Think: French onion soup, but a chicken dish! And even better, lightened-up to fit your health and wellness goals. This lightened-up French onion chicken skillet is easy enough to prepare during the week for dinner, but also impressive and tasty enough to serve to guests. Thinly sliced chicken breasts are pan fried, then smothered in caramelized onions and topped with Swiss cheese. What could be better? Serve this delicious chicken alongside potatoes and a veggie for the ultimate comfort meal, but lightened up just a touch.
What you’ll need to make this lightened-up French onion chicken skillet recipe
- chicken breasts, sliced into 6 thinner pieces
- kosher salt and pepper
- olive oil spray
- onions
- chicken broth
- sherry wine (cooking wine is fine)
- ultra thin or reduced fat Swiss cheese slices
- I used these
- thyme (optional)
What makes this recipe lightened up?
A few things contribute to this recipe being lightened up, but the main reason is the fact that the caramelized onions are made without the use of oils, butter or sugar! Instead, the pan is deglazed repeatedly with chicken stock to cook the onions down without the use of these ingredients. Believe me, the taste is still there, but for a fraction of the calories! I also use reduced fat or thin sliced Swiss cheese here to keep the calories and fat down.
How to make this easy lightened-up recipe
This recipe is all made in one skillet, which makes things super easy when it comes to clean up (we love a one-skillet meal)! Start out by preparing your ingredients: slicing the onions, and cutting the chicken breasts into 6 thinner slices. Season the chicken on all sides with salt and pepper. In the meantime, prepare the skillet by preheating it over medium high heat. Add olive oil spray to the pan, and then sear the chicken on both sides until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside to rest.
Add more olive oil spray to the pan, and then add the onions. Cover the onions with a lid, and allow them to steam and cook down. After a few minutes, add some of the chicken broth and allow the liquid to evaporate. Repeat this step every few minutes until the onions are fully cooked down and caramelized (this process will take anywhere from 30-40 minutes but it is worth it!)
Here is a full tutorial on how to make these caramelized onions.
Deglaze the onions with the sherry, and then add the chicken back to the pan. Simmer for about 5 minutes, and top with the cheese. Pop under the broiler to melt the cheese and garnish with the thyme.
Lightened-Up French Onion Chicken Skillet
Equipment
- oven proof skillet
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast, sliced into 6 thinner pieces
- kosher salt and pepper
- olive oil spray
- 2 lbs onions, any variety will do; use a 3 lb bag
- 1 cup chicken stock, divided
- 1/2 cup sherry wine, cooking wine is fine
- 6 slices ultra thin or reduced fat Swiss cheese, used: Sargento Ultra Thin
- thyme for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts into 6 thinner slices.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Thinly slice all of the onions and set aside.
- In the meantime, preheat the skillet over medium high heat.
- Add olive oil spray to the skillet.
- Add the chicken to the pan, and cook for a few minutes per side, or until golden brown. The chicken is thin, so it should not take much time.
- Set the cooked chicken aside.
- Add more olive oil spray to the frying pan, and then add the onions.
- Cover the pan with a lid to allow the onions to steam and begin to cook down.
- After 5 minutes, remove the lid and toss the onions. Add 1/4 cup of chicken broth to the pan to deglaze the pan. Allow the broth to absorb, and then cover the pan with a lid again.
- Repeat this process until all of the chicken broth is gone (you can use more if needed) and until the onions are cooked down and caramelized. (about 30-40 minutes).
- Next, add the sherry to the pan and allow it to simmer.
- Return the chicken breasts to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Coat the chicken pieces in the cooked onion mixture, then top each piece of chicken with a slice of cheese.
- Pop the pan under the broiler to melt the cheese; garnish with thyme (optional).
Notes
Nutrition
You might also enjoy these similar recipes:
Light Caramelized Onion and Spinach Crustless Quiche
Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip
Butter-less Caramelized Onions
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So good!!! Served with mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli.
Easy and absolutely delicious!!
I made this two nights ago, and we have been loving the leftovers! This was so delicious and will definitely be on repeat! So worth the time to caramelize the onions!! Thank you!!
Another killer Sweet Savory and Steph recipe! My picky teenager loved it too!!
This was excellent! I served it with mashed potatoes and roasted green beans. Will be making this again and again!