Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken


20 Comments


This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This reader-favorite dish is loaded with caramelized onion flavor and gooey cheese, and many say it’s even better than the classic soup itself.

close up of french onion chicken on a spatula.

One of the top reasons why this French onion chicken crock pot recipe works is that it only calls for a few ingredients. If you love Crock Pot French Onion Soup, then you will LOVE this chicken dish.

The crockpot chicken gets its flavor from the onion soup’s rich broth and its creaminess from the melted cheese. We also love this oniony Beer and Onion Ribs or my Lipton Onion Potatoes recipe.

Ingredients for french onion chicken on a table with text labels.

Key Ingredients

This cozy chicken dinner comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients that bring big flavor.

  • Chicken breasts – Thin-sliced or halved for even, tender cooking
  • Sweet yellow onion – Adds natural sweetness and the main star of the dish
  • Campbell’s French onion soup – Forms the flavorful base of the sauce
  • Lipton onion soup mix – Boosts the savory onion flavor even more
  • Swiss cheese – Melts over the chicken for a rich, cheesy finish

How to Make Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken

  1. Add chicken, onions, and French onion flavors to the slow cooker.
  2. Let everything simmer low and slow until tender.
  3. Finish with melty Swiss cheese and serve over your favorite side.

Cook’s Tips & Variations

Want to make this recipe your own? Try one of these variations:

  • Meat Swap: Skinless boneless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts if you prefer. You can even use pork chops!
  • Cheese Change: While Swiss cheese adds the classic flavor to this dish, you can substitute it with other types of cheese like classic Gruyere cheese, mozzarella cheese, or provolone.
  • Onion: Sweet onion or Vidalia onion works best for this recipe but you can use white or red.
  • Add Veggies: Mushrooms, green beans, or sliced bell peppers make great add-ins, soaking up all the savory sauce.
  • Searing: For extra flavor, you can sear the chicken breasts in a skillet before placing them into the slow cooker.
Cheesy onion chicken in a crockpot.

How to Serve French Onion Chicken

  • Serve this dish over rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles for a hearty and comforting meal.
  • Add a green side dish such as slow cooker green beans and bacon, broccoli or a simple green salad.
  • Since French onion soup is typically served with bread, consider including garlic bread as a side dish.
French onion chicken over rice in front of a slow cooker.

Can Frozen Chicken Be Used?

It’s best to thaw the chicken first. Frozen chicken takes longer to heat up safely in the slow cooker, so just pop it in the fridge the night before and you’ll be good to go.

Cheesy onion chicken in a crockpot.

Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken Recipe

4.84 from 12 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Tender chicken with plenty of onion flavors. Cheesy and saucy, great over any starch!
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

How to Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 ½ lbs. chicken breasts, (find thinly sliced chicken or cut the breasts in half for thinner chicken pieces)
  • 1 medium sweet yellow onion, sliced
  • 10.6 oz. Campbell's French onion soup, (do not add water)
  • 1 oz. Lipton onion soup mix
  • 8 oz. sliced swiss cheese

Instructions 

  • Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Top the chicken with the sliced onions, soup mix, and canned soup.
  • Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW heat for 4-6 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
  • Top the chicken with the swiss cheese, cover and cook on low for 30 more minutes.
  • Serve the French onion chicken with desired starch and spoon over the sauce and onions.

Nutrition

Calories: 491kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 165mg | Sodium: 1266mg | Potassium: 1153mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 524IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 552mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!

More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes

If you love easy, flavorful meals, try Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli or Brown Sugar Chicken—both simple and satisfying. For a sweet and savory combo, go with Slow Cooker Butter Chicken or tangy Crockpot Balsamic Chicken.

Craving something with Asian flair? Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken is always a hit. And for something hearty but wholesome, Chicken and Cabbage makes a great low-effort dinner.

Other recipes you may like

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




20 Comments

  1. Vicki Parker says:

    5 stars
    I loved this recipe. I only added the mushroom suggestion and it floored us. I didn’t use your bedding suggestions, instead I made a batch of ” Stick of Butter Rice” which also cooks in French Onion Soup. It was a gourmet plate to savor.

  2. Helana says:

    When making the onion soup recipe do I use a can of water with the campbells soup or without the water added.

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      No, don’t add water to it.

  3. Kris says:

    5 stars
    Made this exactly as written with 1 exception, I shredded the chicken, added shredded Swiss cheese to the top, to make sandwiches! While that was melting I sliced and toasted plain kaiser rolls. It was good the night we had it for dinner but the next night, it was much better. Next big get together I go to will bring this!

  4. Miss Sunshine says:

    5 stars
    Easy and Excellent. The taste was amazing. This will be a go-to from now on.

  5. Karen Butt says:

    Looks delicious I must try this one for certain.