French Onion Chicken and Rice Bake

Name: French Onion Chicken Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 100 min
Ingredients: 1 small yellow onion (thinly sliced); 10.5 ounces can Campbell’s French Onion Soup; 14.5 ounces can chicken or beef broth (regular or low-sodium ); 1 1/2 cups long grain rice (rinsed and drained); 1/4 cup butter (cut into slices); 2-2 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (1/2-inch thick ); 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (mozzarella or an Italian cheese blend); 1 ounce packet Lipton Onion Soup mix; 1 cup French’s Crispy Fried Onions

Published Sep 13, 2023 | Updated Mar 17, 2024 | By Laura

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Cheesy French Onion Chicken Casserole takes less than 10 minutes to prep and also has less than 10 ingredients! This decadent French onion chicken and rice bake is still one of my most popular and famous recipes. It's a comforting and decadent mashup of French onion soup with roasted chicken!

chicken and rice casserole topped with French onions

When I was young, one of my favorite meals my mom made was No Peek Chicken, a one-pan entree that is quick to assemble and one of the best set-it-and-forget-it meals. One night when I made it for my family, after some dinner talk around the table, I knew I could take this dish to the next level!

This French onion chicken rice bake combines two delicious recipes, French onion soup and roast chicken, into a delicious one-pan casserole meal. Better yet, this recipe is great to make ahead or meal prep since it takes 10 minutes to prepare with less than 10 ingredients.

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This next level French Onion Chicken has a depth of flavor that is unmatched. The addition of French onion soup, cheese, and crispy fried onions will leave the family asking “When are we having this again?”

Table of Contents

Why You'll Love this Recipe

Magical Combination of Flavors: Chicken and rice with French onion soup were flavors and textures that were meant to be together!
One Pan Masterpiece: A recipe that mixes together all in one pan and bakes while you can takes care of other tasks is a win!
Quick Meal to Assemble: Requires minimal prep and takes less than 10 minutes to combine before baking!
Cozy Comfort Food: This French onion chicken with rice is hearty and filling. The warm, creamy and cheesy texture hits all the cozy senses perfectly!

Ingredients in French Onion Chicken Casserole

Scroll down to see the ingredient amounts in the recipe card.

Yellow Onion: Adds flavor, texture and healthy nutrients to the casserole.
French Onion Soup: Contains sweet caramelized onions and a rich broth base that adds savoriness and flavor to the dish.
Broth: Provides the moisture necessary to cook the rice and chicken as well as provides savory flavors.
Long Grain Rice (see Frequently Asked Questions below): Soaks up and savory juices of the dish and becomes incredibly tender.
Butter: Enhances the richness of the rice and adds a slightly creamy texture.
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs: Pairs perfectly with the savory flavors of the seasonings and a hearty dose of protein.
Shredded Cheese: As with any cheesy casserole, this adds a texture and an ooey gooey goodness to the casserole.
Lipton Onion Soup Mix: Gives this dish an intense savoriness and boost of beefy caramelized onion flavor.
French’s Crispy Fried Onion: Adds the perfect pop of onion crunch.

Tools You’ll Need

13”x9” Pan

How to Make French Onion Chicken and Rice Bake

In a 9x13-inch baking dish, whisk together sliced onion, French onion soup, broth, and rice.

Lay the butter slices on top followed by the chicken. Sprinkle evenly cheese and onion soup mix on top.
Cover the French onion chicken tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Remove the foil, evenly distribute the fried onion pieces, and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

How to Make French Onion Chicken in the Crockpot

See the ingredient steps below for making this recipe in the slow cooker. This makes it the perfect meal to prep while away from home for the day!

Lower the rice volume to 1 to 1 ¼ cups. Make sure to use rinsed long-grain white rice. Minute rice will be mushy. Other rice varieties might work, but I cannot speak to them.
Sprinkle the Lipton Onion Soup Mix before sprinkling on the cheese.
Cook covered securely with the lid on HIGH for 2-3 hours. As seen in the video, the liquid will completely absorb and rice will be tender but not mushy. Slow cooker times/temps can vary. Use your judgement on your cooking model.
Sprinkle the Crispy Fried Onions on once the cook-time is complete.

Tips and Substitutions

It is important that the pan is SECURELY covered with the foil. The steam must be captured in order for the rice to cook properly.
There are a lot of flavors that come from the cheese, onion soup mix and French onion soup mix. However, you can season the chicken as you prefer.
Searing the chicken first 1-2 minutes per side in oil in a skillet over high heat is optional. The bake time should be about the same or 5-10 minutes less.
You can use homemade French onion soup rather than canned if you prefer.
Swap chicken thighs for breasts if you prefer dark meat, just make sure the chicken comes to the right temperature at 165ºF at the end of baking. The chicken shouldn't be thicker than ½-inch.
A homemade version of 1 Lipton Onion Soup Mix packet can be used instead of store-bought. Simply combine 2 ½ tablespoons dried minced onion, 4 cubes regular or reduced sodium beef bouillon, crumbled, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper.
Adding the French Fried Onions at the end of baking keeps them crispy! Be sure to follow this step.

securely covering a pan of fFench onion chicken with foil

What to serve with French Onion Chicken and Rice

French onion chicken bake is such a comforting one-pan easy dinner recipe, I love to serve a simple vegetable recipe on the side. Try my honey roasted carrots, crispy green beans, or easy cooked vegetables for a simple side dish.

If you prefer a side that's a bit more decadent to compliment the richness of the French onion chicken and rice casserole, my prosciutto wrapped asparagus or iceberg wedge salad are both so delicious.

Storage and Freezing

Store French onion chicken casserole covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the casserole in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

It's best to reheat the casserole in the oven at 300ºF for 15 to 20 minutes until warmed through. You can also reheat in the microwave for a couple of minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use long-grain rice?

