Air-Fryer French Onion Chicken Gratin Trays

AF-200 Crew Recipe

Air-Fryer French Onion Chicken Gratin Trays

Some dinners never go out of fashion. Tender chicken thighs, deeply caramelised onions, bubbling Gruyère, rich beef gravy and crispy rosemary potatoes all come together in one comforting tray that feels like it belongs in a proper French bistro. Rich without being heavy, simple without being boring, this is comfort food done properly. Golden cheese. Sweet onions. Proper pub-class flavour.

Air-Fryer French Onion Chicken Gratin Trays
Air-Fryer French Onion Chicken Gratin Trays preparation stage

You’ll Need

For the Chicken
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp garlic granules, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp sea salt, ½ tsp cracked black pepper

For the Onion Gratin
3 large onions, thinly sliced
20g butter
2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
1 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
200ml beef stock
1 tsp cornflour mixed with 1 tbsp cold water
180g grated Gruyère cheese

For the Trays
700g baby potatoes, halved
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried rosemary
200g tenderstem broccoli

Sea salt

Cracked black pepper

Optional but Dangerous

Fresh parsley

Parmesan shavings

Crusty baguette

Dijon mustard

Extra Gruyère

Method

Preheat your air fryer to 200°C.

Toss the baby potatoes with the olive oil, rosemary, sea salt and cracked black pepper. Air fry for 10 minutes, shaking halfway through.

Meanwhile, gently cook the butter and sliced onions in a frying pan over a medium-low heat for 18–20 minutes until deeply golden and caramelised. Stir in the garlic, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce before pouring in the beef stock. Simmer for 3 minutes, then stir in the cornflour slurry until the gravy thickens.

Coat the chicken thighs with the olive oil, garlic granules, thyme, sea salt and black pepper.

Add the chicken to the air fryer alongside the potatoes and cook for 16–18 minutes, turning halfway through.

Add the tenderstem broccoli during the final 6 minutes.

Transfer the cooked chicken into a heatproof tray or dish. Spoon the rich French onion mixture generously over each piece before covering with the grated Gruyère.

Return to the air fryer for 4–5 minutes until the cheese is bubbling, melted and beautifully golden.

Serve with the crispy rosemary potatoes, tenderstem broccoli and plenty of the rich onion gravy.

Lad Tip: Don't rush the onions. Proper caramelised onions are the heart of this dish. Twenty patient minutes transforms them from ordinary onions into sweet, rich, deeply savoury gold that makes the whole tray taste like it came from a proper French bistro.

Get the free weekly recipe + weekend challenge.

Free weekly recipe. Weekend challenge. No nonsense.

By joining, you agree to receive AF-200 Crew emails, including occasional offers or affiliate recommendations. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy policy.