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Skillet French Onion Chicken

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If you love caramelized onions and melted cheese, you will love this Skillet French Onion Chicken, a great way to jazz up chicken breasts!

French Onion Skillet Chicken
Skillet French Onion Chicken

I’m more of a dark-meat girl, so my chicken breast recipes really need to be jazzed up so they taste delish! Thin chicken breast cutlets are cooked and topped with caramelized onions and melted Gruyère cheese in this French Onion Chicken recipe. These are so wonderful and easy to make. For more chicken breast recipes, try this Spicy Vodka Chicken Parmesan, Bacon-Wrapped Air Fryer Chicken Breast, and Spinach and Feta-Stuffed Chicken Breasts. And for more French onion recipes, don’t miss my French Onion Soup and French Dip Sandwich.

French Onion Chicken

French Onion Chicken Ingredients

  • Chicken: You’ll need four boneless, skinless chicken cutlets. If they’re not uniformly thin, place them between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound them with a meat tenderizer or the bottom of a heavy pan. Season the cutlets with salt and pepper.
  • Onions: Thinly slice two yellow onions.
  • Sauce: Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar.
  • Thyme: Dried or fresh thyme will work.
  • Gruyère: Grate three ounces of Gruyère to get about one cup.
  • Dredging Mixture: Flour, salt, smoked paprika.
  • Butter: Cook the chicken breasts in melted butter.

How to Make French Onion Skillet Chicken

  • Cook the Onions: Warm the oil in a large nonstick (preferably ovenproof) skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, increase the heat to medium-high, and frequently stir until they brown around the edges. If they are sticking, pour in a bit of water to deglaze the pan.
  • Simmer: Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the vinegar, Worcestershire, and thyme, and cook for 20 to 30 minutes until the onions
    are tender. Transfer the onion mixture to a bowl, set aside, and wipe out the skillet.
  • Dredge the Chicken: Whisk the flour, salt, and paprika in a wide, shallow bowl. Dredge the cutlets in the mixture, and shake off any excess.
  • Cook the Cutlets: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat, lay the chicken in the pan, and then decrease the heat to medium. Cook the chicken for three minutes and then flip. Top each piece with caramelized onions and cheese. Cook for another three minutes.
  • Melt the Cheese: If your skillet is ovenproof, transfer it to the oven and broil for a minute or two. If not, cover the pan and cook until the cheese is bubbling and brown.

What to Serve with French Onion Chicken

This French onion chicken breast works well with so many sides. Some ideas include rice, a big salad, broccolini, asparagus, or roasted radishes.

How to Freeze French Onion Chicken

Leftover chicken will last for up to four days refrigerated. You can also freeze the chicken breasts for up to three months. To reheat, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator and reheat them in the microwave until warm.

onionschicken breast dredged in flour cooked in a skilletFrench Onion Chicken

More Chicken Recipes You’ll Love:

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French Onion Chicken

4.90 from 149 votes
6
Cals:335
Protein:33.5
Carbs:16.5
Fat:14.5
If you love caramelized onions and melted cheese, you will love this Skillet French Onion Chicken, a great way to jazz up chicken breasts!
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
French Onion Chicken
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size: 1 piece

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken cutlets, (16 to 20 ounces total)
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, or more as needed
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 3 ounces Gruyère cheese, coarsely grated (about 1 cup)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour, or gluten-free flour mix*
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • pepper, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth

