If you love french onion soup, you’ll go wild over this easy crockpot french onion chicken recipe! Tender chicken is slow cooked in a rich onion gravy and topped with lots of melty cheese. The best part? You only 5 simple ingredients!
Why You’ll Love This Crockpot French Onion Chicken Recipe
- Easy to Make: This is an easy dump and go crockpot recipe. Just add everything to the slow cooker and let it do the hard work!
- Full of Flavor: Tender chicken is slow cooked in french onion soup with caramelized onions. Topped with melty, gooey cheese, each bite is better than the last.
- Budget Friendly: You only need 5 simple ingredients, keeping this slow cooker french onion chicken easy on your wallet.
Looking for more easy and budget friendly chicken dinners in the crockpot? Try this crockpot salsa chicken, juicy crockpot chicken and gravy or easy crockpot ranch chicken!
What You’ll Need
Just 5 simple ingredients and you will be ready to go! Scroll down to the recipe card for exact amounts.
- Chicken: We used boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- Onion: We love using sweet yellow onions, but shallots or white onion will work too.
- Condensed French Onion Soup: You can grab a can of this at any grocery store.
- Onion Soup Mix: We prefer the Lipton onion soup mix. You will add the dry mix directly to the crockpot.
- Cheese: Swiss cheese or gruyere cheese are excellent choices, but provolone or mozzarella will also work.
How to Make Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken
You won’t believe how easy it is to make this slow cooked chicken with french onion soup. The flavorful french onion soup, chicken and sweet onions will fill your house with an amazing aroma. Scroll to the recipe card at bottom of the post for full detailed instructions.
- Layer Ingredients: Place chicken breasts in a crockpot coated with non-stick spray. Top with sliced onions, onion soup mix and the can of french onion soup.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Place the lid on the crockpot and cook for 2 to 3 hours on high, or 6 to 7 hours on low.
- Melt the Cheese: Transfer the cooked chicken to an oven-safe dish and arrange the cooked onions on top. Top chicken with cheese and broil, until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Serve immediately with any side you’d like!
Cook’s Tips & Variations
- White vs. Dark Meat: You can use boneless chicken thighs if you prefer, however we prefer a chicken breast instead. They hold up well in the sauce and are easy to transfer to a casserole dish to melt the cheese on top.
- Don’t Shred the Chicken: To keep the dish from being too salty, we recommend leaving the chicken breasts whole. If you shred the meat, it will soak up more of the sauce and can become overpowering.
- Don’t feel like broiling the cheese? Melt it directly in the crockpot instead. Add cheese, place a paper towel over the top of the crockpot and cover with the lid. It will take about 10 minutes to melt. The paper towel will catch condensation to prevent water-y cheese!
Serving Suggestions
With it’s broth-y onion sauce, this crockpot french onion chicken will pair well with many different sides. Here are some of our favorite pairings:
- Traditional: We drizzle the leftover onion broth over the top of garlic mashed potatoes or parmesan garlic rice.
- Veggies: Roasted green beans, roasted cauliflower or parmesan roasted broccoli are all great choices! A fresh side salad is also always a good idea.
- Serve Over Texas Toast: Both of our husbands enjoy this dinner served over a piece of garlic bread. With the broth soaked bread, it’s even more similar to french onion soup!
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
This crockpot french onion chicken stores well to reheat for lunch or dinner another day. Here are your options:
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheat: Place one serving in the microwave for 2 minutes, stirring half way through. Or warm a larger serving in the oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes, until heated through.
- Freeze: Transfer cooled leftovers (without the cheese) to an airtight container and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Heat as directed above, then add fresh cheese and place it under the broiler to melt.
Yield: 4 servings
Crockpot French Onion Chicken
If you love french onion soup, you’ll go wild over this crockpot french onion chicken recipe! Tender chicken is slow cooked in a rich onion gravy and topped with lots of melty cheese. Bonus: This easy dump and go recipe is ready with just 5 simple ingredients.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast, or thighs
- 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed french onion soup
- 1 (1 oz) packet Lipton Onion Soup Mix
- 4-6 thick slices Gruyere or Swiss cheese
Instructions
- Spray a large crockpot with non-stick spray. Arrange chicken breast in an even layer on the bottom of the crockpot.
