French Onion Chicken {Instant Pot Recipe}

French onion chicken tastes delicious and it is so easy to prepare. Here is how to make this family favorite.

These delicious, tender chicken breasts are easy to make, totally filling, work well for a low-carb diet, and taste positively wonderful. It’s a great option for dinner tonight!

An overhead view looking down into a white bowl that holds two French Onion Chicken breasts.

What Is French Onion Chicken?

French onion chicken is just what it sounds like. Chicken cooked with French onion soup. But the good news is, you don’t have to make the soup first. You just put everything together in your Instant Pot, and let it do its job! Easy!

What Do You Serve With French Onion Chicken?

If you want to round out the meal, here are a few ideas.

  • A side of steamed veggies.
  • A side of pasta salad
  • A side of brown rice
  • A side of crusty garlic bread
  • A side of mashed potatoes

Recipe Variations

While French onion soup leaves little room for variations, you can play around with this a bit by changing the cheese you use. Try swiss cheese, gruyere cheese, or even parmesan cheese in place of the mozzarella cheese called for in the recipe below. You can also add a little black pepper for some kick.

A side view of a white bowl holding French Onion Chicken breasts with mozzarella cheese melted over the top.

Can You Make This On The Stovetop?

You can! You’ll want to make this in a stockpot, soup pot, or large skillet. Sauté the onions in the pot or pan, and add the ingredients as stated in the recipe. 

Then place the chicken in as well, and place a lid over the top. Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 F.

If you are making it in a skillet or want to cook the broth down to get more of a glaze than a soup or sauce, you don’t have to use a lid. The broth will evaporate more. So you can either add more broth, or end up with more of a glaze, which would be equally delicious. In fact, you can even cut down on the amount of broth used if you go this route. Start with 1 cup instead of 2. You can always add more if needed for extra sauce or glaze. To cook down the broth more, keep the heat at a medium-high heat.

Either way, you’ll want to make sure you still use the arrowroot slurry. Particularly if you want to end up with more of a glaze.

Can This Be Made In A Slow Cooker?

Yes it can! You’ll want to sauté the onions in a skillet first. Then transfer everything (except the starch slurry) to a slow cooker, and cook for approximately 4 hours, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 F.

Once finished, you’ll want to stir in the slurry while the broth is hot, and serve with melted cheese.

What You’ll Need To Make French Onion Chicken

(Print recipe from recipe card below)

Beef broth – Look for beef broth without any added sugars, dextrose, maltodextrin, or other unwanted ingredients. Bonus points if you make your own at home!

Onions – You’ll want yellow onions.

Balsamic vinegar – This is simply to give the broth some depth of flavor. You can add a little or as much as you like to adjust the flavor.

Oil – Use whatever oil you feel comfortable with. I used coconut oil. Avocado oil is another good choice, as is olive oil. And if you prefer the flavor of butter, you can use that too.

Mozzarella – Use as much or as little as you like.

Boneless skinless chicken breast – You can also use chicken thighs if you prefer. But they may not need to cook as long in the Instant Pot.

Salt – To taste. Salt may be needed depending on the broth you use.

Fresh parsley – This is optional. It makes a tasty garnish. Chop it well.

How To Make French Onion Chicken In An Instant Pot

Sliced yellow onions laying on a cutting board for making french onion chicken.

Peel and cut your onions in half. Then slice into thin slices.

Yellow onion slices being sautéd in an Instant Pot.

Add the onions to your Instant pot with the oil and sauté until they are caramelized.

Broth is being poured into sautéd onions in an instant pot.

Add the broth to the caramelized onions.

Balsamic vinegar being stirred into broth and onions in an Instant Pot.

Stir in the vinegar.

Adding chicken breasts to broth and onions in an Instant Pot for this french onion chicken recipe.

Then add the chicken.

Closing the lid and steam valve on an Instant Pot.

