The BEST French Onion Soup Recipe (2024)

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If you are looking for the BEST French Onion Soup Recipe then you are going to fall in love at first bite with this delicious french onion soup! Not to toot my own horn here, but this seriously is the Best French Onion Soup Recipe ever!

The BEST French Onion Soup Recipe (1)

French Onion Soup Recipe

You may be wondering how I have gotten this french onion soup recipe to be perfect. Well, I had been working on perfecting it for a long time because this soup has a special meaning to me.

I remember being a little kid and getting to go out to a nice restaurant with my parents. Every time we went out I had french onion soup. I thought it was just so fancy back then and I still do! It is one of those soups that can really make a meal and really make a person feel fancy even if they are just enjoying it at home and not in a restaurant. Thisrecipe for french onion soup reminds me of going to the fancy restaurants with my parents when I was a child.

It seems like a french onion soup Recipe would be a hard one to make but it is quite simple. It took me a bit of time to get it perfect and to have the perfect restaurant flavors that I love but I did it. I am so excited to share this recipe with you because it does have such a special meaning to me that brings back memories and because it is an AMAZING soup recipe!

Homemade Soup Recipes

  • Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
  • Chicken Pot Pie Soup
  • Crockpot Veggie Soup
  • Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk
  • Crockpot Stuffed Pepper Soup
  • Baked Potato Soup
  • Homemade Tomato Soup

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This french onion soup tastes just like you are sitting in a fancy restaurant and even better it is a super easy french onion soup recipe! Of course this is an easy french onion soup recipe, we don’t ever like to make things complicated around here. 🙂 I am sure you are going to absolutely love this easy soup recipe! I am hoping that everyone who tries it feels fancy just like we do in my house when I make it.

What is French Onion Soup?

French onion soup is a beef broth based soup, with caramelized onions and spices that is served with a piece of bread placed in it and topped with cheese.

Is French Onion Soup Keto?

If you skip adding the bread to this soup recipe you will cut down a lot on the carbs making it a low carb french onion soup recipe that you can enjoy while sticking to keto or low carb. If you are wanting one that is made just for low carb, check out this amazing low carb french onion soup!

The BEST French Onion Soup Recipe (3)

Best Cheese for French Onion Soup

If you are worried about french onion soup cheese there are a few options. Personally I love the taste of Gruyere cheese on french onion soup.

However if you can’t find it, you can use provolone cheese instead of the Gruyere Cheese when making this soup. It will still taste amazing, I promise!

What are the best onions to use for French Onion Soup?

The great thing about this soup recipe is that you do not have to be to picky with the onions that you use. You can use sweet onions, yellow onions or shallot onions. If you want to you can also use a combination of the 3.

How to Make French Onion Soup without wine

Making french onion soup recipe without wine is super easy to do, you will make just one small adjustment to this recipe and that is it. I know that not everyone likes to use alcohol in their cooking and that is ok, you can still make this amazing soup recipe and will have a french onion soup recipe without wine that the whole family will love.

The white wine in this recipe is not a big component of the soup’s flavor so you can easily change it out for a few different things that will still give you an amazing soup. Instead of using white wine use more beef broth or use some chicken stock. You can also use red wine in this recipe if you do not have any white cooking wine on hand.

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How to Serve French Onion Soup

When eating this easy homemade soup I like to use a fancy soup bowl or Ramekin to put my soup in. You can use a regular soup bowl. But again, we like to be fancy in our house when we have this soup, so we stick to using our ramekins.

What to Serve with Soup

For lunch you can do soup with a sandwich like Red Pepper and mushroom grilled cheese or chicken salad.

For dinner there are so many things you can serve with this soup, I honestly can not think of many things that do not pair well with this homemade onion soup recipe.

Sometimes we have this soup for dinner on its own, other times with a fresh homemade salad with garlic lime vinaigrette dressing, Avocado BLT Salad or Strawberry Spinach Salad.

Other times I serve this soup recipe as the start to our main meal. My family thinks its so fancy for me to put the soup out first and then serve the rest of the meal. If you are wanting to have a restaurant style meal at home this is perfect! Serve the soup and then serve the main dish and everyone will feel fancy right at home.

If you are looking for main dish recipes that go with this soup there are plenty. Just about any baked seafood recipe or chicken recipe will go well with it. Grilled steak, grilled chicken and grilled fish like grilled salmon are also great main dish options to serve with this easy homemade soup recipe.

Looking for Main dish recipes to go with soup? Check these out!

  • Asparagus stuffed chicken
  • Lemon Garlic Chicken
  • Sun dried Tomato Tuscan chicken recipe
  • Lemon Garlic Shrimp

Pasta. Just about any pasta dish will pair well with this soup recipe. Be sure to check out a few of our favorite pasta recipes that we have shared!

  • Chicken Asparagus Pasta
  • Shrimp Alfredo Recipe
  • Creamy Tomato Pasta

Can French Onion soup be made ahead of time?

You can make this soup up to 3 days ahead of time. However do not put the bread and the cheese on top until you are ready to serve it.

You can also freeze french onion soup. Just let the soup cool completely and then freeze in an airtight container or a freezer zipper bag with out the bread and the cheese. Soup will keep frozen for up to 6 months.

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French Onion Soup Ingredients

  • 2 ounces olive oil
  • 2 pounds onions
  • 2 ounces white wine
  • 2 quarts beef broth
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 5 ounces Gruyere Cheese
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • 4 Thick Slices Of French Bread Or Baguette

How to Make French Onion Soup

Thinly slice all of the onions.

Heat your soup pot on high on the stove. Once it is hot add the oil.

Once the oil starts to smoke add your onions. Cook the onions until they are wilted down and caramelized, about 20 minutes.Do not stir the onions for the first 4 minutes.

Deglazethe pot with the white wine. (this means just pour your wine in, for those who are not always masterminds in the kitchen)

Next add the beef broth, bay leaf, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to the pot. Cook on medium heat for 30 minutes.

Turn the oven on to broil. Slice your bread if it is not presliced. Butter one side of the bread slices and broil over low heat on a baking sheet, allowing bread to brown and become crispy. Once done remove the bread from the oven.

Ladle the soup into your bowl or ramekin.

Place the crispy bread on top, and then sprinkle generously with grated cheese.

Broil in the oven until cheese is melted and bubbly.

French Onion Soup Recipe

Created by Lauren

4.24 from 51 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Servings 4

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

ThisFrench Onion Soup Recipe is the perfect homemade french onion soup. This easy french onion soup recipe tastes just like you are eating at a fancy restaurant.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Thinly slice all of the onions. Heat your soup pot on high on the stove. Once it is hot add the oil.

  • Once the oil starts to smoke add your onions. Cook the onions until they are wilted down and caramelized, about 20 minutes.Do not stir the onions for the first 4 minutes.

  • Deglazethe pot with the white wine. (this means just pour your wine in, for those who are not always masterminds in the kitchen)

  • Next add the beef broth, bay leaf, italian seasoning, salt and pepper to the pot.

  • Cook the soup on medium heat for 30 minutes.

  • Turn the oven on to broil. Slice your bread if it is not presliced. Butter one side of the bread slices and broil over low heat on a baking sheet, allowing bread to brown and become crispy. Once done remove the bread from the oven.

  • Ladle the soup into your bowl or ramekin.

  • Place crispy bread on top, and then sprinkle generously with grated cheese.

  • Broil until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Calories: 408kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 1889mg | Potassium: 625mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 335IU | Vitamin C: 16.7mg | Calcium: 447mg | Iron: 1.6mg

french onion soup, French Onion Soup Recipe

Dinner, Soup

The BEST French Onion Soup Recipe (7)

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3 SmartPoints per serving on Weight Watchers FreeStyle Plan for SOUP without cheese or bread

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The BEST French Onion Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you deepen the flavor of French onion soup? ›

A few sprigs of thyme and a bay leaf elevate the soup even more, but I take it a step further, adding a splash of fish sauce for complexity and depth—don't worry, it won't taste fishy—and a hit of cider vinegar to balance some of that oniony sweetness.

Why do you put baking soda in French onion soup? ›

The caramelized onions for this soup cook more quickly due to a pinch of baking soda but still have that deep, slow-cooked flavor. Topping the soup with hot, cheesy toasts prepared while the soup simmers, eliminates the need to bake the soup in specialty French onion soup bowls.

What is the best wine to use in French onion soup? ›

Wine is optional to deglaze the pan and add flavour to the soup. I recommend a dry white or red wine, such as a good quality Pinot Grigio/Gris, Sauv Blanc, Sémillon, Chardonnay, Merlot or Pinot Noir. Generally, if you can't drink it, don't cook with it.

What is the best vessel for French onion soup? ›

French onion soup is traditionally served in lionhead bowls, which are deep but not very wide porcelain bowls. Here are four reasons why these bowls are perfect: Plenty of soup. Even as the bread on top starts to soak up some of the soup, there's still plenty left underneath.

How do you make soup taste richer? ›

Add acidic ingredients.

Foods that have a great deal of acidity, like lemon juice, vinegar, white wine, and tomato puree, can help liven up the flavor of bland-tasting bone and other broths. "The acidity of these ingredients works to complement and enhance the broth's flavors, not mask it.

What spices add depth to soup? ›

Herbs and sources add flavor, aroma, and intensity to the soup broth. You can pick fresh or dried herbs like basil for tomato-based soups or fresh parsley for clear broths. You may also add more spices like turmeric, ground ginger, ground paprika, or nutmeg for a touch of spice and color to your soup broth.

Should you caramelize onions for French onion soup? ›

The key to good French onion soup is to cook the onions so long that they threaten to melt into a viscous, dark brown paste, à la Marmite. As has already been extensively reported in Slate, there are no shortcuts when you're caramelizing onions; it always takes at least an hour, usually longer.

Why does my French onion soup taste burnt? ›

If the heat is too high, the onions will burn. If you don't stir often at beginning and almost constantly toward the end, the onions will burn. If one little bit burns the whole batch needs to be tossed. Otherwise the soup ends up tasting like burnt onion.

Why do you put lemon juice in soup? ›

But as the publication explains, lemon juice adds more than just tartness. For chicken soup in particular, lemon juice balances out the more rich and savory flavors, adding an overall brightness to the taste.

What is the difference between onion soup and French onion soup? ›

What is the Difference Between Onion Soup and French Onion Soup? French onion soup is always made with beef stock. Other onion soups can be made with chicken, vegetable, or beef stock. Additionally, French onion soup typically contains wine or sherry, which isn't typical or necessary in other onion soups.

Is it better to use red or white wine in French onion soup? ›

A fruity, tart, dry white wine is a classic choice that will add a lighter, more delicate balance to the otherwise strong flavors of onions, beef broth, and cheese. Red wine has a robust, sophisticated profile that will offset the strength of the other ingredients and add yet another layer of intensity.

Can I use chicken broth instead of beef broth in French onion soup? ›

It is better to use chicken or vegetable broth rather than sub-standard beef broth. Best to use low salt and add salt if required. 4. Bread - The idea with the recipe is that you can use a spoon to cut through the bread into the soup to eat it (see video).

What is the etiquette for eating French onion soup? ›

I fear it's gauche to use a knife, but how am I supposed to cope with the thick layer of cheese on top? With such a soup, a knife is your friend, not your enemy. Using both the soup spoon and the knife, push the baked cheese against the rim of the cup or bowl and cut it gently with the knife.

Is French onion soup good for you? ›

Well, you'll be pleased to know that french onion soup is, in fact, a highly nutritious choice. Onions, as part of the Allium family, contain Quercetin which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and should not be overlooked as a vegetable when considering your daily 7-a-day.

Why is my French onion soup watery? ›

Sometimes soup just needs to simmer longer to reach the perfect consistency. Check to see if the vegetables are tender, and then taste the broth. If the soup tastes a bit watery, give it more time.

How do you get the depth of flavor in vegetable soup? ›

A squeeze of citrus, a dollop of yogurt or a drizzle of cream, a dusting of cheese or a good chile powder, a sprinkling of some herbs or croutons — all can take a perfectly fine soup into the realm of the delectable. Even a spiral of good olive oil to finish and some coarse sea salt can do wonders.

How do you add acid to French onion soup? ›

The acidity of wine helps balance the rich, sweet flavors of caramelized onions and beef broth in this classic soup. Replacing it with an acid such as apple cider vinegar or lemon juice can help fill the gap. Try adding a splash of vinegar or citrus juice at the end of cooking and adjust to taste.

Why do you add flour to French onion soup? ›

Flour: a little all-purpose flour will help to thicken the soup. You can feel free to use gluten-free flour. Dry white wine: this helps to deglaze the pan and add a boost of flavor.

References

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