Description
This Cozy French Onion Chicken Rice Bake is the ultimate comfort food — tender chicken, caramelized onions, and creamy rice all baked together under a blanket of melted cheese. It’s hearty, flavorful, and easy to prepare, making it the perfect one-pan dinner for chilly nights or family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into large chunks)
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth
- ½ cup French onion soup (canned or homemade)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese
- ½ cup mozzarella or provolone cheese
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Caramelize the onions:
- Melt butter (or warm oil) in a wide skillet over medium. Add sliced onions and a pinch of salt.
- Stir, scraping fond occasionally. Lower heat as they soften. Patience is flavor.
- When deep golden, deglaze with a splash of broth or water; scrape up browned bits.
- Bloom aromatics:
- Add minced garlic and thyme; stir 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Optional: Stir in a dash of Worcestershire and ½–1 tsp balsamic for roundness.
- Coat the rice:
- Stir in uncooked long-grain rice for 30–60 seconds to coat in the oniony fat; this helps keep grains separate.
- Add liquid & bring to a simmer:
- Pour in stock/broth and any remaining seasonings.
- Bring just to a bare simmer—don’t boil vigorously or you’ll lose too much liquid.
- Nestle the chicken on top:
- Pat the chicken dry; season both sides. Place pieces evenly over the rice mixture.
- Cover & bake:
- Cover tightly with a lid or foil. Bake at 180–190°C / 350–375°F until rice is tender and chicken is done.
- Optional cheese finish:
- Uncover, scatter Gruyère/Swiss/provolone, and return to the oven a few minutes to melt/brown.
- Rest 10 minutes:
- Remove from the oven and let it sit so steam finishes the rice and textures set.
- Prep Time: PT20M
- Cook Time: PT45M
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 460kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110mg