice the onions and caramelize them.
- Seasoning: Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and thyme.
- Bay Leaf: Adds another layer of flavor.
- Beef Broth: Gives this recipe classic French onion flavor.
- Balsamic Glaze: Deglazes the onions from the skillet and adds flavor and complexity.
- Cheese: Melt the cheese on the French onion chicken.
Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
- What Onions to Use: White, brown, yellow, or sweet onions will work perfectly for this French onion chicken skillet recipe.
- Balsamic Glaze or Balsamic Vinegar: You can use balsamic glaze or balsamic vinegar in this recipe. Either way, it will add another layer of flavor to the French onion chicken. We like to use the balsamic glaze as it is more concentrated in flavor but if you don’t have it balsamic vinegar will also work.
- What Cheese to Use: This French onion chicken skillet is topped with melted cheese. We melted Gruyere cheese but light Swiss cheese and light mozzarella cheese are other great options.
- Chicken to Use: We prefer chicken tenders for French onion chicken since they pair perfectly with the caramelized onions. Boneless, skinless breasts are also delicious, just cook them longer until fully cooked.
How To Make French Onion Chicken Skillet
Step 1: Cut all of the onions.
Step 2: Season both sides of the chicken tenders with salt and pepper.
Step 3: Add the butter to a large skillet. Next, add the sliced onions, salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, and thyme to the skillet.
Step 4: Caramelize the onions in the skillet, mixing occasionally.
Step 5: Once the onions are caramelized, move them to one side of the skillet. After that, add the chicken tenders to the skillet and brown them on both sides.
Step 6: Pour the balsamic glaze to deglaze the pan then add the beef broth into the skillet. Then, add the bay leaf and let everything simmer until the chicken is fully cooked.
Step 7: Once the chicken is cooked, remove the bay leaf, melt the cheese on top, and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
This French onion chicken skillet is bursting with flavor from the caramelized onions and tender chicken. We love serving it with a toasted French baguette. It also pairs nicely with a side of cauliflower mashed potatoes, cottage cheese mashed potatoes, air fryer frozen broccoli, air fryer carrots, or air fryer green beans.
Shawna’s Expert Tips
- Caramelize the Onions: Caramelizing the onions is key to this recipe. It takes about 20-25 minutes in the skillet, and they’ll continue cooking with the chicken. Don’t rush this step, as the caramelized onions give the dish its rich, delicious flavor.
- The Best Way to Slice the Onions: First, cut both ends off the onion, then cut it in half, in half again, and then thinly slice the onion. Repeat this process to cut each onion.
- Use Beef Broth: The beef broth gives this dish the classic French onion flavors. Chicken broth does not provide the same delicious French onion flavors as beef broth. So, definitely make sure to make this French onion chicken with beef broth.
Storage Instructions
You can store leftover French onion chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
More Chicken Recipes to Try!
- One Skillet Cream Of Mushroom Chicken
- Healthy Chicken Piccata Recipe
- Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan
- Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
- Creamy Garlic Chicken
If you try this recipe please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating ★★★★★ letting us know how it turns out for you.
FRENCH ONION CHICKEN SKILLET
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken tenders
- 1 tablespoon light butter
- 4-5 medium-sized sweet, brown, white, or yellow onions
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic, crushed
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 teaspoons balsamic glaze or balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese or 1 cup light Swiss cheese or light mozzarella
Instructions
- Cut all of the onions. To do this, cut both ends off of each onion, cut the onion in half, cut the onion in half again, and then thinly slice the onion.
- Season both sides of the chicken tenders with salt and pepper.
- Add the butter to a large skillet on the stove over medium-low heat. Then, add the sliced onions, salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, and thyme to the skillet.
- Cook the onions in the skillet until they are browned and caramelized. It will take about 20-25 minutes to caramelize the onions. Move the onions around occasionally while they are caramelizing.
- Once caramelized, move the onions to one side of the skillet and add in chicken tenders. Brown the chicken tenders in the skillet for 3-3 ½ minutes on each side over medium heat.
- Pour the balsamic glaze into the pan, this will deglaze the pan. Scrape off any bits that are stuck to the pan and mix. Next, add the beef broth to the skillet. Also, add the bay leaf. Let everything simmer for 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked, when it reaches an internal temperature of 165℉.
- Once the chicken is cooked, remove the bay leaf. Then, sprinkle the cheese on top. Put the lid on the skillet to melt the cheese. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Cheese: Some options are Gruyere cheese, light Swiss cheese, or light mozzarella.
- Onions: You can use sweet, brown, white, or yellow onions.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Just made French onion chicken. Wow very good. Will certainly add to my evening meals
Thank you so much
Hi, thank you so much for the review! I am so happy you gave it a try and enjoyed it! It is definitely one of our favorite meals.
This was a five star meal for us. All the great taste of French Onion Soup in a meal! This will become a staple in our home!
We are so happy you enjoyed it! This is one of our favorites as well! We love having it with some crusty baguette. Thank you so much for letting us know how it turned out for you!
This was really good. The recipe called for ingredients that I already had on hand which is definitely a plus. It tasted like a French onion soup without all of the calories and fat. Thank you for sharing such a delicious recipe.
I am so happy you enjoyed it!! We have been making it a lot since we created it! We love French onion soup, too! Thanks so much for letting us know how it turned out and for the review!
Are the points for this recipe for either cheese? Thank you!
Hi Lindi, thanks for reaching out! It was three points per serving using light Mozzarella cheese. If you use full-fat Gruyere or full-fat Mozzarella, it will be more points. Please adjust the points depending on what cheese you use. You can adjust the points for any cheese you want through the recipe link to the WW app. I hope you enjoy this French onion chicken skillet!
So yummy! And I was happily surprised my Gruyère didn’t change the points! My husband has already asked when I’m making it again. Thanks, Shawna!
Yes! I am happy to hear the points stayed the same using the Gruyere, I am sure it was delicious. I am so happy that both you and your husband enjoyed the recipe! This is one of Ella’s favorites and she is always asking for me to make it again lol!
I love this recipe for company . It is so easy to make. It’s so delicious and it gets reviews every time I give this 15 stars.
Hi Patti, I love that you give this French onion chicken skillet 15 stars, thank you!! I’m so happy to hear it’s a hit with company too and that it gets rave reviews every time you make it! Thank you so much for leaving a review. 🙂
My husband and I really enjoyed this meal. It was easy to make and very tasty. It’s a nice flavor change from some of my other recipes and you’ll love it if you like French onion soup. I served it over egg noodles and it was delicious. Reheats very well too. Thank you!
Hi Maria, I’m so happy to hear that you and your husband enjoyed the French onion chicken skillet! Serving it over egg noodles sounds absolutely delicious. Thanks so much for leaving a review and sharing how you enjoyed it!
Excellent. Even forgot the cheese the first time served, and it was still fabulous. Served with mashed potatoes
I’m so glad you enjoyed this French onion chicken skillet! I love that it was still fabulous even without the cheese. Serving it with mashed potatoes sounds perfect, that’s such a cozy combo!