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French Onion Chicken with Melted Cheese Recipe

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★★★★

4 from 38 reviews

This French Onion Chicken recipe features tender, thinly pounded chicken breasts smothered in a rich, caramelized onion sauce with hints of herbs and garlic, topped with melted mozzarella cheese and baked to golden perfection. Made with a flavorful skillet-to-oven cooking method, it offers a comforting, savory dinner perfect for any night of the week.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt and 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 ¼ inch thick
  • 1 Tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon ground sage
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup dry white wine (Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio recommended)
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 beef bouillon cube
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or provolone or gruyere)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Slice each chicken breast into 2 to 3 thinner pieces. Place between plastic wrap and pound them to about ¼ inch thickness using a meat tenderizer. Pat the chicken dry, then season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. In a shallow dish, mix flour and shredded Parmesan cheese and dredge the chicken pieces evenly in the mixture.
  2. Sear the Chicken: Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully add the coated chicken and sear for approximately 3 minutes per side until a golden crust forms. Adjust heat as necessary to prevent burning and add more olive oil if needed. Once seared, remove the chicken and tent with foil. It will finish cooking in the oven.
  3. Caramelize the Onions: Slice onions evenly to ¼ inch thickness. In the same skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Use a spatula to scrape up the browned bits from the chicken (fond) to add flavor. Add the sliced onions and toss to coat. Cook for 5 minutes to soften. Add soy sauce, rosemary, thyme, and sage. Cover the skillet, reduce heat to low, and cook the onions for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the cover, increase heat to medium, and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring frequently to caramelize.
  4. Make the Sauce: Preheat the oven to 475°F (246°C). Add minced garlic and white wine to the skillet with onions. Cook uncovered until the wine almost fully reduces, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture, toss well, and cook for 1-2 minutes to eliminate the raw flour taste. Gradually stir in chicken broth, beef broth, and crumble in the beef bouillon cube. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a gentle boil. Let the sauce thicken and reduce for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  5. Bake the Dish: If necessary, transfer the onion sauce to an oven-safe casserole dish or use a large oven-safe skillet. Nestle the seared chicken back into the sauce and evenly top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned on top. Remove from oven, garnish with fresh thyme sprigs, and serve hot.

Notes

  • To tenderize chicken quickly, use the textured side of the meat tenderizer.
  • Be sure not to slice the onions too thin to prevent excessive shrinkage during caramelization.
  • Adjust heat during searing to maintain a golden crust without burning.
  • Using an oven-safe skillet allows seamless transition from stovetop to oven.
  • Substitute mozzarella with provolone or gruyere for different cheese flavors.

Keywords: French onion chicken, baked chicken, caramelized onion sauce, skillet chicken recipe, easy French onion chicken

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