French Onion Chicken and Rice Bake Recipe
French Onion Chicken Rice is a comforting and flavorful one-pot meal featuring tender chicken baked with caramelized onions, savory rice, and melted cheese topping for a deliciously cheesy finish.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-American
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Vegetables
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
Grains
- 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice
Dairy
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese or Gruyère cheese
Other
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook slowly, stirring frequently, until they turn a rich golden brown and caramelize, about 25-30 minutes. Season lightly with salt during cooking to help draw out moisture.
- Prepare Chicken and Rice: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a baking dish, evenly spread the uncooked rice. Place the chicken breasts on top of the rice. Pour the chicken broth over the rice and chicken, ensuring the rice is fully submerged.
- Add Caramelized Onions: Spoon the caramelized onions evenly over the chicken breasts, distributing the flavorful onions on top of the meat and rice.
- Bake the Dish: Cover the baking dish tightly with foil to trap steam, and bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and rice is tender.
- Add Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove the foil, sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the chicken and rice. Return to the oven uncovered and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and the rice to set.
Notes
- For extra depth of flavor, you can deglaze the onion pan with a splash of dry white wine or sherry before adding onions to the baking dish.
- Use chicken thighs if you prefer darker meat; cooking time may need slight adjustment.
- Gruyère cheese pairs best for an authentic French onion taste, but Swiss cheese is a great substitute.
- Make sure the rice is fully submerged in broth to ensure even cooking and avoid dryness.
Keywords: French Onion Chicken Rice, One-Pot Meal, Baked Chicken with Rice, Caramelized Onions, Cheesy Chicken Rice