Secure the lid and close the steam valve. Set to high pressure for 15 minutes for chicken breasts on the thinner side, and 20 minutes for chicken breasts on the thicker side. They are done when they have an internal temperature of at least 165°F. So be sure to check these with a meat thermometer when the cooking time is over. When done, you can do a quick release and remove the lid.

A white bowl with water and arrowroot powder in it. This makes a slurry for thickening the french onion chicken sauce.

While the chicken cooks, make a slurry by mixing water and starch together until the starch is dissolved.

Stirring an arrowroot slurry into the finished french onion chicken in an Instant Pot.

When the chicken is done, quickly stir the slurry into the hot broth.

A chicken breast with french onion soup in a bowl and topped with grated cheese.

Place some of the broth, onions, and chicken in a serving bowl, and sprinkle the grated cheese over the top.

Ladling more French onion soup over chicken with cheese.

Then ladle more hot onion gravy over the cheese to help it melt. Let it sit for about 2-3 minutes for the cheese to fully melt. Then serve.

How To Store French Onion Chicken

This will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days if stored in an airtight container.

How To Freeze French Onion Chicken

This freezes well! I recommend freezing it without the cheese, but it’s not the end of the world if you freeze it with the cheese on it. You’ll just have to let it thaw on its own in the fridge instead of using a microwave to thaw and reheat.

How To Reheat French Onion Chicken

The microwave is your best bet, although this could technically also be reheated in the Instant Pot, an air fryer, or an oven.

Tools You’ll Need:

For this recipe, you’ll need an Instant Pot, a good cutting board, and a good knife. To get to these items on Amazon, simply click the image. (Affiliate links).

Chef knife sold on Amazon. (Affiliate links)
Teak cutting board sold on Amazon. (Affiliate link)
Instant Pot sold on Amazon. (Affiliate link)

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French Onion Chicken Recipe Card + Video

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An overhead view looking down into a white bowl that holds two French Onion Chicken breasts.

French Onion Chicken Instant Pot Recipe

Delicious chicken the whole family will love!
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 355kcal

CLICK TO WATCH THIS RECIPE IN ACTION!

Equipment

  • 1 Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • 2 cups beef broth (no sugar added)
  • 2 medium onions (sliced)
  • 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. oil
  • ½ cup grated mozzarella
  • lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2 breasts)
  • salt (to taste)

Instructions

  • Peel and cut your onions in half. Then slice into thin slices.
    Sliced yellow onions laying on a cutting board.
  • Add the onions to your Instant pot with the oil and sauté until they are caramelized.
    Yellow onion slices being sautéd in an Instant Pot.
  • Add the broth to the onions.
    Broth is being poured into sautéd onions in an instant pot.
  • Stir in the vinegar.
    Balsamic vinegar being stirred into broth and onions in an Instant Pot.
  • Then add the chicken.
    Adding chicken breasts to broth and onions in an Instant Pot.
  • Secure the lid and close the steam valve. Set to high pressure for 15 minutes for chicken breasts on the thinner side, and 20 minutes for chicken breasts on the thicker side. They are done when they have an internal temperature of at least 165°F. So be sure to check these with a meat thermometer when the cooking time is over. When done, you can do a quick release and remove the lid.
    Closing the lid and steam valve on an Instant Pot.
  • While the chicken cooks, make a slurry by mixing water and starch together until the starch is dissolved.
    A white bowl with water and arrowroot powder in it.
  • When the chicken is done, quickly stir the slurry into the hot broth.
    Stirring an arrowroot slurry into the finished french onion chicken in an Instant Pot.
  • Place some of the broth, onions, and chicken in a serving bowl, and sprinkle the grated cheese over the top.
    A chicken breast with french onion soup in a bowl and topped with grated cheese.
  • Then ladle more hot broth over the cheese to help it melt. Let it sit for about 2-3 minutes for the cheese to fully melt. Then serve.
    Ladling more French onion soup over chicken with cheese.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data given here is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.33the recipe | Calories: 355kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 935mg | Potassium: 909mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 184IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 1mg

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