One-Pot Creamy French Onion Chicken Pasta Bake

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-09 · Updated 2026-05-09

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender chicken and caramelized onions baked with pasta in a rich, creamy sauce topped with melted cheese. This Australian-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs skinless chicken thighs, diced, brown onions, thinly sliced, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 610 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 40 min Serves 4 Australian cuisine 610 cal/serving

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Ingredients

400 g skinless chicken thighs, diced
2 large (300 g) brown onions, thinly sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp dried thyme
2 cups chicken stock
250 g penne pasta
150 g cream cheese
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add 2 large thinly sliced brown onions and sauté for 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until deeply caramelized and fragrant.
Step 2: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tsp dried thyme to the onions and cook for 1 minute until aromatic.
Step 3: Stir in 400 g diced skinless chicken thighs and cook for 5 minutes until the chicken is lightly browned but not fully cooked.
Step 4: Pour in 2 cups chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Add 250 g penne pasta and stir to combine.
Step 5: Dollop 150 g cream cheese over the mixture and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Stir gently until the cream cheese melts and the sauce thickens slightly.
Step 6: Sprinkle 1 cup grated cheddar cheese evenly over the top and transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly and the pasta is cooked through.
Step 7: Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving this comforting one-pot French onion chicken pasta bake.