Cider Braised French Onion Chicken

Indulge in the rich flavors of this Cider Braised French Onion Chicken featuring tender chicken breasts baked to perfection with caramelized onions, apple cider, and gruyere cheese. This one-pot dish is guaranteed to please everyone

If you are a French Onion Soup lover, you’ll enjoy this cider braised chicken or try my Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken for a more traditional recipe!

This cider braised chicken recipe is made with simple seasoned chicken breasts and the cozy flavors of French onion soup. I’ve added my favorite go-to fall ingredient, apple cider, for a touch of sweetness yet tart flavor to the chicken. Baked with caramelized onions and topped with melted gruyere cheese it is a quick and easy weeknight meal that feels quite luxurious.

If you’ve never cooked with apple cider before you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the sweet and tart flavor it brings to your dishes. This Cider Braised Pork Roast is another great recipe that features apple cider.

Though I used chicken breasts in this recipe you could use chicken thighs, bone in or bone out. If you opt to use bone-in chicken you may need to let it cook a little longer.

Gruyere cheese is the best option to pair with caramelized onions for an authentic French onion soup taste. If you can’t get your hands on any, use Emmenthal instead.

Raw chicken filets, salt and pepper, onion, apple cider, coconut sugar, butter, gruyere cheese, oil, and fresh thyme.

Ingredients

Chicken breasts: I used deboned, skinless chicken breasts but chicken cutlets or thinner filets would also be a good option. Just be sure to adjust cooking times.
Onion: Any type of white onion, sliced, will work in this chicken recipe.
Coconut sugar: Coconut sugar adds sweetness. Brown sugar is a good alternative.
Apple cider: Apple cider adds a natural sweetness. Do not use apple cider vinegar.
Butter: Salted or unsalted butter helps to soften and brown the onions.
Cheese: I sprinkled shredded gruyère cheese over the chicken as the flavor combination goes well.

Seasoned chicken filets in a pot, fresh thyme, and a striped dish towel.

Sliced onions in a pot with butter, fresh thyme, and a striped dish towel.

How To Make Cider Braised Chicken

First: Season chicken well with salt and pepper.

Second: Heat the oil in an oven-safe skillet and cook the chicken until golden on both sides. Transfer to a plate.

Third: Melt the butter in the skillet and sauté the onions until they turn golden brown.

Fourth: Stir in the coconut sugar and then deglaze the pan with apple cider.

Fifth: Place chicken back in the skillet and top with gruyère cheese. Bake in the oven at 400F until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165F degrees.

Sixth: Garnish with fresh thyme and serve.

RECIPE TIP

Cut the onions as thinly as possible so they caramelize quickly. Using a food process or mandolin will speed up the process.

Caramelized onions in a pot, fresh thyme, and a striped dish towel.

Caramelized onions in a pot with apple cider, fresh thyme and a striped dish towel.

What To Serve With Cider Braised French Onion Chicken

Here are a few things I think will work well to soak up the sweet and savory sauce:

These French Bread Dinner Rolls or these Instant Pot No Knead Artisan Bread are good bread options.

Or, you can serve the chicken alongside this low-carb mashed potato alternative, Cauliflower Mashed, or this simple Garlic Fried Rice With Swiss Chard would also work well.

Chicken on top of the caramelized onions in a pot. fresh thyme and a striped dish towel.

Chicken on top of the caramelized onions with cheese on top in a pot. fresh thyme and a striped dish towel.

FAQs

can i use hard apple cider?

Hard apple cider will work but it has a more robust flavor. Hard cider also contains alcohol which is usually burned off during the cooking process but if you want to avoid using alcohol, apple cider is better. If you want you can use apple juice, make sure it is unsweetened.

why use coconut sugar?

I like using coconut sugar for its caramel-like flavor and that it is less processed than white or brown sugar. If you don’t have any, you can use brown sugar. Light or dark will both work.

which onions are best for caramelizing?

Any white onion will work but keep in mind Vidalia and Walla Walla are fairly sweet so if you use them you’ll end up with even sweeter onions.

is it better to caramelize onions with butter or oil?

I find that butter adds a richness to the onions though oil will work as well.

Cider braised chicken in a pot with a silver spoon, striped dish towel, and fresh thyme.

Storage and Make Ahead

Refrigerator: Store chicken leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or over the stove.

Freezer: In the freezer, cider braised chicken will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Make ahead: This one-pot dish is a good option to prepare during meal prep so all you have to do on those busy weeknights is reheat it.

More Chicken Recipes For Next Time

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below 👇🏻 Thank you!

Start by seasoning the chicken well with salt and pepper.
Heat oil in oven safe cast iron skillet. Add chicken and cook on both sides until golden brown (about 5-7 minutes on each side). Transfer chicken to a plate.
To the same skillet melt butter. Toss in onions and sauté on medium-low heat for about 12-15 minutes or until onions are golden brown, but not burnt.
Stir in coconut sugar, then deglaze the pan with apple cider.
Transfer chicken back to the skillet. Top with gruyère cheese and bake in the oven at 400F degrees for 8 minutes or until internal temperature is at least 165F degrees.
Garnish with fresh thyme and serve.