Description
This French Onion Chicken Bake is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked with caramelized onions, French onion soup, and topped with melted light mozzarella cheese. The chicken is first pan-seared for a golden crust, then simmered in a savory sauce before finishing in the oven to bring all the flavors together beautifully.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 6 (4 oz.) skinless, boneless chicken breasts, raw
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp seasoned salt
Onions & Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Land o’Lakes light butter made with canola oil
- 1 yellow onion, peeled & sliced
- 1 (10 oz.) can French onion soup (Campbell’s recommended)
- 1 cup low sodium beef broth
Cheese
- 1/2 cup fat free or light mozzarella cheese (Market Pantry reduced fat mozzarella recommended)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the chicken.
- Sauté Onions: In a skillet or cast iron grill skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté until softened and translucent, which develops their sweetness and flavor.
- Set Onions Aside: Once the onions are soft, transfer them to a plate and set aside.
- Prepare Skillet for Chicken: Spray the same skillet with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking and prepare it for cooking the chicken.
- Season Chicken: Season each chicken breast evenly with paprika, garlic powder, and seasoned salt to add flavor.
- Sear Chicken: Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the skillet and cook over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and seared on both sides.
- Add Onions Back: Return the sautéed onions to the skillet along with the chicken breasts.
- Simmer with Soup and Broth: Pour in the can of French onion soup and 1 cup of low sodium beef broth. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 2-3 minutes, letting the sauce reduce slightly and caramelize onto the chicken for enhanced flavor.
- Add Cheese: If using a cast iron skillet, top each chicken breast with the light mozzarella cheese. If not, transfer the chicken, onions, and sauce to an oven-safe baking dish and then sprinkle the cheese over the top.
- Bake: Place the skillet or baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the dish is heated through.
Notes
- Use a cast iron skillet for better caramelization and to bake directly in the pan.
- Low sodium beef broth helps control the saltiness of the dish.
- Fat free or light mozzarella reduces calories but still melts well for a cheesy topping.
- Ensure chicken breasts are of similar size for even cooking.
- Can substitute with other white cheeses like provolone or Swiss if preferred.
