French Onion Chicken Bake

🥘 Recipe: French Onion Chicken Bake

Chicken: 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Onions: 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
Cheese: 1.5 cups shredded Gruyère (or Swiss/Provolone)
Fats: 3 tbsp butter, 1 tbsp olive oil
Liquids: 1/2 cup beef broth, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Seasoning: 1 tsp dried thyme, salt and pepper to taste, 2 cloves minced garlic
Garnish: Fresh thyme or parsley

Caramelize the Onions: Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20–25 minutes until deep golden brown. Add garlic, dried thyme, and balsamic vinegar in the last 2 minutes.
Deglaze: Pour in the beef broth to scrape up the brown bits (fond) from the pan. Let it simmer for 2 minutes until slightly reduced. Set aside.
Prepare Chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. In a separate oven-safe skillet or baking dish, sear the chicken for 3 minutes per side just to get some color (it won’t be cooked through).
Assemble: Top each chicken breast generously with the caramelized onion mixture and any remaining pan sauce.
Bake: Place in a preheated oven at 190°C (375°F) for 15–20 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F).
Melt: Sprinkle the Gruyère over the chicken and broil for 2–3 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.

The Onion Secret: Don’t rush the onions. Caramelization is a chemical reaction (the Maillard reaction) that requires time. If they start to burn, add a splash of water.
Uniformity: If your chicken breasts are very thick on one end, pound them to an even thickness so they cook uniformly without drying out.
The Cheese: Gruyère is traditional for its nutty flavor and superior melt, but a mix of Mozzarella and Parmesan works in a pinch.

Low Carb/Keto Friendly: Naturally high in protein and low in sugar, making it great for metabolic health.
High Protein: Excellent for muscle recovery and satiety.
Rich in Quercetin: Onions are loaded with this antioxidant, which supports heart health and reduces inflammation.