Description

This Crockpot Creamy French Onion Chicken and Orzo is a comforting and flavorful one-pot meal. Tender chicken slow-cooked with caramelized onions, fresh herbs, garlic, and mushrooms simmers in white wine and broth to create a rich base. Orzo pasta is then cooked directly in the slow cooker with cream, Parmesan, and Gruyere cheese broiled on top for a perfectly melty, cheesy finish. A cozy dinner perfect for family meals or entertaining.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables and Herbs

3-4 yellow onions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups sliced mushrooms

Proteins

1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts or thighs

Dairy

6 tablespoons salted butter, divided
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded gruyere cheese

Liquids and Grains

1 cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups dry orzo pasta

Seasonings

Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Layer ingredients in slow cooker: In the bowl of your slow cooker, layer the thinly sliced onions first, then add 3 tablespoons of butter, and place the chicken breasts or thighs on top. Sprinkle fresh thyme, sage, chopped garlic, and season with kosher salt and black pepper evenly over the chicken. Pour the dry white wine and chicken or vegetable broth over all, and add the sliced mushrooms. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours, or on high for 1-2 hours, until the chicken is tender.
Preheat broiler and prepare chicken and onions: Preheat your oven broiler to high. Carefully remove the chicken and most of the onions from the slow cooker and place them on a baking sheet, leaving the remaining liquid and onions in the slow cooker.
Cook the orzo in slow cooker: Increase the slow cooker heat setting to high. Stir in the dry orzo and 1 cup of water into the slow cooker liquid. Cover and cook for 20-30 minutes until the orzo is al dente. If the orzo requires more liquid, add additional water as needed. Once cooked, stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until combined and creamy.
Broil Gruyere cheese topping: Arrange 3 tablespoons butter evenly over the onions left in the slow cooker. Top with shredded Gruyere cheese. Place the baking sheet with chicken, onions, and Gruyere under the broiler for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, watching closely to prevent burning.
Serve the dish: Plate the creamy orzo pasta on serving dishes, then top with the broiled chicken and cheesy onions. Enjoy this warm, comforting meal straight away!

Notes

You can use chicken breasts or thighs depending on your preference—thighs will be more tender and juicy.
If you don’t have fresh thyme or sage, dried herbs can be substituted at about one-third the quantity.
White wine can be replaced with additional broth for a non-alcoholic version.
Make sure to stir in cream and cheese at the end off the heat to prevent curdling.
Watch the broiler carefully as cheese can melt and brown very quickly.
This recipe can also be adapted for stovetop cooking as explained in the instructions.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 520
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 480mg
Fat: 28g
Saturated Fat: 15g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 35g
Cholesterol: 110mg