Description
French onion chicken rice brings comfort and elegance to dinner tables with caramelized onions, tender chicken, and creamy rice. Savory layers of flavor meld perfectly, creating a hearty meal that satisfies deep hunger while celebrating classic French culinary traditions you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 3–4 cups cooked chicken, torn into pieces
- 3 cups chicken stock
Vegetables and Herbs:
- 3 pounds sweet onions, halved and thickly sliced
- 8 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach, packed
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Dairy, Liquids, and Seasonings:
- 4 ounces Gruyere Swiss cheese, shredded
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1/3 cup brandy or white wine
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 1/2 cups white rice, uncooked
Instructions
- Initiate caramelization of onions by heating butter and oil in a large skillet. Slowly cook onions over medium-low heat for approximately 30 minutes, ensuring occasional stirring until they transform into a rich, deep golden color.
- Introduce minced garlic to the caramelized onions and sauté briefly. Incorporate aromatic herbs like tarragon and thyme, seasoning with salt and pepper. Carefully deglaze the pan with brandy, allowing the liquid to completely evaporate.
- In a separate dry pot, sear mushrooms until they develop a beautiful golden-brown exterior. Add remaining butter and oil, then gently toast rice grains to enhance their nutty flavor.
- Fold fresh spinach into the rice mixture, allowing it to wilt quickly. Pour in chicken stock, bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until rice reaches perfect tenderness.
- Gently fold cream and cooked chicken into the rice mixture, warming thoroughly. Transfer the entire preparation to a greased baking dish, ensuring even distribution.
- Artfully layer the previously caramelized onions across the rice surface. Generously sprinkle Gruyere cheese over the top and broil for 3-4 minutes until the cheese melts and develops a golden-brown crispy crust.
Notes
- Slow Caramelization Ensures Sweet Depth take your time with onions, allowing them to develop rich, complex flavors without burning by maintaining low, steady heat.
- Brandy Boost enhances the dish’s complexity, creating a subtle depth of flavor that complements the caramelized onions and earthy mushrooms.
- Mushroom Browning maximizes umami by cooking them in a dry pan first, concentrating their natural savory notes before adding fat.
- Cheese Swap allows flexibility for dietary needs; try dairy-free alternatives like nutritional yeast or vegan cheese for lactose-intolerant guests.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 85mg