Instructions

  • In a large nonstick skillet heat the oil over medium heat.
  • Add the onions and 1/4 teaspoon salt, increase to medium-high, and cook, stirring frequently, until they start to brown around the edges.
  • Turn the heat to medium-low and add the balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the onions are very tender. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to deglaze. Set aside and wipe out the skillet.
    Caramelized Onions
  • If the chicken is not uniformly thin, place it between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat tenderizer or the bottom of a heavy pan until thin but still intact. Season to taste with 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper and set aside.
  • In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, pinch of salt, and paprika.
  • Set a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and melt 1 teaspoon butter.
  • Dredge two of the chicken cutlets in the seasoned flour, then shake off the excess and lay them side by side in the pan. 
  • Cook the chicken for 3 minutes, or until lightly browned, then flip and cook for 3 more minutes. Set aside on a dish and repeat with the remaining butter and chicken. Set aside.
  • Combine the broth and 1 tablespoon of the flour mixture and mix, add it to the skillet and whisk on low heat, 1 minute, until it thickens. Toss the rest of the flour out.
  • Return the chicken to the skillet, top with onions and cheese and cover. Cook low 3 to 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling.

Last Step:

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Notes

*only about 1 tablespoon gets used in the end, n.i. reflects the amount used.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 piece, Calories: 335 kcal, Carbohydrates: 16.5 g, Protein: 33.5 g, Fat: 14.5 g, Saturated Fat: 6 g, Cholesterol: 111.5 mg, Sodium: 570.5 mg, Fiber: 1.5 g, Sugar: 9.5 g

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204 comments on “Skillet French Onion Chicken”

  1. Great recipe. Made this a few times and it always comes out delish! The gravy is great with Mashed potatoes. Served also with baked squash.

  2. This recipe is really good, and one of the few that I’ve seen with close to accurate info on how long it takes to caramelize onions. The second time I made this, I doubled the onions. They’re so good!

  3. If you like onion soup, you will love this. My husband and I really liked it and will make it again soon. Enjoy!

  4. This recipe is really good. I doubled the onions & seasonings in them & added about 1/2 cup sherry. I have made it several times & it is always a big hit. Another Skinnytaste favorite recipe in our house.

  5. This is just so incredibly good – and easy. I served it with green beans and wild rice. Definitely going to be making this recipe again!

    1. Made it for a 2nd time tonight, we love French onion soup so this is perfect. Paired it with ST Creamed Spinach and ST Rice Pilaf. I’ve been back in Weight Watchers for two weeks and Skinnytaste is helping me a ton!

  6. Sooo yummy!! Followed the recipe exactly, just doubled it so I would have leftovers. Served with egg noodles and steamed broccoli.

  7. Only gave this 3 stars, not because of flavor which was yummy but because it felt a bit labor intensive to make. Maybe it’s me but keeping an eye on those onions, dredging the chicken pieces, putting cooked items aside for later had me feeling overwhelmed. Don’t need intimidated by my experience however. The dish was so tasty but I was exhausted. 🤪

  8. Delicious! Worked well with mozzarella cheese but will try it with Gruyère next time! My onion-loving hubby devoured it! Served it over mashed potatoes and it was a huge hit!

  9. This was a hit! Just delicious made as written but with a tablespoon of Marsala added with the chicken broth.

  10. So good and the chicken was super juicy. I steamed some green beans to go with it. It took me about an hour to make, but since that was mostly just the onions and I could do other things while stirring, it didn’t feel like a long or difficult meal. I am adding this to my rotation.

  11. This was a very flavorful, easy recipe! The whole family loved this! Will definitely make again. Came together so fast! Yummmm 😋

  12. Tender and juicy. I didn’t have an onion so I used it onion soup mix and omitted the chicken broth (it would have been very salty) and it was great! My husband loves it!

  13. 5 Stars-Fabulous! We just cleaned up after dinner and my husband thought it was the best chicken we had had at home in a very long time. I did finish in the oven (broil) but other than that, made the recipe as it was. Served with green beans and nothing but smiles all around. Thank you!

    1. Found a few yellow onions at the back of our pantry and made this last night. Very flavorful! Followed others’ suggestions and increased the onions/liquid. Served with a side of canned green beans which I topped with the extra sauce and onions. Instant favorite!

  14. My family loved this chicken. Lots of great flavor. It’s so easy and I always have the ingredients on hand.

  15. Made this tonight. Only omission was balsamic and I doubled the broth so we had more gravy for spaghetti squash. Another favorite! Thank you again, Gina!

