Smother Baked Chicken In French Onion Flavor With 2 Grocery Store Shortcuts

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A dinner of baked chicken breasts offers lean poultry protein with plenty of options to customize with familiar and pleasing flavors. If you've ever wanted to try a French Onion chicken bake recipe, but are short on prep time, two simple grocery store shortcuts can help streamline the process. Try adding a duo of French onion soup and French onion dip in place of scratch-made versions for a quick and easy version of the decadent-tasting dish.

Start by pouring French onion soup in the bottom of your baking dish and laying your boneless skinless chicken breasts down in the pan, as shown by this home chef on Facebook. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to season and smother your chicken with a generous layer of French onion dip. Shake crushed croutons over this mixture and then lay down slices of provolone cheese, shreds of mozzarella, or your preferred type of cheese before covering your dish with foil and baking the chicken in the oven.

These two grocery store shortcuts will fill your chicken with delightful French onion flavors. The soup provides a savory base while the dip creates a layer of rich creaminess. Pairing crushed croutons and cheese for your finish toppings will add the remaining bread and cheese elements that make up a typical French onion soup. This dish is so simple to put together, yet turns around a meal filled with complexity and depth.

Using French onion soup and dip for your baked chicken brings the best of both worlds to your dish. While the familiar tastes of bread, broth, and onions bring a French onion soup-like profile, it's truly the smothering of French onion dip that elevates your meal to the next level, giving it an almost casserole-like feel. Of course, the biggest help is the grocery store shortcuts that make quick work of combining all the delightful onion-forward flavors and crave-worthy textures into your food.

This baked chicken can stand on its own as a fully-realized feast or you can pair it to a number of coordinating side dishes. Stretch your meal further by adding a side of rice, pasta, potatoes, or a similar carb-rich starch. Use this as a bed on which to serve this smothered French onion chicken. For a lighter take, consider all the complementary vegetable sides that could accompany your chicken.

Alternatively, a citrusy arugula salad is a zesty and acidic counter to your rich and creamy French onion-inspired baked chicken. Similarly, a batch of seasonal roasted vegetables are ideal to roast in the oven alongside your chicken dish. For a more protein and fiber-filled meal, use another grocery store shortcut, canned white beans, and braise these in the oven in oil to serve with your dinner. The possibilities are limitless and delicious.