French Onion Chicken

All of the flavors of the soup without the fuss.

By
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel has over 10 years of experience developing recipes and writing about food. She is the author of 4 cookbooks, including the bestselling "The Instant Pot Electric Cookbook."
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Updated April 19, 2024
Laurel Randolph
french onion chicken lifted from a skillet using a spatula, and in the background, glasses and a bowl of bread

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

It’s hard to beat the savory, rich flavor of French onion soup. Even though the soup traditionally takes precious time to make, it’s frequently served as a starter, since it’s not quite hearty enough to serve as a main.

That’s why I developed this French onion chicken. It takes the flavors of French onion soup and turns it into a hearty main dish. Plus, it takes just over 30 minutes to make. Serve with crusty bread or over pasta or mashed potatoes and dinner is served.

The Trick to Quick Caramelized Onions

Caramelized onions notoriously take ages to make. This recipe adds a little brown sugar to the onions and has you stir them over medium-high heat to speed up the caramelization process. This means you’ll just end up stirring onions for about 10 minutes, rather than up to 40 minutes.

french onion chicken in a skillet at a table setting with glasses, a bowl of bread, and a small bowl of herbs

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Skillet Chicken Dinners

French Onion Chicken

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Servings 4 servings

This recipe was developed by Melissa Gray

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Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

  • 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast tenderloins

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

  • 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided, plus more for garnish

  • 1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced (about 3 cups)

  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup beef broth

  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme, plus more for garnish

  • 4 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)

Method

  1. Cook the chicken:

    Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a medium (about 10-inch) oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken tenderloins all over with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. 

    Add the chicken in a single even layer to the skillet. Cook, turning as needed, until lightly browned, about 6 minutes total. Remove from skillet, place on a plate, and set aside. It’s okay if they are not cooked through—they will finish cooking later. Do not wipe the skillet clean.

    chicken tenderloins cooking in a skillet for french onion chicken recipe

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
  2. Preheat the broiler:

    Preheat the oven to broil with a rack about 6 inches away from the heat source.

  3. Cook the onions:

    In the same skillet, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sugar and cook, stirring often, until the onions are softened and lightly golden, about 10 minutes.

    onions added to skillet (after chicken is removed) for french onion chicken recipe

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
    caramelized onions in a skillet for french onion chicken recipe

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
  4. Make the sauce:

    Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the broth and Worcestershire sauce until smooth. Stir in the thyme and remaining 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.

    beef broth whisked into the skillet with the caramelized onions and roux for french onion chicken recipe

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
    creamy caramelized onions in a skillet for french onion chicken recipe

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
  5. Finish cooking the chicken:

    Return the chicken to the skillet in an even layer and bring the sauce to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring and turning the chicken often, until the sauce is thickened and a thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of chicken registers 165°F, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.

    chicken tenderloins added to skillet on top of caramelized onions for french onion chicken recipe

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
  6. Broil and serve:

    Sprinkle the top with cheese. Broil in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, 3 to 5 minutes. Garnish with additional pepper and thyme and serve.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

    chicken tenderloins topped with shredded cheese for french onion chicken recipe

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
    french onion chicken skillet

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
    french onion chicken on a plate with a slice of bread at a table setting with another serving on a plate, a glass, a small bowl of herbs, and a bowl of sliced bread

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
497 Calories
27g Fat
18g Carbs
45g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 497
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 34%
Saturated Fat 15g 76%
Cholesterol 161mg 54%
Sodium 895mg 39%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 45g
Vitamin C 8mg 38%
Calcium 289mg 22%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 576mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.