  16. So yummy. I’ve made it more than once and have passed the recipe on to my niece, daughter and a friend.

  17. Made this yesterday and I have to say my husband said it was fabulous. He gave it a 10. I added more broth and flour for more gravy, other then that not changes. I might try adding mushrooms next time and perhaps another onion for good measure. Found thin cut chicken breasts at the store which was a big plus. Maybe next time thighs? Served it with mashed potatoes and a salad. We will be having leftovers tonight. Sooooo good.

  18. I made this because I wanted to find a recipe my husband and I would like. This is very good. Will definitely make this again.

  19. This is beyond delicious! I made this for myself and my husband and then suggested it to so many people.

  20. Absolutely delicious! My onions cooked quicker (not a bad thing) and I needed a little more broth. Definitely a keeper!

  21. This chicken dish was incredible!! My wife picked it, I made it. The chicken breasts came out very tender and moist. I did pound mine a bit and put some slice marks on the top surface to help with this. Mine was probably not as “skinny” as it was supposed to be…. It is pretty easy. I recommend this recipe!!

  22. Avatar photo
    Kalen Mikell

    Very tasty for a quick no fuss meal. Served with left over skinny mashed potatoes! We love onions so we make extra!

  23. Very tasty! I caramelized the onions for about 45 minutes, and they were delicious. I definitely had to add more stock to the sauce, because it was gloppy and thick. It took a little extra stirring to smooth it back out, but the flavor was delicious. I would definitely edit the recipe to add more liquid to the cornstarch.

    1. The recipe calls for flour to thicken the sauce. A tablespoon of cornstarch would definitely be too much. I used flour and was on the thicker side too but I liked the consistency.

  24. This was a HUGE miss for us. Maybe I did something wrong, but the sauce was super thick and gooey which then gave the chicken an odd texture. It went directly in the garbage. Had to re-read the recipe multiple times to see if I had the measurements wrong, but it was right. We love all things Skinnytaste, but I think this one just missed the mark for us.

      1. They can’t all be winners for everyone 😊 Keep on doing what you do; you’re awesome!

  25. This was absolutely delicious! We served it with roasted asparagus but a salad would be a great side as well. When it’s too hot to have French onion soup, we will be making this!

  26. This is such a delicious recipe! My husband LOVES onions, so it is one of his faves. It is company worthy as well. You could have the onions all prepped earlier in the day, cheese grated, and have some veggies all cut up and ready to go in the oven a little bit before you start the chicken. We just had it tonight with roasted cauliflower and roasted delicata squash that I sprayed with EVOO before putting salt and pepper on them, so it was truly a 6 point WW meal!

  27. Gina,I am making this tonight! I am trying to figure out the points with Weight Watchers. I tried to put in the nutritional info in WW but they need all the info,sat,fat,fiber,sugar,etc. Can anyone help ?

    1. Tap the Blue “WW Points” button right below the picture within the recipe. It will take you directly to WW

    2. Avatar photo
      Geraldine Enos

      The WW points are in blue circle right under recipe title as well as in blue box below( which takes you to WW site

  28. Wow!!! Fantastic recipe!!! Next time I think mushrooms would be a great addition for added bulk. Such a flavorful dish. Only side needed was a nice green salad.

  29. I made this for the first time tonight and it is one of my new favorite recipes. Delicious! Not a super quick meal but it is worth the time it takes to make.

  30. I changed a bit because I needed to slow cook this, and I’d already caramelised the onions ahead. Didn’t bother with flour or paprika. Delicious! My husband is going to make it for his rugby lunch.

  31. I did not like this at all. I love French onion soup but this just recipe just didn’t do it for me.

  32. It was delicious and flavorful! Husband and children approved! It will be added to our list of recipes to make again!

  33. Delicious but salty! We liked this but it was salty. I’m not sure where to cut back but with the salted chicken, onions, stock, vinegars and Worcestershire sauce, it was a bit too much.

