Creamy French Onion Chicken Thighs Skillet
Ready in 30 minutes, this creamy French onion chicken thighs skillet recipe delivers tender, juicy chicken in a rich, savory onion and cream sauce—all made in one pan! It’s a comforting and flavorful weeknight dinner the whole family will love. Creamy French onion chicken skillet has a base of caramelized onions used to add extra flavor to boneless, skinless chicken thighs and simmered together with cream to make an easy chicken dinner.
French Onion anything has a way of getting my attention. I love my French onion burgers. French onion soup is always a weakness for me so I even have French Onion Beef Stew. Anything that uses caramelized onions has my attention and keeps me coming back for more. Caramelized onions inspired my creamy French onion chicken skillet using boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
But I also love skillet meals like Skillet Pizza and Skillet Taco Mac and Cheese. So making the skillet French onion chicken thighs was also a head nod to the chicken, bacon, and mushrooms skillet I love to make too.
French Onion Chicken Ingredients
The creamy French onion chicken skillet is one of those recipes I will make over and over again for just myself. The hardest part of this recipe is waiting for the onions to caramelize. But once the onions are caramelized this chicken skillet recipe is quick to make.
The 7 ingredients you need to make this are so basic you should have them on hand.
- Chicken – boneless chicken things are my preference because they pack so much flavor. Boneless chicken breasts can work just as well in this recipe.
- Onion – fresh yellow or sweet onion is the best option.
- Onion soup packet – the powered onion packets are full of flavor and perfect for this recipe.
- Butter – skillet recipes are best made with butter. Bring on the flavor with butter.
- Sour cream – the tang of the sour cream also combines for a punch of flavor with the onion soup.
- Parmesan cheese – the grated green bottle of Parmesan cheese is absolutely fine to use. Also feel free to use shredded Parmesan cheese.
- Cream – half and half cream is the final touch to bring the ingredients together.
How to make creamy French onion boneless skinless chicken thighs recipe
To make the caramelized onions, put four tablespoons of butter in the skillet or braiser with sliced onions over medium-high heat. Stir the onions around the pan let saute for 15-20 minutes to allow the onions to get good an caramelized.
While the onions are caramelizing, rub an envelope of dried onion soup mix
on the boneless, skinless chicken thighs. You are more than welcome to use chicken breasts for this recipe as well. The chicken breasts will just need to quick a bit longer.
When the onions are browned, add the chicken to the skillet. For chicken thighs, you won’t need any additional butter, but for chicken breasts, you will need additional butter to keep the chicken moist. Place the chicken right on top of the onions.
Cook it for several minutes before flipping the chicken over. When the chicken has cooked on both sides, spread a combination of sour cream and parmesan cheese over the chicken.
Add cream and water to the chicken as well to let it simmer in while the sour cream and parmesan cheese melt into the chicken.
The sauce reduces into an amazing flavor combination of onion and cream for a rich sauce for the dark meat chicken thighs. Bread is great for also soaking up all this creamy French onion sauce.
This creamy French onion chicken thigh skillet is great over a big heaping pile of pasta or even cauliflower rice if you are eating low carb. I always make pasta in the Instant Pot for my swimmer to have post-swim practice, so most of the family ate the chicken thighs and creamy French onion sauce over spaghetti noodles.
Add a bit more parmesan for garnish. The noodles soak up the creamy French onion sauce perfectly.
Tips for Success
- Caramelizing Onions: Take your time when caramelizing the onions; this process develops the deep, sweet flavor essential to the dish.
- Cheese Variations: While Parmesan adds a nutty flavor, feel free to experiment with Gruyère or Swiss cheese for a different taste profile.
- Make It Ahead: This dish can be prepared in advance and reheated gently on the stove over low heat.asiliglam.com+4Whole and Heavenly Oven+4TikTok+4
🧊 How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
🥶 Storing:
- Allow the chicken to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
🔥 Reheating:
- Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through.
- Add a splash of cream or chicken broth if the sauce thickens too much in the fridge.
❄️ Freezing:
- This dish can be frozen, but the cream sauce may slightly separate.
- If freezing, let cool completely and freeze in a sealed container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Skillet Recipes
Creamy French Onion Chicken Thigh Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 onion, sliced
- 4-8 tablespoons buttter
- 1 envelope onion soup dry mix
- 1/2 cup cream, half and half or heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/4-1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Begin by browning the onions in a large skillet with four tablespoons of butter. Cook for 10 minutes over medium to medium-high heat.
- While the onions cook, rub the chicken down with the dry onion mix and let sit until the onions are browned.
- Add the chicken to the onions after about 10 minutes of cooking. If you are using chicken breasts, you may want to add butter so the chicken does not get too dry. The chicken thighs should be fine without more butter.
- Cook the chicken on each side for 4-6 minutes. when chicken is cooked on both sides, spread sour cream over the chicken. Add the water and cream to the pan and then sprinkle the parmesan over the chicken.
- Let simmer for another 8-10 minutes to let the sauce reduce.
- Serve over pasta or rice. For low-carb use cauliflower rice. Make my Instant Pot pasta for a quick pasta.
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This chicken recipe looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it! I also love French onion everything.
This chicken recipe looks amazing and I canโt wait to try it! I also love French onion everything.
literally the best recipe ever. my husband licked the plate clean
This chicken recipe looks amazing
this chicken is just what i want now
thanks for shering this, i will go make it now
I made this recipe tonight and let me tell you,THIS is soooo good! The little elderly couple I care for is lovinโ every bite-