Classic French Onion Soup with slow cooked caramelized sweet onions, crisp baked crostini and plenty of smooth melting Gruyere Cheese. This is the ultimate comfort soup and is so quick and easy to make.
This is one of my husband’s favorite recipes. If you love onions than this delectable mouthwatering soup is a must make recipe. We make this tasty treat at least once a month and we love every spoonful. It is such an easy recipe that even the novice chef can handle this.
How to make French Onion Soup
Start by heating a little butter and olive oil in a Dutch Oven or stock pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for about 45 minutes stirring every few minutes until a rich golden brown. You may need to reduce the heat if they are browning too fast. There is a fine line between stirring too much and not stirring enough. The key is to stir them enough to keep them from burning but not so much that they are not browning. This process is known as caramelizing the onions.
Once browned stir in the garlic and dried thyme. Add the wine and scrape the bottom of the pan to remove the browned bits. This technique is known as deglazing. Now let the wine and onions simmer for a few minutes. Next add the beef broth, chicken broth and bay leaf and simmer for about 20-30 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Spoon into oven proof soup bowls, add several crostini to the top and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Set them on a baking sheet and place under the broiler for a few minutes to melt the cheese. Plan to serve promptly.
Helpful tips for making French Onion Soup
- Caramelized onions are the star of this show so don’t cut the process short.
- Either dry red wine or dry white wine can be used. Red adds a more robust flavor and white more subtle. If you have a personal preference on which one you prefer to drink go with that.
- You can use all beef broth for a richer fuller flavor or if it is just more convenient. I always have beef and chicken broth in the house so a combination is usually the way I go on this recipe.
- I find Crostini works best for this recipe. They hold up long enough to provide structure and texture without coming off as a soggy piece of bread. Or simply toast or broil baguette slices until golden brown.
- Gruyere is a smooth melting type of Swiss Cheese with fewer and smaller eyes. If it is not available you can substitute Swiss or Jarlsberg.
- Broilers are very unpredictable. Stay close by and monitor well.
I love french onion soup. There is just something dreamy about all those onions slow cooked to complete perfection, then simmered in broth and spice, and topped with crostini and rich cheese! My friends life just does not get much better than this.
PrintHomemade French Onion Soup Recipe
Slow cooked onions are cooked to perfection, then simmered in broth and spice, and topped with toasted crostini and rich Gruyére cheese!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: soup
- Method: stovetop/broiler
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 large yellow onions sliced in half and cut from pole to pole in no greater than 1/4 inch slices
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 cup dry white or red wine (see notes)
- 3 cups low sodium beef broth or beef stock
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- salt and pepper to taste
- Crostinis or large croutons
- 1 cup shredded Gruyére or Swiss cheese
Instructions
- Heat butter and olive oil in a Dutch Oven or stock pot over medium to medium/low heat. Add the onions and cook for about 45 minutes stirring every few minutes until a rich golden brown.
- Add the garlic and thyme. Cook for 1 minute. Add the wine and using a spoon or spatula try to remove as much of the brown glazing from the bottom of the pan as possible. Allow the wine to simmer with the onions for about 5 minutes. Add the chicken, beef broth and bay leaf. Simmer for 20 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the soup to oven-safe bowls or cups. Top with crostini and grated cheese. Slip under the broiler for 2-3 minutes.
Notes
- Caramelized onions are the star of this show so don’t cut the process short.
- Either dry red wine or dry white wine can be used. Red adds a more robust flavor and white more subtle. If you have a personal preference on which one you prefer to drink go with that.
- You can use all beef broth for a richer fuller flavor or if it is just more convenient. I always have beef and chicken broth in the house so a combination is usually the way I go on this recipe.
- I find crostini works best for this recipe. They hold up long enough to provide structure and texture without coming off as a soggy piece of bread. Or simply toast or broil baguette slices until golden brown.
- Gruyere is a smooth melting type of Swiss Cheese with fewer and smaller eyes. If it is not available you can substitute Swiss or Jarlsberg.
- Broilers are very unpredictable. Stay close by and monitor well.
Keywords: how to make french onion soup, best french onion soup, easy french onion soup, homemade french onion soup
On the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
This post was originally published September 16, 2014 and was republished June 9, 2020 with new content.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Carol Gleason
This was AMAZING soup!! Loved it! Can I freeze the leftovers?
Beth Pierce
Yes you can but I would wait until reheating to add the crostini and cheese.
Sue Woodall
I have a hard time finding bowls that will withstand the heat of the broiler. Most specify 350° or 400°. The soup sounds fantastic!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Sue. Did you try looking on Amazon. Broiler Safe Soup Bowls I like the looks and reviews on these. I am think about ordering a set myself.
Teresa
Really confused how the sodium is so high! How to make mower sodium? Salt-free butter, anything else?
★★★★
Beth Pierce
There is a disclaimer on the nutritional analysis as the software I use is only so good. Unfortunately I think the sodium is overstated. Bloggers only have so many options for software and non of them are ideal.
Anaiah
This french onion soup recipe was amazing and definitely worth the time it took to prepare. I loved the addition of gruyere cheese on top!
★★★★★
Maike
There’s one soup I love above all others – French Onion. And this recipe was truly amazing. I used dried sherry, and it was wonderful. We’ll definitely be making this recipe again.
★★★★★
Taylor Kiser
Comfort food for the win! This will be on repeat!