    1. I feel like the salt flavor came from the onions so maybe omit added salt to the onions when cooking them.

  34. My family absolutely loved this meal! They demanded it go into the regular rotation – delicious and easy to make!

  35. This really was delicious. I served it over mashed potatoes with veggies on the side and it was so warming and homey!

  36. I just made this recipe. It is amazing. I did add a little more chicken broth for a little more sauce. Well worth it!! I will make it again soon.

  37. Very delicious. My husband practically licked the plate! I served it with asparagus and a baked potato. Definitely adding it to the rotation. Thank you, Gina!

  38. Wonderful recipe. Gina – could you do this with ground chicken and upscale a “chicken” burger?

  39. Delicious! Used chicken thighs and about 1.5 cups of chicken broth to make more of a sauce. Put onions on top and all around the chicken. Cooked covered for a bit. Amazing!

  40. Came out yummy! I made extra onions, grated some extra cheese , added a little of the pan gravy and made a pasta side !

  41. This was delicious! Did not have the specified cheese, so I used Muenster instead! & it was delicious! Thank you for taking the time to share this recipe!

  42. Sooo good! Only change I made was to double the balsamic and added at least a cup of broth. The sauce thickened quickly. Roast some baby red potatoes while the onions were cooking for a fancy mid week dinner. We will make this one again

  43. This was delicious!! I used boneless chicken thighs and smoked Gouda as that’s what I had on hand and it was amazing! Definitely a recipe going into my rotation.

  44. Oh my. This was delicious. I did a few modifications due to the fact I am terrible at cooking chicken in the pan and have had some disasters caramelizing onions (smokey kitchen, ruined skillet). I used the air fryer for both! For the onions I put them in a ceramic dish and put the air fryer on high for 8 minutes, stirring half way through. I added the balsamic, worchestershire, and thyme and cooked for 10 min at 360 stirring half way through. The chicken I sprinkled with smoke paprika, salt, and pepper and cooked for 4 minutes, turning half way through(my cutlets were very thin). I finished it off in the skillet with the flour and broth, then the chicken, onions, and cheese. It took a full hour but it was worth it!

  45. I made this without flour and it came out perfect! I also doubled the onions like other reviews said. It was great for leftovers the next day too

  46. Very yummy recipe!! Doubled the paprika and chicken broth. The tenderized breasts I bought melted in our mouths! Next time I would definitely double the onions, too.

  47. Avatar photo
    Debbie Matherly

    My family loved this recipe. The chicken was so moist and tender. It was delicious! Sorry no picture.

  48. Delicious! Also very much like a “classy” chicken poutine when we had it with mashed potatoes. Next time, I’d double the broth to get more sauce (but same amount of flour – it thickened very easily).

  49. Really not worth the effort. It was okay, but nothing special for the time it took. I really wish people would be more honest in rating the recipes. Most are very good, but some are just okay, and don’t deserve 5 stars

  50. I can see why this recipe is getting so much chatter and love! My family loved it and it was great leftover too. Definitely a keeper for us!

  51. FABULOUS!!! I will definitely put it on my rotation- I didn’t have chicken broth so I used beef bullion broth. Amazing !

  52. A bit time consuming for a week night, but delicious. Added sherry to the sauce, which I had doubled, because it needed a little slight something. 

  53. OMG this was so delicious! The onions were absolutely divine.  Going into my list of favorite recipes.  Thank you!

  54. This was delicious. I cheated and caramelized my onions in the crockpot overnight. 10 hrs on low. Served with rice pilaf and an arugula salad.

  55. This was absolutely amazing and I love that it doesn’t require beef broth to get that french onion taste! 5 stars!

  56. Avatar photo
    Sarah Meagher

    Made this with my husband this evening, we used a George Foremen for the chicken cutlets and instant pot for the onions, as our stove,  smokes up the house if we pan fry anything and we don’t have a good vent.  It took a little to have it all come together, but it was good. We are looking forward to another day of it . Both my husband and I were impressed as we don’t usually like chicken breasts but today we did!

