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French Onion Soup

Featured in Comforting Soups & Stews.

Finally learned how to make French onion soup and its so much easier than I thought! Just cook the onions really slow til they get super sweet. Used lots of butter and good broth. The best part is the bread and cheese on top that gets all melty and golden. Made it on a rainy day and the whole house smelled amazing. Everyone fought over the cheesy bread bits. Perfect comfort food when its cold outside. Way better than the restaurant version.
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Mina cooking in her kitchen
Updated on Thu, 09 Jan 2025 18:05:56 GMT
A bowl of French onion soup topped with melted cheese and a sprig of thyme, accompanied by slices of bread. Pin it
A bowl of French onion soup topped with melted cheese and a sprig of thyme, accompanied by slices of bread. | lastminrecipes.com

The Best French Onion Soup Just Like Paris

Let me share my favorite French onion soup recipe that I perfected after countless attempts in my kitchen. This cozy bowl of goodness with its sweet caramelized onions and that irresistible melty cheese top brings back memories of my first taste in a tiny Paris cafe. Trust me this soup will warm your soul on any chilly evening.

Why This French Onion Soup Works

I've made this French onion soup hundreds of times and it never disappoints. The depth you get from slowly caramelizing the onions is pure magic. That crusty bread soaked in rich broth topped with bubbly cheese creates pure comfort in a bowl. Best part? You can easily adapt it for any dietary needs without losing that authentic taste.

What You'll Need

  • 4 pounds yellow onions: Slice them thin they'll melt down into sweet perfection.
  • 3 tablespoons butter: The secret to perfect caramelization.
  • 4 cloves garlic: Fresh minced garlic makes everything better.
  • 3 tablespoons flour: Just enough to give body to your broth.
  • ½ cup dry white wine: I use whatever white wine I'm drinking.
  • 6 cups beef or veggie stock: Both work beautifully pick your favorite.
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce: Adds that something special you can't quite place.
  • 1 bay leaf and fresh thyme: Fresh herbs make all the difference.
  • Baguette: Get a good crusty one it matters.
  • Cheese: Gruyere is traditional but any good melting cheese works.
Four white ramekins filled with French onion soup topped with melted cheese and garnished with thyme, accompanied by slices of bread. Pin it
Four white ramekins filled with French onion soup topped with melted cheese and garnished with thyme, accompanied by slices of bread. | lastminrecipes.com

Let's Make Your French Onion Soup

The Magic Starts Here
Get your butter melting in a big pot over medium heat. Toss in those onions and let them do their thing for about 30 minutes until they're sweet and golden. Add garlic stir in flour then splash in that wine to get all the yummy bits off the bottom.
Soup Time
Pour in your stock add Worcestershire sauce bay leaf and thyme. Let it bubble away for 10 minutes. Fish out the bay leaf and thyme sprigs then season until it tastes just right.
Toast Your Bread
Heat your oven to 400°F and toast those baguette slices until they're golden perfect.
The Grand Finale
Switch to broil fill your bowls with that gorgeous soup add your toasted bread and pile on the cheese. Pop under the broiler and watch the magic happen 2-4 minutes until bubbly heaven.

My Favorite Soup Secrets

Want to make this French onion soup your own? Try veggie stock for a meatless version or gluten free bread if you need. Sometimes I crack an egg on top before broiling for extra richness. Just keep watching that cheese under the broiler it can go from perfect to burnt in seconds.

Perfect Pairings

Nothing beats this French onion soup with a simple green salad or alongside roasted chicken. Pour yourself a glass of crisp white wine or French rosé and you've got yourself a little piece of Paris right at home.

A bowl of French onion soup topped with melted cheese and a sprig of thyme, accompanied by slices of toasted bread. Pin it
A bowl of French onion soup topped with melted cheese and a sprig of thyme, accompanied by slices of toasted bread. | lastminrecipes.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why won't my onions caramelize?

Caramelizing takes time and patience. Keep the heat medium, stir regularly, and give them the full 30 minutes. They should turn golden brown, not burn.

→ What's the best cheese to use?

Traditional Gruyere works best, but Swiss, Asiago, or Mozzarella are good alternatives. The cheese should melt well and have good flavor.

→ Can I make this soup ahead?

Yes, make the soup base up to 3 days ahead. Reheat and add the bread and cheese topping just before serving.

→ Why deglaze with wine?

Wine adds flavor and helps scrape up the browned bits from the pan bottom. These bits add rich flavor to your soup.

→ Can I make this vegetarian?

Yes, simply swap the beef stock for vegetable stock and check that your Worcestershire sauce is vegetarian.

French Onion Soup

A classic French onion soup made with sweet caramelized onions, rich beef broth, and topped with crusty bread and melted cheese.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
50 Minutes
Total Time
60 Minutes
By: Mina

Category: Soups & Stews

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: French

Yield: 1 pot

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 4 pounds yellow onions, peeled and sliced thin.
02 3 tablespoons butter.
03 4 cloves garlic, minced.
04 3 tablespoons flour.
05 1/2 cup dry white wine.
06 6 cups beef stock.
07 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce.
08 1 bay leaf.
09 3 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried).
10 Salt and black pepper to taste.
11 Baguette for topping.
12 Cheese (Gruyere, Asiago, Swiss, or Mozzarella).

Instructions

Step 01

Melt butter in large stockpot over medium-high heat.

Step 02

Add onions and cook for 30 minutes until caramelized, stirring every few minutes.

Step 03

Add garlic and cook 2 minutes.

Step 04

Stir in flour and cook 1 minute.

Step 05

Add wine to deglaze, scraping bottom of pot.

Step 06

Pour in stock, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, and thyme.

Step 07

Bring to simmer, then reduce heat and cover, cook 10 minutes.

Step 08

Remove bay leaf and thyme sprigs.

Step 09

Season with salt and pepper.

Step 10

Heat oven to 400°F.

Step 11

Toast baguette slices 6-8 minutes.

Step 12

Switch to broiler, fill oven-safe bowls with soup, top with bread and cheese, broil 2-4 minutes until cheese melts.

Notes

  1. Use oven-safe bowls for broiling.
  2. Can use veggie stock instead of beef.
  3. Stir onions more frequently at end of caramelizing.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large stockpot.
  • Oven-safe soup bowls.
  • Baking sheet.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Dairy (butter, cheese).
  • Wheat (flour, bread).

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 275
  • Total Fat: 12 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 35 g
  • Protein: 8 g