French Onion Stuffed Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken breasts filled with caramelized onions and melted Gruyère cheese, perfect for cozy meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ Onion Filling

05 - 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
09 - 1/4 teaspoon sugar
10 - 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
11 - 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth

→ Cheese

12 - 4 slices Gruyère cheese or Swiss cheese
13 - 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

→ Garnish

14 - Fresh parsley, chopped

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter and add sliced onions. Cook, stirring often, for about 15 minutes until soft and golden brown. Add garlic, thyme, sugar, and a pinch of salt; cook 2 more minutes.
03 - Stir in balsamic vinegar and beef broth. Simmer until most of the liquid evaporates and onions are deeply caramelized, approximately 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
04 - Pat chicken breasts dry. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut a pocket into the side of each breast, being careful not to cut all the way through.
05 - Season chicken breasts inside and out with salt and pepper. Fill each pocket with a generous spoonful of caramelized onions and a slice of Gruyère cheese.
06 - Secure the opening with toothpicks if needed. Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the top of each breast.
07 - Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear stuffed chicken breasts for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown.
08 - Transfer skillet to the oven. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through with an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
09 - Rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The chicken stays incredibly juicy while those caramelized onions create a savory surprise that feels fancy but takes less time than you'd think.
  • It looks impressive enough to serve guests, but honest truth is it comes together in under an hour with mostly everyday ingredients.
02 -
  • Don't skip the caramelizing step or rush it, that 15 to 20 minutes is what transforms regular onions into something transcendent and sweet.
  • Your chicken pocket needs to be deep enough to hold a good amount of filling but not so deep that you're cutting through the other side, practice your knife work once before you commit to all four breasts.
03 -
  • If your chicken breasts are thick, gently pound them to an even thickness before stuffing so they cook evenly throughout.
  • Don't skip resting the finished chicken for those 5 minutes, it allows the juices to redistribute so every bite stays tender and moist.
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