    1. I do, the points are listed under the recipe title (in blue) and the WW link is in the recipe card in orange.

  57. This was delicious. I was dying to make this after the buzz and all the great reviews. I doubled the sauce. The onions take at least 30 minutes to chop and saute so this isn’t a week night meal for us, since I’m usually driving my kids around. However, if we made the onions earlier then we just had to cook the chicken , t wouldn’t seem like such a long process.

  58. Avatar photo
    Candy Behrends

    Wonderful recipe!  I had thighs, so used those.  Made pretty much to the recipe but used very large onions so they were smothered (yum) and the Gruyère I had on hand was a smoked variety and worked really well with the flavors.  Served with halved brussels sprouts that were tossed with a tiny bit of olive oil, salt, pepper and a splash of balsamic vinegar and roasted in the air fryer.  Beautiful and delicious, we really enjoy your recipes!

  59. Made this tonight. So good! Made exactly as directed. I don’t think I’ve ever made anything by you that wasn’t delish! 

  60. I made this with 2 chicken breasts which I flattened serving half for dinner and the other half we had on toasted multigrain sour dough bread with spicy mayo….WOW! Dinner and lunch were fabulous….and such an easy recipe to make! Definitely will make this again!!

  61. Great recipe. Another keeper from Gina. I used Mozzarella cheese as it’s what I had on hand. Worked perfectly 

  62. My onions must have been larger than medium because I ended up with a ton. I used a full can of broth rather than 1/2 cup to try to balance it.

    Question… after making the onions, it says to set aside and wipe out the skillet. Does that mean that I should use the same skillet for the chicken? I used a second skillet and cooked the chicken during the 20-25 min that the onions were cooking. Should I have waited and used the pan that the onion cooked in? Does it add more flavor?

  63. So delicious! I too swapped in swiss cheese for the Gruyère, Used 1 whole cup of chicken broth and double the flour to create more of the sauce. Excellent recipe, will make again!

  64. Oh yummmm! I really enjoyed this different spin on chicken breast. I agree it is a little time consuming so allow extra time to prepare. I served w roasted broccoli and cauliflower and added balsamic before serving. I must say it did remind me of French Onion Soup, one of my favs! Thank you for the recipe!

  65. Made this last night and it was a hit with the family! I much prefer thighs, but this was definitely a way to jazz up boneless skinless chicken breasts with great flavors and presentation. Family has requested I add it to the rotation!

  66. Avatar photo
    Rachel Watterson

    I’ve been craving French onion soup lately, so I made this last night for a bit more nutritional value behind it – it was really good! We’ll definitely make it again to jazz up boring plain chicken breasts. I just wish recipes would include vegetable measurements (i.e. instead of 2 onions which can vary significantly). 

  67. Amazing recipe but not a weeknight rotation because it is a little time consuming to make. Also if your family loves onions just double the onions (I used 3 and wished used 4) and thank me later. If you have leftover onions, cold would be a great addition to a salad.

  68. Had to sub a few things for what I actually had in the pantry so I used Swiss instead of Gruyère and Red Wine Vin instead of the balsamic… still absolutely delicious. Served with mashed potatoes! Definitely a keeper. 

  69. This is delicious!! I love french onion soup and I’m not a huge fan of onions but this chicken is great! It takes a bit to make if you aren’t a natural in the kitchen but the end result is yummy! Even the hubs loved it!!

  70. Gina, not sure if you follow the FB page, but sooo many of us made this tonight!! Overwhelming agreement that this recipe is a keeper! 

  71. Avatar photo
    Kathleen Ressler

    The onions were so tasty, the chicken cooked beautifully, and the sauce is yummy. We are following strict low sodium diet, so used less Worcestershire sauce, but added a bit more balsamic vinegar to the onions. Only used pepper and paprika on the chicken, and used low sodium broth for the sauce. Wow…it is so good that I would serve it up for company, even with lowered sodium content. 
    Thank you for a great recipe!