While it can be tempting to try different types of rice, be sure to take into account the liquid ratio and the baking time. From personal experience, I have NEVER had uncooked rice at the end of bake time following this exact recipe.
For other types of rice, here are some suggestions:

Brown Rice: needs 5-10 minutes more covered bake time
Minute Rice: needs 5-10 minutes less covered bake time. I have not made it with this rice, but I’ve been given feedback that it works great as well. My mom’s No Peek Chicken had minute rice and a similar baking time and temperature, so I would imagine it works just fine.
Short Grain: not recommended as it becomes too soft and mushy

Why did I have uncooked rice in my dish?

Did you cover the dish tightly? If not, there wasn’t enough steam to cook the rice properly. Did you change any of the ingredients in the rest of the recipe? If you use fewer/more/different ingredients, I cannot guarantee the same result.

Should I rinse my rice before cooking?

Rinsing or washing rice removes that excess starch, resulting in grains that are more separate when cooked.

Can I use less rice?

The rice can be decreased to 1 cup if desired.

Can I use chicken tenderloins instead of breasts or thighs?

You can use boneless, skinless tenders as well. For the tenders, you’ll likely need 5-10 minutes less covered bake time. The chicken shouldn't be thicker than ½-inch.

Can I make this casserole ahead of time?

You can assemble this dish up to a day in advance and keep it in the refrigerator. You’ll need to allow the dish to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.

Can I make French onion chicken in a crockpot?

Yes! Follow these instructions:

1. Lower the rice volume to 1 to 1 ¼ cups. Make sure to use rinsed long-grain white rice. Minute rice will be mushy. Other rice varieties might work, but I cannot speak to them.

2. Sprinkle the Lipton Onion Soup Mix before sprinkling on the cheese.

3. Cook covered securely with the lid on HIGH for 2-3 hours. As seen in the video, the liquid will completely absorb and the rice will be tender but not mushy. Slow cooker times/temps can vary. Use your judgment on your cooking model.

4. Sprinkle the Crispy Fried Onions on once the cook time is complete.

How do I prevent the French fried onions from getting soggy?

Be sure to put the fried onions on after the casserole has initially baked just for the final 15 minutes of cooking. This way they will stay nice and crispy.

How can I make a Lipton Onion Soup mix from scratch?

Combine 2 ½ tablespoons dried minced onion, 4 cubes regular or reduced sodium beef bouillon, crumbled, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ⅛ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper.

What side dishes pair well with French onion chicken casserole?

Try my honey roasted carrots, crispy green beans, or easy cooked vegetables for a simple side dish.

French onion chicken and rice served with green beans on a dinner plate

Try these Other Casserole Recipes:

A serving of french onion chicken and rice bake on a plate with green beans.

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4.79 from 92 votes

French Onion Chicken Casserole

This cheesy French onion chicken and rice bake takes less than 10 minutes to prep and also has less than 10 ingredients! This decadent French onion chicken casserole is still one of my most popular recipes. It's a comforting and decadent mashup of French onion soup with roasted chicken!

Prep Time10

Cook Time1 30

Total Time1 40

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken

Servings: Servings

Calories: 390kcal

Ingredients

1 small yellow onion thinly sliced
10.5 ounces can Campbell’s French Onion Soup
14.5 ounces can chicken or beef broth regular or low-sodium
1 ½ cups long grain rice rinsed and drained
¼ cup butter cut into slices
2-2 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs ½-inch thick
1 ½ cups shredded cheese mozzarella or an Italian cheese blend
1 ounce packet Lipton Onion Soup mix
1 cup French’s Crispy Fried Onions

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
To a 13”x9” baking dish, whisk together sliced onion, French onion soup, broth and rice.
Disperse butter on top followed by the chicken. Sprinkle the cheese and onion soup mix on top.
Cover tightly with foil and bake 1 hour 15 minutes.
Carefully remove the foil. Evenly distribute the fried onion pieces on top.
Bake an additional 15 minutes. Using a meat thermometer, ensure the chicken has reached a minimum internal temperature of 165°F.

Video

Notes

CROCKPOT VERSION CHANGES:
1. Lower the rice volume to 1 to 1 ¼ cups. Make sure to use rinsed long-grain white rice. Minute rice will be mushy. Other rice varieties might work, but I cannot speak to them.
2. Sprinkle the Lipton Onion Soup Mix before sprinkling on the cheese.
3. Cook covered securely with the lid on HIGH for 2-3 hours. As seen in the video, the liquid will completely absorb and rice will be tender but not mushy. Slow cooker times/temps can vary. Use your judgement on your cooking model.
4. Sprinkle the Crispy Fried Onions on once the cook-time is complete.

- It is important that the pan is SECURELY covered with the foil. The steam must be captured in order for the rice to cook properly.
- You can use homemade French onion soup rather than canned if you prefer.
- There are a lot of flavors that come from the cheese, onion soup mix and French onion soup. However, you can season the chicken as you prefer.
- Searing the chicken first 1-2 minutes per side in oil in a skillet over high heat is optional. The bake time should be about the same or 5-10 minutes less.
- Swap chicken thighs for breasts if you prefer dark meat, just make sure the chicken comes to the right temperature at 165ºF at the end of baking. It's best if your chicken is ½-inch thick.
- A homemade version of Lipton Onion Soup Mix can be used instead of store-bought. Simply combine 2 ½ tablespoons dried minced onion, 4 cubes regular or reduced sodium beef bouillon, crumbled, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper.
- Adding the French Fried Onions at the end of baking keeps them crispy! Be sure to follow this step.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 390kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 18g

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Comments

4.79 from 92 votes (43 ratings without comment)