This hearty French Onion Chicken Casserole marries the caramelized onions from the classic French onion soup with chicken breasts. The classic version of French Onion Chicken Casserole is loaded with carbohydrates and fats, but our goal here is to give it a Weight Watchers makeover without compromising on flavor.
Thankfully a ton of the flavor in this recipe comes from the caramelization process, where onions release their sugars through slow cooking at a specific temperature–and we can caramelize the onions without all the butter in the original. This gives us the same delicious flavor you know and love without all of the unwanted fat.
Why you should try French Onion Chicken Casserole
1. Big taste without a ton of work. This recipe does require a few steps, but it is surprisingly straightforward. It’s an impressive dish that your guests will love.
2. Casseroles Reimagined for Health: If you’ve been avoiding casseroles in your quest for healthier options, this recipe allows you to indulge in familiar and delicious flavors without compromising on your health goals.
3. Perfect for Special Occasions: Ideal for a leisurely Sunday meal or a special gathering with friends at home, this French Onion Chicken Casserole is a real crowd pleaser.
Servings: 4 servings.
Serving size: 250 g.
Preparation Time: 15 minutes.
Cooking Time: 30-35 minutes.
5 WW points per serving.
Ingredients
- 1 large onions, sliced, 150 g.
- 1 large chicken breast, 450 g.
- 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese, 60 g.
- 1/4 cup grated Emmental cheese, 30 g.
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 packet cream of chicken soup
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Pepper to taste
- ½ cup chicken broth, 120 ml
Instructions for making French Onion Chicken Casserole
1. Caramelizing Onions: In a pan over low heat, caramelize the sliced onions with a teaspoon of butter and 3 tablespoons of water. Once the onions begin to brown, add the cream of chicken soup and broth. Cook until you achieve creamy caramelized onions.
2. Seasoning Chicken: Cut the chicken breast into supreme cuts. Season the supremes with pepper, crushed garlic, and oregano.
3. Assembling the Casserole: Place the seasoned chicken supremes in individual casseroles. Cover the chicken with the caramelized onions prepared earlier.
4. Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the mixture with a blend of grated cheddar and Emmental cheese. Cover the casseroles with aluminum foil.
5. Baking: Preheat the oven at 180 °C. Bake the casseroles until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Variations and substitutions
While this recipe stands strong on its own, a few tweaks can take it to the next level:
1· Creaminess Boost with Greek Yogurt: For an extra layer of creaminess, add half a cup of non-fat, plain, sugar-free Greek yogurt to the mix.
2· Mushroom Magic: If you’re a fan of mushrooms (and who isn’t?), consider adding some to the casserole for a delightful twist without adding any extra points.
3· Seafood Surprise: A drastic change, but worth a try – substitute chicken with hake or another white fish for a delicious seafood variation.
Tips and Tricks Section for making French Onion Chicken Casserole
1. Marinate for Flavor: Enhance the chicken’s flavor by marinating it for a couple of hours before cooking.
2. Caramelizing Onions: Take your time caramelizing the onions for rich flavor. Add small amounts of water as needed to prevent burning.
3. Precise Preheating: Ensure you preheat the oven to seal in the chicken’s flavors properly. Neglecting this step can affect the overall outcome.
4. Cheese Topping Perfection: If you’re adding cheese on top, cover the casserole with aluminum foil for most of the cooking time to prevent over-browning. If foil is unavailable, bake the chicken for about 30 minutes without the cheese topping, adding the cheese only for the final 10 minutes of cooking.
In the world of casserole transformations, our Weight Watchers French Onion Chicken Casserole stands as a testament to the marriage of culinary traditions and health-conscious choices. Elevate your home cooking with this flavorful dish that combines the best of French inspiration and Weight Watchers ingenuity.
WW Points
Great Value Chicken breast tenderloins, raw 0 pints
Onion 0 points
Salted butter 6 points
Reduced fat cheddar cheese 7 points
Emmental cheese 5 points
Chicken broth 0 points
Dry cream of chicken soup mix 3 points
Black pepper 0 points
Dried oregano 0 points
Garlic 0 points
Related Recipes
French Onion Chicken Casserole: A Weight Watchers Delight
Ingredients
- 1 large onions, sliced, 150 g.
- 1 large chicken breast, 450 g.
- 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese, 60 g.
- 1/4 cup grated Emmental cheese, 30 g.
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 packet cream of chicken soup
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Pepper to taste
- ½ cup chicken broth, 120 ml
Instructions
- Caramelizing Onions: In a pan over low heat, caramelize the sliced onions with a teaspoon of butter and 3 tablespoons of water. Once the onions begin to brown, add the cream of chicken soup and broth. Cook until you achieve creamy caramelized onions.
- Seasoning Chicken: Cut the chicken breast into supreme cuts. Season the supremes with pepper, crushed garlic, and oregano.
- Assembling the Casserole: Place the seasoned chicken supremes in individual casseroles. Cover the chicken with the caramelized onions prepared earlier.
- Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the mixture with a blend of grated cheddar and Emmental cheese. Cover the casseroles with aluminum foil.
- Baking: Preheat the oven at 180 °C. Bake the casseroles until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.