French Onion Chicken Skillet

Name: French Onion Chicken Skillet Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons butter (unsalted); 2 large white onions (sliced into 1/4th inch rings); 2 teaspoons fresh thyme (chopped or 1 teaspoon dried); ½ teaspoon dried oregano; 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 6 chicken thighs (trimmed); 2 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon pepper; ¾ cup dry white wine (like Sauvignon blanc); 1 cup beef broth; ½ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded); ½ cup Swiss cheese (shredded); Parsley (fresh chopped, for garnish)

French onion chicken is pan-seared chicken thighs topped with caramelized onions, beef broth gravy, and melted Gruyère cheese. It has all the savory, sweet flavors of French onion soup in a complete, one-pan meal. Ready in about 45 minutes with hands-off simmering time. Perfect when you want comfort food that feels special enough for company but simple enough for a weeknight dinner.

Jump to Recipe

white skillet with chicken thighs and melted cheese on top with a wood spoon in it

French onion soup is amazing, but sometimes it’s not enough for a whole meal. I’m definitely still hungry afterwards. So how do I solve this problem? Turn it into a full meal.

All those classic soup flavors like sweet caramelized onions, the rich broth, and melted cheese, but with juicy chicken thighs. It’s an actual dinner, not just soup. I use these same flavors for my french onion dip and these french onion meatballs.

The best part? You caramelize the onions in 30 minutes (not hours). So you can make it any night of the week. Plus, it’s a one pan cleanup!

Serve it by itself, over mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or rice. Add a side salad and some garlic knots to round out the meal.

More Chicken Skillet Meals

Marry Me Chicken – Creamy sun-dried tomato sauce, one pan
Sweet and Sour Chicken – Tangy pineapple, restaurant-style takeout
Chicken Pot Pie – One-skillet with flaky crust and ingredient shortcuts
Creamy Garlic Chicken – Rich parmesan herb sauce

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclosure policy.

ingredients for a french onion soup chicken recipe in individual bowls with text overlay labeling them

See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.

Ingredient Notes

Butter: I use unsalted butter, not salted or margarine, for this recipe. If you only have salted butter, reduce the extra salt by 1/4 teaspoon per 1 stick of butter used.
Onions: French onion soup is traditionally made with yellow onions because they have a stronger flavor. Substitute white, red, sweet, or a combination of all.
Chicken thighs: While this recipe calls for chicken thighs, personally, I prefer chicken breasts. You can also use chicken legs. Add some cooking time if using bone-in chicken sections.
Dry white wine: Sauvignon blanc is what I prefer to cook with but you can certainly use your favorite or leave it out all together. Substitute more broth.
Cheese: I use Swiss and mozzarella because they are creamier, easier to find, and more budget friendly. Use Gruyere or Parmesan cheese for a more traditional flavor.

For more insider tips, tricks, and a behind the scenes look, follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, & X.

How To Make French Onion Chicken

white pan with onions caramelizing in it

Preheat the oven to 375F. Melt the butter in a large oven-safe skillet over medium high heat. Add the sliced onions and reduce heat to a medium low. Cook, stirring occasionally, and allow onions to caramelize (roughly 30 minutes). Remove the caramelized onions from pan and keep warm.

Add olive oil to pan over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper and place in hot pan. Sear chicken until lightly golden brown on each side. Remove and transfer to a plate.

cooked onions in a white pan with small bowls of ingredients next to it

Add onions back to pan and deglaze pan with white wine. Add chicken back to pan and allow chicken to cook through and the sauce has been reduced by half.

skillet with onions, spices, and broth cooking

Stir in the beef broth, thyme, oregano, and garlic and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Spread the onions into a single layer.

chicken thighs cooking in a white pan with two small bowls of cheese

Place the seared chicken on top of the onions. Top with the shredded cheeses.

white skillet with chicken thighs topped with unmelted cheese

Place in the preheated oven for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from oven and garnish with chopped parsley.

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

baked french onion soup chicken topped with chopped parsley

Make Ahead Instructions

Cut cooking time in half by prepping components ahead:

Up to 2 Days Ahead:

Trim chicken thighs of extra fat, store in airtight container in fridge
Caramelize onions with garlic, thyme, oregano. Store in airtight container in fridge

Up to 7 Days Ahead:

Grate mozzarella and Swiss cheese blocks, store in airtight container in fridge

When ready to cook, just assemble and bake! The caramelized onions are the time-consuming part, so doing those ahead is game-changing.

wood spoon holding a chicken thigh topped with melted cheese

Variations

Use Gruyere instead of Swiss for more authentic French onion flavor
Use chicken breasts instead of thighs
Try bone-in chicken (cook 10-15 minutes longer)
Swap chicken for pork chops or beef
Skip wine, use all beef or chicken broth
Add mushrooms with the onions

two bowls of mashed potatoes and french onion chicken

Storage & Reheating

Store leftovers in airtight container in fridge up to 3 days. Reheat in microwave 2 minutes, then 30-second intervals until warmed through. Or reheat in 350°F oven covered with foil until internal temp reaches 165°F.

Serving Suggestions

Serve over:

close up of chicken and mashed potatoes in a bowl

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it last?

Can I freeze it?

Yes! Let leftovers come to room temperature first, then store in freezer-safe container up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge overnight before reheating.

Can I use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs?

Yes! Chicken thighs are more flavorful and stay juicier, but breasts work fine. May need slightly less cooking time.

Can I make it ahead of time?

It tastes best served right away, but you can prep the components ahead of time. Trim chicken (2 days ahead), caramelize onions (2 days ahead), pre-grate cheese (7 days ahead). Caramelizing onions in advance cuts cooking time in half!

What if I use bone-in chicken?

You’ll need approximately 10-15 minutes longer cooking time. Check that internal temp reaches 165°F using a thermometer to check doneness.

Can I skip the wine?

Absolutely! Use more beef broth or chicken broth instead. It’s still very delicious.

close up of chicken thighs cooking in a sauce

Recipe Tips & Tricks

30-minute caramelized onions: Cook over medium-low heat so they caramelize and don’t burn. Don’t salt onions or they’ll release liquid too early.
Chicken choice: Thighs are more flavorful and juicier than breasts. Bone-in needs 10-15 minutes longer cooking time.
Wine substitute: Skip white wine and use more beef broth or chicken broth instead.
Richer sauce: Add gravy master or kitchen bouquet for deeper color and flavor.
Shred your own cheese: Buy blocks, shred with box grater for best melting results. Pre-shredded has anti-caking agents.

This French Onion Soup Chicken recipe takes a classic soup and turns it into a hearty full meal! This one pot dish is easy to make and uses a handful of pantry staples that really pack a flavor punch into every bite!

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!