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French Onion Chicken with Melted Cheese Recipe

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4 from 14 reviews

French Onion Chicken combines tender, thinly pounded chicken breasts smothered in a rich, caramelized French onion sauce. The dish is finished with melted mozzarella cheese and baked in the oven, delivering a comforting, flavorful meal perfect for an elegant dinner or cozy family night.

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt & pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ tablespoon garlic powder
  • ½ cup flour
  • ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter (salted or unsalted)

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 yellow onions (about 1.5 lbs), sliced
  • 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon ground sage
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 beef bouillon cube
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese (or provolone/gruyere)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into 2–3 thinner slices. Place each slice between plastic wrap and pound to approximately ¼ inch thickness. Pat the chicken dry, then season both sides generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. In a shallow dish, combine the flour and shredded Parmesan cheese, then dredge each chicken slice thoroughly in the mixture. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear each piece of chicken for about 3 minutes per side or until golden brown, adjusting heat as necessary and adding a splash more oil if needed. Once seared, set the chicken aside and tent with foil as it will finish cooking in the oven.
  2. Caramelize the Onions: Slice the yellow onions into even ¼-inch slices. In the same skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter with 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat, scraping up any browned bits left from chicken searing for added flavor. Add the sliced onions and toss to coat them in the butter and oil. Cook the onions for 5 minutes until they start to soften. Stir in the soy sauce, dried rosemary, thyme, and ground sage. Cover the skillet, reduce heat to low, and let the onions cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Remove the cover, increase the heat to medium, and cook the onions uncovered for another 10 minutes, stirring often, until deeply caramelized and richly flavored.
  3. Make the Sauce: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). Add the minced garlic to the caramelized onions and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Sprinkle the 2 tablespoons of flour over the onion mixture and toss thoroughly to coat and cook for 1–2 minutes to eliminate the raw flour taste. Gradually pour in the chicken broth, beef broth, and crumble in the beef bouillon cube. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the sauce to a gentle boil. Allow the sauce to thicken and reduce for 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, then remove the skillet from the heat.
  4. Bake: If your skillet is not oven-safe, transfer the onion sauce mixture to a baking dish. Nestle the seared chicken pieces back into the sauce and generously top with the mozzarella cheese. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15–20 minutes, until the cheese is browned, bubbly, and slightly golden. Remove from oven, garnish with fresh thyme sprigs if desired, and serve immediately for a warm, comforting meal.

Notes

  • Pound the chicken evenly to ensure even cooking and tender results.
  • If you prefer a different cheese, provolone or gruyere can be used interchangeably with mozzarella.
  • Use low sodium broths and soy sauce to control saltiness in the dish.
  • Covering and slow cooking the onions is key to achieving deep caramelization without burning.
  • The recipe works well with bone-in chicken breasts if adjusted cooking times are followed.
  • For a gluten-free version, substitute the flour with a gluten-free alternative.

Find it online: https://yumntasty.com/french-onion-chicken-with-melted-cheese-recipe/