Description
A comforting and flavorful one-pan meal featuring tender chicken breasts cooked atop aromatic caramelized onions and savory rice, finished with melted Gruyere cheese for a rich French-inspired dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Onion & Rice Mixture
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Topping
- 1 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
- Optional: Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the dish.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes on each side until they develop a golden brown crust. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Caramelize Onions: In the same skillet, add the thinly sliced onions and cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until they are deeply caramelized. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Add Rice and Broth: Stir in the long-grain white rice, chicken broth, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper into the caramelized onion mixture, mixing well to combine.
- Assemble and Bake: Nestle the seared chicken breasts on top of the rice mixture. Cover the skillet with a lid or foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the chicken is fully cooked through.
- Add Cheese and Melt: Remove the cover, sprinkle shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese evenly over the chicken and rice, then return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve the French Onion Chicken & Rice warm for a hearty, delicious meal.
Notes
- Use an oven-safe skillet to easily transfer from stovetop to oven.
- You can substitute Swiss cheese if Gruyere is unavailable.
- Adjust salt to taste depending on the sodium content of the chicken broth used.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a splash of white wine before adding the broth to deglaze the pan.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing, Baking
- Cuisine: French-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with rice and cheese
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
