French Onion Hen Casserole – The Large Man’s World ®

This French onion hen casserole marries tender hen with caramelized onions, crusty bread, and effervescent cheese all baked in a single dish! It’s SO fast and simple to make.

Whether or not you’re craving French onion soup otherwise you want a heat and hearty household dinner, this French onion hen will hit the spot. It’s wealthy and savory and deceptively simple to make.

Unsure what this dish particulars? Effectively, it showcases well-seasoned and juicy hen nestled in a creamy sauce with layers of caramelized onions, toasted baguette slices, and piles of melted cheese. We like to make it for cozy household dinners, but it surely’s fab for serving company, too!

Desk of Contents

1. Why this recipe works
2. Components wanted
3. The right way to make a French onion hen casserole
4. Tricks to make the most effective recipe 
5. Recipe and taste variations
6. Storage directions
7. Extra comforting casserole recipes 
8. Incessantly requested questions 
9. French Onion Hen Casserole

Why this recipe works

• Fast and simple. Assembling this French onion hen bake is a breeze! Flip to this recipe when craving consolation meals that cooks up in minutes.
• All of the textures! You get the tender hen, crispy-soaked baguettes, and gooey cheese… what extra might you need?
• No canned soup. Some French onion casserole recipes name for canned soup. However, Mine options upgraded flavors because of a hen broth-based sauce made out of scratch. 

Components wanted

You’ll love the easy components on this casserole and the truth that you in all probability have most of them at dwelling already. That is what you’ll want:

• Hen breast. Boneless, skinless breasts are chopped into bite-sized items. Should you don’t have hen breasts at dwelling, be at liberty to make use of boneless, skinless hen thighs as a substitute.
• Herbs and spices. Salt, pepper, dried thyme, and paprika are used to season the hen and provides every bit an indulgent, heat taste.
• Butter. To forestall the hen and onions from sticking within the pan.
• Onions. French onion soup is often made with yellow onions, however virtually any number of onion will work. You possibly can even use shallots when you’ve got them available.
• Balsamic vinegar. This provides a candy, acidic taste that cuts via the opposite wealthy flavors. 
• Garlic. Freshly minced cloves.
• Hen inventory. Use a good-quality inventory for probably the most comforting taste.
• French baguette. To cowl the casserole and add a buttery crunch to every chew, similar to in conventional French onion soup. 
• Gruyere cheese. This can be a traditional cheese selection for French onion-inspired dishes. Provolone or Swiss cheese additionally works effectively. 

The right way to make a French onion hen casserole

This recipe is simple to assemble, particularly whenever you observe my time-saving ideas under. Right here’s an summary: 

Season the hen: Minimize the hen into bite-size cubes, then season them with salt, pepper, thyme, and paprika. 

Brown the hen: Cook dinner the hen in a scorching buttered skillet till the items have browned. Switch them to a baking dish. 

Caramelize the onions: Add extra butter to the skillet, then add the onions. Cook dinner till they’re golden and caramelized. Afterward, add within the balsamic and garlic, then cook dinner till aromatic.  

Assemble and bake: Pour the onions over the hen within the baking dish. Pour the hen inventory over high, then cowl with the toasted baguette slices and grated cheese. Bake the casserole till the cheese is melted. 

Tricks to make the most effective recipe 

• Slowly caramelize the onions. When executed correctly, this step can take between half-hour to 1 hour. Simply be affected person… You need to obtain that deep, caramelized taste as a result of it provides the timeless style of French onion soup to this casserole. 
• Relaxation earlier than serving. Let the casserole relaxation for a couple of minutes after baking to assist the flavors meld collectively and agency up the feel.
• Time-saving ideas. Velocity up the recipe by browning the hen, caramelizing the onions, and shredding the cheese 1 to 2 days forward of time. It’s also possible to shred a store-bought rotisserie hen to avoid wasting much more time. 

Recipe and taste variations

Whereas I don’t advocate straying too removed from the recipe, you can also make a couple of small adjustments to customise it:

Add mushrooms. Sauté sliced mushrooms with the onions for further taste and texture.

Add bacon. Toss crispy bacon crumbles with the hen and onions for an irresistible salty taste and crunch. 

Vegetarian. Skip the hen and make a vegetarian French onion casserole utilizing plant-based hen or roasted greens, like bell peppers, zucchini, onion, eggplant, or potatoes and carrots.

Low-carb. Cowl your French onion hen casserole with a low-carb substitute for the bread, like cauliflower rice or cauliflower mash.

Storage directions

To retailer: Retailer the leftover casserole in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

To freeze: After the unbaked casserole is assembled, cowl the highest with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze for two to three months. Let it thaw in a single day within the fridge and observe the baking directions the subsequent day. 

Extra comforting casserole recipes 

Incessantly requested questions