  72. We enjoyed this recipe with roasted broccoli and brussel sprouts.  We loved it and will make it again.  

  73. I’m not an onion fan so my poor husband never gets to eat them. I made this for him tonight and he DEVOURED it! He loved the taste of the onions and said the sauce was great too. Def gonna have to treat him to this one more often 😉

  74. This was DELICIOUS and SO FULL of Flavor. My skeptical son poo-pooed this at first, but then after his first taste gobbled it up, and my husband went back for seconds. this was a winner!

  75. Made this tonight and it was a WINNER! Made extra onions to top the garlic rice I made, and substituted mozzarella for Gruyère, which worked great. Had some issues making the sauce/roux, as it turned out a bit clumpy, but feel like this was mainly because I didn’t premix the seasoned flour with the chicken broth – my own error, not the recipe! Excited to add this to the regular rotation. In addition to the garlic rice, I served the chicken with asparagus.

  76. Oh. My. Goodness! I have cooked many poultry recipes over the years, as my husband works for a poultry company, and this is amazing! Followed the recipe to a “T” and those caramelized onions took it to another level. Skinnytaste never fails! Now it’s on my “serve for company” list. I think I can make it all ahead of time, add a little broth, cover it, and reheat.

  77. I made this for dinner tonight. What a nice addition to my chicken recipe collection! It was easy and delicious. I made it for two but made the sauce for four, per the recipe. This is a keeper.

  78. Question-  what type of skillet is shown in the photo.  I am in the market for a new nonstick ovenproof (preferably with a lid).  I like the look of the skillet shown in the photos.  Can’t wait to try this recipe too! Thanks for all you do to keep me and my family eating healthy! 

  79. This is delicious! Huge hit with my picky teenage boys! I will definitely make it again. The onions are amazing! Gina your recipes are so good. Thank you for all your work! 

  80. Made this recipe for supper tonight. Made a couple of changes, based on what I had on hand. Loved the dish and my wife had seconds. Always a positive sign. 

  81. Made it for dinner tonight and everyone loved it! I used fontina cheese bc I had some to use up. Delish. Will try with the gruyere next time.

  82. Made this tonight, it was delicious. Will definitely make again. I served with green and yellow beans and a tossed salad. I did make some extra sauce!

  83. Avatar photo
    Jessica Loscar

    Wow! So good.

     My husband just said that this was his favorite meal…he ate with a packaged risotto. I ate it with a side salad. 

  84. Avatar photo
    Danielle Doscher

    Hi! Do you used regular or smoked paprika? It says paprika in one place and smoked in another-thank you! 

  85. I made this last night and it was amazing! So easy and so flavorful and made with ingredients I always have in the house. I doubled the sauce because who doesn’t like more sauce? I will definitely make it again.

  86. This recipe is delicious. Everyone loved it!  We have one non-cheese eater, so left piece cheese-less, and still delicious. It’s not a quick recipe, but worth the effort and wait!

  87. Avatar photo
    Cassandra Janson

    Made this tonight (with chicken tenderloins bc that’s what I had). Mixed it all in egg noodles with cheese on top top. AMAZING. Even my toddler ate it!

  88. Avatar photo
    RuthAnn Richards

    loved this recipe….my husband said a keeper for sure. i did add a half cup of red wine while chicken was simmering just to get a little more sauce…

    1. I have made a ton of skinny taste recipes over the years. Mostly all very good!! But this recipe takes the cake as the absolute best ever all time skinny taste dish!! I modified somewhat. Added more butter and used hot paprika in the flour! Was so good! Will be making this for years to come! Thank you!! 

  89. Could you please provide more guidance on how much onion the recipe needs. At least in my stores the size of onions really varies. Thank you in advance