Easy French Onion Soup recipe is full of caramelized onions that have been simmered in red wine and beef broth, then put under the broiler to melt the cheese on top. It makes a delicious appetizer to your main meal or enjoy a side to your favorite sandwich.
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If you love French Onion Soup then you need to make this classic recipe! a delicious lunch or a great appetizer before dinner. Great for special family dinners or a romantic evening meal at home. This soup recipe warms your heart and soul and will make your guests tastebuds happy.
❤️ Why you'll love it
Comfort food: french onion soup is the perfect comfort food for chilly days!
Great starter: for those who like to start their meal off with a soup appetizer, this soup with its caramelized onion broth and cheesy top is the perfect choice.
Gooey cheese: you will love the gooey cheese topping with the crispy cheese that drips down the side of the bowl.
🥘 Ingredients
Olive oil or butter: to simmer the onions.
Onions: I like to use a sweet onion like Vidalia but large yellow onions can be used as well.
Beef Broth: Use a good quality broth. Bone broth is a good one to use. This is my favorite brand!
Fresh Thyme: I always have fresh thyme in my refrigerator. If you don't have fresh, that is ok, you can substitute with 1 teaspoon dried thyme.
Bay Leaf: this will be used to flavor the soup while it is simmering, be sure to remove it before serving.
Swiss cheese: Swiss is traditional (from what I have seen anyway!) but you can substitute shredded gruyere cheese, provolone, or parmesan cheese in place of the swiss.
Salt and ground black pepper: to add flavor
Dry red wine: any dry red wine you have for drinking will work for this soup recipe. I used a cabernet. Beef stock can be used in place of the wine.
Bread: Use a sturdy bread that won't fall apart when adding to the soup, but yet one that you can easily break with a spoon when dipping into the soup bowl. My preference is french bread or a crusty baguette with a firm edge but a chewy center.
🔪 Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook until onions are soft and caramelized, about 30 minutes.
- Add wine, bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the wine has evaporated and onions start to dry.
- Discard bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Sprinkle flour over onions and cook stirring so the flour doesn't burn for about 10 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
- Add the beef broth 1 cup at a time, stirring well while doing so. Bring the soup back to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer another 10 minutes.
- Ladle soup in oven-safe bowls on a large baking sheet. Arrange toasted bread slices on top of the soup and sprinkle with the cheese.
- Preheat the oven on broil.
- Broil for 3 minutes or until bubbly and golden.
🥄 Equipment
Large pot
Flathead wooden spoon
Measuring cups
Oven safe bowls
🥫Storage
Refrigerate: store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days.
Freeze: freeze leftover french onion soup in an airtight freezer safe container up to 3 months.
Reheat: reheat soup in an 350 degree oven until warmed through.
📖 Variations
- Add a tablespoon balsamic vinegar to the onions while cooking to enhance the flavor of the soup.
💭 Top Tip
📚 Related Recipes
Blueberry French Toast Casserole is a great way to brunch!
Roasted Tomato Soup Shooters are great appetizers for holiday guests or special parties at home.
Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese is a delicious vegetarian sandwich to enjoy for lunch or dinner.
🍽 Serve with…
Serve as an appetizer to any main course or as a lunch soup with a sandwich or side salad.
🏫 The last word
I never enjoyed a bowl of French Onion Soup until I visited a restaurant called Barkeaters in Watertown NY. It was my first bowl of soup I ever ordered out that wasn't Clam Chowder! It was so delicious, I knew that one day I would be trying it on my own.
What I loved the most about my first bowl of French Onion Soup was the melty cheese on top of the toast that got all crispy and dripping around the edges of the bowl. I hope you will give this recipe a try and you love it as much as I do!
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If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
French Onion Soup
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Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 medium sweet onions thinly sliced
- 2 large garlic cloves chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 8 cups beef stock
- 6 ounces baguette slices
- ½ pound swiss cheese
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook until onions are soft and caramelized, about 30 minutes.
- Add wine, bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the wine has evaporated and onions start to dry.
- Discard bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Sprinkle flour over onions and cook stirring so the flour doesn't burn for about 10 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
- Add the beef broth 1 cup at a time, stirring well while doing so. Bring the soup back to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer another 10 minutes.
- Place the soup in oven-safe bowls on a large baking sheet. Arrange bread slices on top of the soup and sprinkle with the cheese.
- Preheat the oven on broil.
- Broil for 3 minutes or until bubbly and golden
Grace
What could be used in place of red wine?
Shelby
Hi Grace, you can substitute beef broth for the red wine. Thanks for stopping by!
Jenni
I LOVE a good bowl of french onion soup! I had never made it at home before, but this recipe was so simple to follow and made such awesome soup! Now I enjoy it whenever I get a craving for it!
Shelby
Thanks Jenni!
Kelsey Apley
This is such a delicious recipe! I made it last week and was beyond pleased! My husband devoured it as well.
Shelby
Hi Kelsey! Thanks for stopping by to let me know. So glad you enjoyed it!
Caroline | carolinescooking
I haven't had French onion soup in forever, this looks great!
Sue Lau
Looks so yummy loaded with that cheese!
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm
One of my very favorite soups.
Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
One of my all time favorite soups! Looks delicious!
Bernie | A Gouda Life
Lovvvve french onion soup and this one's a home run!
Wendy @ Wholistic Woman
Oh hello, red wine? That plus melty cheese and caramelized onions and I am seriously going to have to try this.
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere
French Onion Soup is the epitome of comfort food for us, and yours looks fabulous!
Liz
You've reminded me that it's been WAY too long since I've made French onion soup! Yours looks DIVINE!!!
Renee@Renee's Kitchen Adventures
I have definitely trick or treated in snow before! But I always hope for an Indian summer day instead! Great looking soup. One of my favorites any time of the year!
Patsy
I adore French Onion Soup! Now, I'm going to have to try your recipe!
Hezzi-D
This is one of my favortie soups!
Kristi @ My SF Kitchen
You made my FAVORITE soup in the world 😀
Tara
My daughter could eat a bowl of French onion soup a day and I could join her every other day, we love it here and yours looks scrumptious!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors
Ok so french onion soup - I haven't had it in so long. Ever since I went vegetarian, it's been off limits. But this was a great reminder that I can make this from scratch. now I'm craving!!!
Shelby
You can still make it with a nice vegetable broth also! 🙂