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French Onion Chicken Pasta (Easy One Pan Meal)

Published on October 7, 2024 by Sarah Troester
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This one pan French onion chicken pasta dish combines the rich flavors of french onion soup with tender juicy chicken and creamy pasta, all cooked in one pan for easy cleanup. It’s a delicious, comforting meal perfect for cool weather and busy weeknights.

As a busy mom and teacher, my weeknights can feel like a whirlwind. Between managing lesson plans, grading papers, and countless after-school activities, I often find myself longing for that warm, comforting bowl of french onion soup that I love.

However, navigating the demands of family dinner while juggling everything else can feel overwhelming at times. That’s why I love this french onion chicken pasta recipe so much. It perfectly combines the essence of my favorite soup into a wonderful, creamy one-pan pasta dish.

This dish brings together all the beloved flavors of french onion soup–caramelized onions, tender chicken, and gooey cheese–into a comforting meal that the whole family can enjoy.

And the best part? It only takes one pan to prepare! After a long day, there’s something so uplifting about the simplicity of this dish. My favorite part is that it allows me to spend more quality time with my family instead of being stuck at the sink washing a pile of dishes.

why your whole family will love this french onion chicken pasta

  • Comforting Flavor: This easy recipe captures the rich, savory flavors of traditional french onion soup. It’s a perfect comforting meal for those chilly evenings.
  • Easy Clean-Up: More time spent with family and less time scrubbing pots and pans, need I say more.
  • Quick Weeknight Meal: With a little prep work, this recipe can be thrown together in about 30 minutes. It’s ideal for busy weeknights when your schedule is packed, yet you still want to serve something delicious and nourishing to your family.
  • Meal Prep Friendly: This pasta dish can easily be made ahead of time. It’s a great grab-and-go meal during the hectic workweek.
  • Family-Friendly Twist: While traditional french onion soup features gruyere or emmental cheese, I decided to use swiss cheese slices for this recipe. Not only does swiss melt beautifully, but it also balances the dish’s flavors without overwhelming the palate. Plus, it’s a cheese that my kids love!

why swiss cheese?

Now, if you’re familiar with traditional french onion soup, you know that gruyere cheese is the classical choice for that rich, melty topping. It’s nutty and creamy, creating that heavenly gratin-like crust we all love. However, I decided to take a slight (and much cheaper) detour and use swiss cheese slices for this recipe instead.

In my household, swiss cheese is a family favorite–it has that creamy texture and mild flavor that appeals to both kids and adults alike. Plus, swiss cheese melts incredibly, making it perfect for our pasta.

The beauty of cooking at home is finding ways to make dishes accessible and enjoyable for everyone. By swapping in swiss, I can ensure that my picky eaters will definitely keep coming back for seconds. It’s a win-win!

a recipe for all occasions

This French onion chicken pasta is not only a hit on our busy weeknights but also perfect for entertaining friends! Imagine hosting a cozy dinner and serving this dish with a crispy salad and glass of red wine. Your guests will think you spent hours in the kitchen, but little do they know you whipped it up in one pan in no time!

Shall we get started?

ingredients

To make this easy, delicious, and comforting french onion chicken pasta recipe you’ll need a few ingredients that you can get at almost any grocery store or even online!

Here’s what we are working with:

  • chicken breasts (boneless, skinless), cut into bite-sized pieces
  • olive oil
  • onions
  • garlic
  • dried thyme
  • dried rosemary
  • beef broth
  • cream
  • pasta (shell, penne, or rotini works well)
  • swiss cheese slices
  • fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

how to make french onion chicken pasta

Prepare and Cook the Chicken: In a medium-sized bowl combine the bite-sized pieces of chicken along with olive oil; season with salt and pepper to taste.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.

Caramelize Onions: In the same skillet, add the sliced onions.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are caramelized and golden brown, about 12-15 minutes. If the onions start to stick, you can add a splash of water or broth to deglaze the pan.

Add Garlic and Herbs: Stir in the minced garlic, thyme, and rosemary; season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another minute until fragrant.

Combine Ingredients: Pour in beef broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer.

Add the pasta to the skillet. Make sure it’s submerged in the liquid. Cover and cook for about 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente and has absorbed most of the liquid, stirring occasionally.

Mix in Chicken and Cheese: Once the pasta is cooked, add the cooked chicken back into the skillet. Stir to combine.

Layer the swiss cheese slices on top (or sprinkle shredded swiss cheese), cover, and let it melt for a few minutes.

Serve: Remove from heat, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot.

meal prep magic

Another great benefit to this one-pan meal is that it makes for a wonderful meal prep! I love to whip up a big batch on Sunday evenings, allowing my family to savor it throughout the week. It reheats beautifully, maintaining that creamy texture and delectable flavors. Simply divide this recipe into 4 meal prep containers and great ready for a delicious week!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. It’s definitely one of those recipes worth saving. There’s nothing better than having what looks and tastes like a gourmet meal on the table, but one that saves you time behind the scenes. 

Please leave us a star review and comment if you make this delicious easy stuffed peppers skillet recipe.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free leave them below. I answer every single question as quickly as I can.

Happy cooking! And thanks for being part of our tribe, The Tasteful Tribe!

ENJOY!

French Onion Chicken Pasta (Easy One Pan Meal)

This one pan French onion chicken pasta dish combines the rich flavors of french onion soup with tender juicy chicken and creamy pasta, all cooked in one pan for easy cleanup. It’s a delicious, comforting meal perfect for cool weather and busy weeknights.
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless), cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • salt and pepper , to taste
  • 3 medium onions, thinly sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup cream
  • 8 oz pasta, shell, penne, or rotini works well
  • 8 oz swiss cheese slices, or shredded swiss or gruyere cheese
  • fresh parsley , chopped, for garnish, optional

Instructions 

  • Prepare and Cook the Chicken: In a medium-sized bowl combine the bite-sized pieces of chicken along with olive oil; season with salt and pepper to taste. 
    Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  • Caramelize Onions: In the same skillet, add the sliced onions.
    Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are caramelized and golden brown, about 12-15 minutes. If the onions start to stick, you can add a splash of water or broth to deglaze the pan.
  • Add Garlic and Herbs: Stir in the minced garlic, thyme, and rosemary; season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
  • Combine Ingredients: Pour in beef broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer.
    Add the pasta to the skillet. Make sure it’s submerged in the liquid. Cover and cook for about 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente and has absorbed most of the liquid, stirring occasionally.
  • Mix in Chicken and Cheese: Once the pasta is cooked, add the cooked chicken back into the skillet. Stir to combine.
    Layer the swiss cheese slices on top (or sprinkle shredded swiss cheese), cover, and let it melt for a few minutes.
  • Serve: Remove from heat, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot.

Equipment

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