Description
Hearty French onion chicken simmers slowly in a crock pot, blending classic French flavors with comforting home-style cooking. Caramelized onions and melted cheese create a rich, savory dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Alliums and Aromatics:
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 1 packet French onion soup mix
Liquid and Fat Components:
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) beef broth
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) butter
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
Cheese and Seasoning:
- 1 cup (100 grams) shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Caramelize onions in a skillet with olive oil and butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally until rich golden brown, approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Transfer chicken breasts to crock pot, seasoning thoroughly with salt and pepper, then layer caramelized onions directly on top of the meat.
- Whisk beef broth with French onion soup mix in a separate bowl, creating a flavorful liquid mixture.
- Pour prepared broth over chicken and onions, ensuring even distribution throughout the crock pot.
- Cover and slow cook on low temperature for 6-7 hours or high temperature for 3-4 hours until chicken becomes fork-tender and fully cooked.
- During final 15 minutes of cooking, sprinkle shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese across the chicken surface, allowing cheese to melt completely.
- Once finished, garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve alongside rice, creamy mashed potatoes, or crusty artisan bread to absorb the rich, savory broth.
Notes
- Caramelize onions slowly to develop deep, rich flavor without burning by stirring frequently and using medium-low heat.
- Choose bone-in chicken breasts for more moisture and enhanced taste if traditional chicken breasts seem too dry.
- Swap beef broth with low-sodium chicken broth for a lighter version that reduces salt content while maintaining delicious flavor profile.
- For gluten-free adaptation, replace French onion soup mix with homemade seasoning blend using dried herbs like thyme, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg