French Onion Chicken and Rice Recipe
This French onion chicken and rice recipe is the ultimate comfort food, combining sweet caramelized onions, juicy chicken, creamy rice, and melted Gruyère cheese in one delicious one-pan meal. Perfect for cozy weeknights or impressing family and friends.
Equipment
- Oven-Safe Skillet or Dutch Oven
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 pounds yellow onions sliced about 1/4-inch thick (about 7 cups)
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves plus more for garnish
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt divided, plus more as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus more as needed
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup whole or 2% milk
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs cut into bite-size pieces
- 6 ounces Gruyère cheese shredded (about 1 1/2 cups), divided
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In an oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are deeply caramelized, about 25–30 minutes.
- Add the fresh thyme, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper to the onions. Stir to combine.
- Add the rice, chicken broth, and milk to the skillet. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Season the chicken pieces with the remaining 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Nestle the chicken into the rice mixture in the skillet.
- Sprinkle half of the shredded Gruyère cheese over the top of the mixture.
- Cover the skillet with a lid or aluminum foil and transfer it to the preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the cover and sprinkle the remaining Gruyère cheese over the top. Return the skillet to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Once done, remove the skillet from the oven and let it rest for 5–10 minutes. Garnish with additional fresh thyme leaves before serving.
Notes
For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken with mushrooms and use vegetable broth. Adjust cooking times as needed.
