Description
This French Onion Chicken and Rice casserole is the ultimate comfort food—creamy, cheesy, and packed with the rich flavor of caramelized onions, tender chicken, and Gruyère cheese. Perfect for weeknights or cozy family dinners.
Ingredients
2 tbsp unsalted butter (divided)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (divided)
3 large sweet onions (such as Vidalia), sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp dried thyme
½ tsp dried tarragon
¼ cup brandy (or white wine/chicken stock)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
8 oz white button or baby bella mushrooms, sliced
1 cup long grain white rice or basmati rice
2 cups fresh baby spinach (or 1 cup frozen, thawed and squeezed dry)
2 cups chicken stock
1½ cups cooked chicken (such as rotisserie), shredded
½ cup heavy cream
1½ cups shredded Gruyère cheese
Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Nonstick spray for casserole dish
Instructions
In a large high-sided skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter with 2 tbsp olive oil over medium-low heat.
Add sliced onions and let cook undisturbed for 15 minutes. Stir, then cook another 15–30 minutes until deeply caramelized.
Increase heat to medium. Add garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, and tarragon. Cook 1 minute.
Remove from heat. Stir in brandy, return to heat, and cook until evaporated, about 5 minutes. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and set aside.
In a medium pot, cook mushrooms (no oil) over medium-high heat for 5–10 minutes until browned.
Add remaining butter and oil. Stir in rice and toast for 5 minutes.
Add spinach and cook until just wilted. Pour in chicken stock, bring to simmer. Cover, reduce heat, and cook for 15 minutes.
Stir in cream and cooked chicken. Heat until warm.
Preheat broiler. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish and pour in rice mixture. Top with caramelized onions and shredded Gruyère.
Broil 2–4 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and browned.
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
For best flavor, use sweet onions like Vidalia.
Gruyère cheese is key to that classic French onion taste—try not to substitute!
Frozen spinach works, just make sure it’s well-drained.
Want to prep ahead? Assemble and refrigerate before broiling.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 50 mins
- Category: Main course
- Method: casserole
- Cuisine: French-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 465 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 590 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg