Go Back Email Link
–+ servings
Plate with green beans, mashed potatoes topped with brown gravy, and a piece of french onion chicken breast covered in onions and sauce. A fork rests beside the mashed potatoes.

French Onion Chicken with Gruyère and Crispy Croutons

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
This French onion chicken is pure comfort food, like a heartier version of your favorite French onion soup. It's juicy seared chicken smothered in caramelized onions, Gruyère cheese, and crispy croutons. Everything bakes together until golden and bubbling, with thyme sprinkled on top for a fresh finish. It’s a cozy, flavor-packed dinner you’ll want to make again and again.

Ingredients

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Melt the butter in your largest, ovenproof frying pan over medium-high heat (see notes). Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, add ½ teaspoon of each salt and pepper, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until they are light golden brown, about 15 minutes more, then remove the onions from the pan.
    4 tablespoons butter, 4 medium onions
    Caramelized onions in a round white skillet with black handles, set on a white marble surface—perfectly prepped for a savory french onion chicken dish.
  • While the onions are cooking, prep the chicken. Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board, and give the thick end a few hits with the palm of your hand to flatten them so they are evenly thick (see notes). Season the chicken with Italian seasoning and the remaining ½ teaspoon of each salt and pepper.
    4 medium chicken breasts, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
    Four raw chicken breasts seasoned with herbs and ready for a french onion chicken recipe, arranged on a wooden cutting board over a white marble surface.
  • Add the chicken to the pan you used to cook the onions - if needed, add a splash of oil or a little more butter. Sear the chicken for 5 minutes on each side, then remove them from the pan (it's ok if it's not fully cooked yet).
    Four seasoned, cooked French onion chicken breasts are arranged in a white, round Dutch oven on a marble surface.
  • Return the onions to the pan, sprinkle the cornstarch over top, and mix it into the onions. Add the beef broth and stir until the gravy thickens.
    1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 ½ cups beef broth
    A round white pot with black handles contains cooked macaroni in a thick orange cheese sauce on a white marble surface, perfect alongside savory french onion chicken.
  • Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan, then cover with gruyere cheese. Add the croutons around the chicken, then sprinkle the thyme over the top. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
    1 ½ cups shredded gruyere cheese, 1 cup croutons, 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
    Round baking dish with browned french onion chicken breasts topped with melted cheese, herbs, and croutons in a savory sauce on a white marble surface.

Notes

Chicken: I like to pound the thicker end of the chicken breasts so they cook evenly. To do this, I find it easiest to hit it a few times with the palm of my hand. If you'd rather use a meat mallet or rolling pin, you can do that.
Croutons: I highly recommend making your own. You can season them and pop them into your oven while the onions are cooking, and they'll be ready by the time you need them for this recipe. My garlic parmesan croutons work great in this recipe. 
image of the ingredients needed to make this recipe
Serving: 1 serving = ¼ of the recipe, Calories: 570kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 61g, Fat: 29g, Saturated Fat: 15g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 213mg, Sodium: 1494mg, Potassium: 1099mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 770IU, Vitamin C: 11mg, Calcium: 340mg, Iron: 2mg