French Onion Chicken Bake

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🧅🍗 French Onion Chicken Bake

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45–55 minutes

🌿 Ingredients

Caramelized Onions

  • 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp sugar (optional—helps caramelize faster)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme

Sauce

  • ½ cup beef broth
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ¼ cup dry white wine (optional but highly recommended)
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Chicken

  • 4 chicken breasts (or boneless thighs)
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Cheese

  • 1 to 1 ½ cups shredded Gruyère (classic)
  • OR use Swiss, mozzarella, or a blend

🍽️ Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven

  • Preheat to 400°F (200°C).

2. Caramelize the Onions

  1. Heat butter + olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add sliced onions, salt, pepper, and sugar (if using).
  3. Cook 15–20 minutes, stirring often, until deeply golden.
  4. Add garlic and thyme; cook 1 minute more.
  5. Pour in white wine (if using) and let reduce for 2 minutes.
  6. Add beef broth, chicken broth, and Worcestershire sauce.
  7. Simmer 3–4 minutes.
  8. Remove from heat.

3. Prepare the Chicken

  1. Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  2. In a separate skillet, heat 1 tbsp oil over medium-high.
  3. Sear chicken 3–4 minutes per side until golden (does not need to be cooked through).

This step adds major flavor but can be skipped for a quicker bake.

4. Assemble the Bake

  1. Transfer seared chicken to a baking dish.
  2. Pour the caramelized onion mixture over and around the chicken.
  3. Sprinkle with Gruyère cheese.

5. Bake

  • Bake 20–25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C).
  • Cheese should be bubbling and golden.

6. Serve

Serve warm over:

  • Mashed potatoes
  • Rice
  • Buttered noodles
  • Toasted baguette slices

Top with extra thyme for freshness.

⭐ Tips & Variations

  • Add mushrooms to the onions for extra depth.
  • Use thighs for juicier chicken.
  • Add 2 tbsp cream to the sauce for a richer finish.
  • Make it a casserole: Add cooked egg noodles to the dish before baking.

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