★★★★★
Lynda Bowman
I love French onion soup and I want to make it. There lie’s the problem. Every time I print your recipes It is so small that I can’t see it without using a magnify and do change the size with my zoom to 250 and still the same. I don’t have a problem with any other sites. Do you know what I can do.?
Beth Pierce
Is it possible to copy and paste them a to a word or google? I am not getting any other reports of this. Please advise so we can try to help more.
Donna
I do that for my notebook. I copy & paste into a word document
Bintu | Budget Delicious
French onion soup is definitely my comfort food – it tastes so good and is so warming and fulfilling. Definitely need to try your recipe out.
★★★★★
Amy
Love how cheesy this soup is, it looks so comforting!
★★★★★
Sara Welch
Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it did not disappoint! Definitely my kind of comfort food; looking forward to making this again and again, indeed!
★★★★★
Adrianne
I can see why your husband loves this soup, it looks delicious! It has that homecooked comfort food appeal and I love that. Will give it a go next weekend! Thanks
★★★★★
Biana
This French Onion Soup looks amazing! Am going to make it very soon.
★★★★★
Andrea
What a marvelous looking and sounding French onion soup. I just want to dig in right now!
★★★★★
Barb
Miss Beth, what can I use in place of garlic? I am allergic. Most recipes call for it and I never know how to replace it. Afraid they will taste to bland. Thank you!
Beth Pierce
Some people say you can caramelize celery and it gets close to the flavor and smell although I have never tried it. Please Let me know if you do and how it turns out.
Allyson
OMG, yes! This looks amazing. I love French onion soup. Will have to try this recipe soon!
Katie
Looks so good! I know my family will love this!!
★★★★★
Kimberly
This is one soup I never ever get tired of, SO delicious!
★★★★★
Betsy
Yum! Such a wonderfully savory soup! I love the mix of beef and chicken broth! Using both broths gives such a wonderfully deeper flavor! The Gruyere cheese is great on here. I hadn’t thought of using that one. Usually I use provolone with a touch of parmesan.
Karen Wildrom
What do you suggest serving along with the soup? I want to make this for a small luncheon I am planning.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
How about baked salmon with garlic butter or Smoked Salmon Patties, roasted or marinated veggies, a light salad like an arugula salad with parmesan and a light vinaigrette, steamed shrimp or Seared Scallops. Any of these would be delicious with the soup.
Diane Fauvelle
I didn’t make this yet. But instead of beef broth, I use beef consume, I find even better taste.
Anjali
I love french onion soup but never felt confident enough to make it from scratch at home! Your recipe has inspired me to give it a try!
★★★★★
Julia
I am so happy I found your recipe! It’s been ages I want to try onion soup, finally it’s happening!
★★★★★
Taylor Kiser
This is my kind of comfort food! So cozy and delicious!
★★★★★
wilhelmina
This soup is so rich and delicious! Much better than some restaurant versions I have tried!
★★★★★
Renee Goerger
You can never go wrong with French onion soup. This is a winning recipe.
★★★★★
Mirlene
Finally a recipe I can follow. I have been wanting to make this soup but never new how. Thank you for sharing your method.
★★★★★
Bhawana
My husband loves french onion soup, but having it in restaurants is not a good Exp so far. bookmarking it to try once at home. Looking so mouthwatering.
★★★★★
Tara
One of my favorites! This looks absolutely incredible with all those onions and melty cheese.
★★★★★
Michelle
So delicious! Perfect recipe for a classic
★★★★★
Abigail Raines
Chilly weather or not this is my kind of comfort food! Love to have some crusty bread with this tasty soup!
★★★★★
Kimberly
One of all-time favorite soups, I just can’t get enough of it!
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes
I LOVE french onion soup, its my favorite! This looks SO delicious!
★★★★★
katerina @ diethood.com
This is such an incredible soup!! I can’t wait to try it!
★★★★★
Erin
Looks French Onion Soup delicious and so easy to make! !
★★★★★
Amanda
One of my all time favorite soups!
★★★★★
Suzy
Turned out great!! Love the flavors of the onions and the cheese together!
★★★★★
Joanna Neff
I am making this tonight! I am so glad I found your page. I love your recipes and already have several of them saved to make in the future. They are homey and remind me of my mother’s cooking. I love that they are not pretentious, in the writing or the execution, and that you are flexible with people making suggestions or variations. My variation on the Onion Soup is that I only have cooking sherry on hand for the white wine, and that the chicken broth part will be bouillon. I think it will be fine though, and have a feeling you will say it should be fine, too! Thanks for your great contribution of helping every day cooks create great meals. Subscribed!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Joanna! I really appreciate your kind words. They mean a lot to me. I would have responded earlier but we went out to dinner. You are correct those substitutions will be just fine…those are substitutions I would make myself. I mean honestly who wants to run to the grocery store yet again. I love a cook that can improvise since there are a dozen ways to make every single recipe taste good. Have a fabulous evening.
Linda
This is just like mine, only difference is I use fresh parsley and thyme …. sooooo good ? One time I even used leftover Champagne!
Rita Mallory
Why does the picture of the food never ever print out on the print sheet when one has it set to print it…That should be corrected….
bpierce
I will see what I can do. Thanks!
Jimmie Robinson
Save in your computer-When you want to make then pull up on your phone-tablet or laptop from a 68 year old man that loves food and have every recipe at my fingertips
★★★★
devi
Hi why must use two type of broth. I do not take beef so can i use any other broth beside chicken broth
bpierce
Just use all chicken broth. It will still be delicious!