Making truly authentic French Onion Soup is easier than you’d think! This wonderful, simple and flavorful soup is the perfect warm dish for winter.
If you’ve been following my posts the last few weeks you may have read about my recent European vacation that has inspired me to share so many of my favorite Italian and French foods; like Penne Arrabbiata, Leek and Potato Soup, and Haricots Verts!
I have been wanting to share the perfect French Onion Soup recipe with you guys for a long time, and today is finally the day! French onion soup is a classic french soup made with caramelized onions, and beef stock topped with toasted bread and cheese. It has a sweet onion taste and it’s irresistible on on a nice cold day.
This French Onion Soup recipe comes from a family friend of ours named Peggy. She is not only a phenomenal cook, she also lived in France and has the perfect French Onion Soup recipe that she has graciously allowed me to share with you all!
The Key to Perfect French Onion Soup:
- Caramelized onions. This is the most essential part of great French onion soup and it takes a little time and patience. You will need 3 large yellow onions sliced thinly and cooked very slowly in butter until they reach a nice caramelized brown color.
- High quality cheese. The cheese in French onion soup is also a vital ingredient! Use a good, fresh block of gruyere and parmesan cheese. No pre-shredded cheese please! If you don’t have gruyere cheese, you can substitute Swiss cheese.
- High quality bread. Fresh baguette (like La Brea from your grocery store bakery) is best, or make your own!
How to Make French Onion Soup:
1. Caramelize onions. Add butter and onions to a large pot and cook until they are softened. Add sugar and stir until the onions become golden brown and caramelized.
2. Add to pot: Add flour and cook for a couple more minutes. Add beef stock, wine, thyme, celery, and bay leaves and cook for 30 minutes.
3. Toast bread. Brush the bread with melted butter and broil until toasted.
4. Sprinkle with cheese. Place bread on top of a bowl of soup, sprinkle with cheese and broil until cheese is melted!
Other Variations and Substitutions:
- Substitute for white wine. You can use a half cup white grape juice, chicken broth, or ginger ale.
- Substitute Croutons. Croutons are often used on top of French onion soup. If you don’t want to bother broiling a baguette, this works great too.
- To make it vegetarian: substitute vegetable broth for the beef broth along with about 3 tablespoons of soy sauce. This will add a richness that will help mimic the richness of the beef broth.
- To make it vegan: Make the same substitution listed above and substitute olive oil for the butter, and use hemp seed crumble cheese and vegan gruyere.
- To make it gluten-free: substitute gluten-free flour and gluten free artisan bread.
Serve with:
Consider trying one of these classic soup recipes:
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French Onion Soup
Video
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds onions (about 3 large onions), thinly sliced
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 6 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 piece celery just a small chunk, not the whole rib
- 2 bay leaves
- 8 slices French Baguettes
- 4 Tablespoons butter melted
- 2 cloves garlic , halved
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese , fresh grated
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Add butter and onions to a large pot over medium heat. Season with a little salt and pepper and cook until softened.
- Add sugar and continue to gently stir until onions become golden brown and caramelized, about 25 minutes. Careful to not let them burn! Maintain a medium to medium-low heat.
- Add the flour and cook for 3 more minutes.
- Add beef stock, wine, thyme, celery and bay leaves. Cook partially covered for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Arrange bread on a baking sheet and brush with melted butter on both sides.
- Bake for 15 minutes, flipping to the other side half way through. Remove from oven and rub a cut clove of garlic onto each piece of bread.
- Turn oven to BROIL.
- Remove bay leaves and the piece of celery from the soup and ladle soup into 4 oven proof bowls.
- Place the toasted bread on top of each bowl. Depending on the size of your bowls you may need two slices of bread.
- Sprinkle the tops generously with both types of cheese. Broil until the cheese is browned and bubbling. Bon Appetite!
- Leftovers will keep stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Toast fresh bread and cheese when reheating.
Notes
Nutrition
I originally shared this recipe November 2016. Updated February 2020 with process photos, step-by-step instructions and a video.
Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
Tamra says
I am REALLY picky about my french onion soup. I made this last night and it was SO good. I can’t wait for leftovers tonight!
Fran says
Made this for supper tonight. A Winner! Easy and delicious! Will definitely make it again!
Lauren Allen says
Thank you for your comment! I’m really glad you liked it 🙂
Samantha says
I made this soup with this recipe and it was just so great. It was easy to follow and we were so glad it turned out so delicious. Will definitely keep this recipe for the future, especially this winter. Can’t wait to make it again!!
Lauren Allen says
Thanks for commenting Samantha! I’m so happy you enjoyed it. XOX
kathyb says
Delish, so many layers of flavor. I used red and white onions, olive oil and butter, a little bit garlic, bone broth, a pretty good dry vermouth, emmentaler cheese. Thick sliced ciabatta. whole thing took less than 1 hour, 1/2 hour active. Might add a little hot sauce before serving, or just leave on table.
LisaC says
KathyB, when you make changes to someone’s special recipe you just changed it to your creation. That’s a slap in the face. If you “have” to substitute that is totally different.
Pat Neff says
I’ve gone to larger croutons. It’s easier to eat and you kill two birds with one stone…use them in a salad also.
LisaD says
I am making this right now! I am terrible about NOT tasting too much while cooking. This is already tasting delish! I did not have white wine so I had to substitute a mild lager. I also made your “No Knead Artisian Bread” to serve with it. Just placed it into my Dutch Oven and am baking. I am excited! Thank You for your recipes!
Danielle says
I just made this and it is awesome! My family loves it! I will definitely be making it again. I did not change anything. I did however, use a little bit more onions because I just needed to get rid of what I had.