French Onion Chicken

 
INGREDIENTS  

• 4 (8-oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 Tbsp. granulated onion
• 1 Tbsp. granulated garlic
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, divided
• 3 sweet onions (about 2 lbs. total), sliced into ¼-in.-thick rings
• 2 Tbsp. canola oil
• 1¼ tsp. kosher salt1
• ½ tsp. black pepper
• 1½ Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 2 cups low-sodium beef stock
• 4 oz. sourdough baguette, sliced ½-in. thick
• 6 oz. Gruyère cheese, shredded (about 1½ cups)
• 6 oz. Provolone cheese, shredded (about 1½ cups)
• 3 Tbsp. chopped chives

DIRECTIONS  

1. Place chicken breasts between two large sheets of plastic wrap; lightly pound thick end with a meat mallet to tenderize, and even out to about ¾-inch thick. Stir together sour cream, granulated onion and granulated garlic in a large bowl. Add chicken; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
3. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add onions; cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and soft, about 20 minutes. Remove onions from skillet, and set aside.
4. Wipe skillet clean; heat oil and remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium. Remove chicken from mixture, and pat with paper towels. Sprinkle chicken evenly with salt and pepper.
5. Add chicken to skillet; cook until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Flip chicken; cook until golden, about 2 more minutes. Remove from skillet; set aside.
6. Sprinkle flour into skillet, and using a wooden spoon, scrape up any brown bits on bottom. Cook flour, stirring often, to make a dark (peanut butter colored) roux, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in beef stock, whisking constantly to combine. Bring to a simmer.
7. Return half of the caramelized onions to skillet, and spread out evenly. Return chicken to skillet on top of onions, spaced out evenly. Top with remaining onions.
8. Arrange baguette slices on top, covering evenly and completely. Sprinkle with shredded cheeses, and place skillet on an aluminum foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chives, and serve immediately.

Recipe Author: People.com