- Layer sliced onions on top of chicken and sprinkle with Lipton onion soup & dip mix. Pour french onion soup on top and place lid on slow cooker.
- Cook for 2 to 3 hours on high, or 6 to 7 hours on low, until chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Preheat broiler and grease a casserole dish with non-stick spray.
- Remove whole chicken breasts and place in an oven safe casserole dish. Scoop out any leftover cooked onions and arrange those on top of the chicken. Add a little of the broth to the casserole dish, about 1/3 cup.
- Top chicken with cheese and broil until melted and bubbling, about 2 minutes. Serve immediately!
Video
Notes
Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat: Place one serving in the microwave for 2 minutes, stirring half way through. Or warm a larger serving in the oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes, until heated through.
Freeze: Transfer cooled leftovers (without the cheese) to an airtight container and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Heat as directed above, then add fresh cheese and place it under the broiler to melt.
White vs. Dark Meat: You can use boneless chicken thighs if you prefer, however we prefer a chicken breast instead. They hold up well in the sauce and are easy to transfer to a casserole dish to melt the cheese on top.
Don’t Shred the Chicken: To keep the dish from being too salty, we recommend leaving the chicken breasts whole. If you shred the meat, it will soak up more of the sauce and can become overpowering.
Don’t feel like broiling the cheese? Melt it directly in the crockpot instead. Add cheese, place a paper towel over the top of the crockpot and cover with the lid. It will take about 10 minutes to melt. The paper towel will catch condensation to prevent water-y cheese!
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 251kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 91mg, Sodium: 1117mg, Potassium: 839mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 177IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 183mg, Iron: 1mg
Made this last night and it was absolute perfection. Saw a comment about putting it on Italian bread before broiling and it was a great addition. Thank you for this excellent recipe!!
A family favorite! I have made this many times and it is so delicious and easy! Pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes. I prefer the Swiss and lots of it! Thank you for the recipe 🙂
Can I use thin sliced chicken breast
Yes! It will cook in a shorter amount of time!
Do u add water?
Nope, no water needed! 🙂
Before I put the chicken in the pan to broil I layer the bottom of the pan with slices of italian bread.
Truly delicious.
Thank you for the recipe.
Gene
That is a delicious idea Gene! We will have to try it!
If I don’t have a can of condensed French onion would cream of mushroom or beef consomme work?
I think beef consommé would be the closet! Cream of mushroom would be a very different final dish.
Does this freeze well?
Hi Dawne, We think it’s best if you freeze without the cheese and add cheese when you are ready to serve.
Thanks! Ellen
Hi. If I only want to make 2 chicken breasts, do I only put 1/2 packet & 1/2 can French Onion. Or keep the same as your recipe?
Thank you.
Hi Donna,
Yes, 1/2 a packet and 1/2 a can of French onion would be best. You are going to love it 🙂
Can you substitute chicken thighs?
Yes, chicken thighs will work 🙂
How long would you leave it in the oven for without the broiler?
Just long enough to melt the cheese
Hi! Making this tomorrow and husband bought frozen chicken breasts in a bag. UGH! Do you think they will work?
Hi Linda, I would let them thaw if possible. But yes you can use frozen, it may not be as flavorful because the chicken won’t soak up as much flavor. Thanks for following us 🙂
We have thinner cut chicken breast strips instead of chicken breasts. Would they cook in about half the time?
They will cook a little quicker, but still will take time in the slow cooker. If cooking on high, I’d check them around 2 to 3 hours!
Could I use cream of mushroom condensed soup instead of French onion being I do not have French onion?
Hi Brooke, You can change out the soup but cream of mushroom soup will change the flavor. Please let us know if you use cream of mushroom and how it turns out 🙂
my oven currently isn’t working, is there any way i could improvise the last step?
You can skip it, the cheese will warm from the hot chicken, but not totally melt. Or, you could quickly melt it in the microwave! Hope this helps!
Made this tonight and it was so great to have dinner cooking during such a crazy day
My entire family loved it and only one extra fish for sides! Thank you
Can this recipe be adapted for an InstaPot? If so, how? Thanks!
Hi Kristine,
Yes! You can make French Onion Chicken in an Instant Pot 🙂
You will need to cook for 20 minutes on high pressure and do a quick pressure release.
Let us know how you like it!
What size crockpot is needed? I have a 2.5 qt
Hi Hannah! I think a 2.5 qt crock pot will be too small. You may be able to halve the recipe and make it work.
If you do please let us know how it turns out.
Thanks!
I did this and it worked out great! Thanks!
I had six bone-in thighs from a Winn-Dixie deal in the freezer so I used them in the recipe, keeping everything else as-is. Four hours on high is definitely the way to go. Easy and delicious!
How many carbs would you say is in this? Can’t be many!
You are right! Only 11
I hope you love it as much as we do!
Nutrition Information: YIELD: 4 servings SERVING SIZE: 1 serving
Amount Per Serving: CALORIES: 471TOTAL FAT: 22gSATURATED FAT: 11gTRANS FAT: 1gUNSATURATED FAT: 9gCHOLESTEROL: 151mgSODIUM: 341mg CARBOHYDRATES: 11gNET CARBOHYDRATES: 0gFIBER: 1gSUGAR: 2gSUGAR ALCOHOLS: 0gPROTEIN: 53g
What size chicken breasts (4oz, 6oz or…?) do you recommend works best in this recipe? Thank you.
Hi! You can use either, we like using a 6oz chicken breast for our family. Hope you enjoy as much as we do!
Made this and it was delicious!
Excuse me being dim…are you watering the condensed soup down or using it as it comes out of the can??
You use it exactly as it comes out of the can, no extra liquid needed!
Do you have to add cheese or can you eat without?
You can serve it with or without cheese! Up to you!
Can I use chicken broth or condensed chicken soup instead of beef?
Yes you can definitely use chicken broth! It’s a little less French onion soup flavor, but will still be tasty!
About how big would you say one serving is? One breast?
Yes, 1 breast!
Hi! This looks amazing! Do you have instant pot directions?
Hi Shiah! This one I wouldn’t necessarily recommend for the instant pot because you would have to add more liquid to the instant pot for it to be able to reach pressure without burning. Which would really change the recipe, but if you want, you could add 3/4 cup water to the ingredients and cook it in the pressure cooker for 18 minutes at high pressure, with a quick pressure release. Hope this helps!
I have an Instant Pot
How long should I cook the chicken in it?
Hi Janet! I wouldn’t necessarily recommend for the instant pot because you would have to add more liquid to the instant pot for it to be able to reach pressure without burning. Which would really change the recipe, but if you want, you could add 3/4 cup water to the ingredients and cook it in the pressure cooker for 18 minutes at high pressure, with a quick pressure release. Hope this helps!
What about doubling the recipe? Would you suggest not to? Or would it most likely work out the same?
You should be able to double it with zero issues as long as you have a big enough crockpot for all those breasts!
If i double the recope i would have to have 2 layers. Would that be ok ?
Hi Liz! Yes it should cook ok that way still! May just be a little extra soupy if you double it all! 😉
How do you get the chicken to stay in one piece when done in a crockpot? Mine usually falls apart .. plan on making this tonight!
Hi Maryjo! If yours is usually falling apart, I would recommend cooking it less time. Try 4 hours on high or try 6 hours on low! Your chicken is done cooking once it reaches 165°F internally which is much sooner than the standard 8 hours cook time!
How would you suggest to cook this if you aren’t using a crock pot?
Hi Laura! You could also cook it in the oven, but FYI the chicken will not be as tender or soak up as much juice. But I would try cooking it slowly in the oven (with the casserole dish covered with foil) to hopefully let it marinate like it would in the slow cooker! Hope this helps!
I have everything to make this for dinner tonight except for Swiss cheese. I have mozzarella I wonder if it would be as good??
I think you could definitely switch the cheese. Enjoy!
Just tried this last night and was a hit with my family. I served it with mashed potatoes and french bread with butter on it.
We are super crazy for slow cooker meals right now! Love the hands off approach and I don’t have to turn on my oven!
Adding this to my dinner line up for the week; looks too good to pass up!
This is the type of dinner that my husband goes crazy over. Looks amazing!
Wow! This looks incredibly delicious!!
OH my goodness, this looks amazing!! My family would love it!
This has everything you need to have a delicious flavorful dish!
I know for sure this French Onion Chicken would be a huge hit in my house!
This is screaming my name! Cannot wait to try this!