French Onion Soup (2024)

Jun 14, 2024 by Karina · This post may contain affiliate links

Classic French Onion Soup is one of the most delicious soups in the world! Dip and enjoy with cheesy garlic bread for an incredible flavour experience!

Deep golden, caramelized onions create a stock filled with an intense depth of flavour for a classic French Onion Soup. Simmered with fresh herbs, optional white wine and finished off with garlic bread slices topped with two types of melted cheese.

The end result is worth every minute: DELICIOUS!

FRENCH ONION SOUP

French onion soup is loved by so many, however, it can also can be quite intimidating for some readers to try. Don’t be scared to caramelize onions! I’m going to take you step by step in this post to help you get a perfect soup.

Onionscook slow for about 45 minutes to bring out their natural sweetness and create incredible flavours in every bowl. Is there anything better on a cold day than a bowl of soup? YES!THIS French Onion soup wins hands down. Made slightly thicker than most watered down soups because every mouthful NEEDS a slightly thickened texture to compliment the caramelized onions.

If you dont have oven-proof bowls, don’t panic! This French Onion Soup recipe will become your favourite as we’re using a batch of our popular cheesy garlic breadswith each serve.

HOW DO YOU MAKE FRENCH ONION SOUP FROM SCRATCH?

With so much flavour in French Onion Soup, you’d certainly be forgiven in thinking the soup itself is made up of complex ingredients. However, you only need a few core ingredients:

Butter: use a good quality unsalted butter.
Onions: so much flavour!
Flour: thickens your soup.
Dry white wine: deglazes the pot and scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pot, while also adding flavour. You can skip the wine and use extra beef broth if you wish!
Beef stock/broth — or chicken.
FRESH herbs (thyme and bay leaves).

WHAT KIND OF ONIONS DO YOU USE FOR FRENCH ONION SOUP?

Caramelized onions can develop different flavour profiles depending on the type of onion you use:

White onion: sweet and mild.
Red onion: strongeronion flavour, slightly bitter and not as sweet.
Yellow onion: our favourite foe this type of soup. Nice and mild with a naturally occurring sweetness you want for caramelised onions.

Cut onions in half from top to bottom andslice just a little bit of theroot section off — but not all of it.Place onion cut-side down and slice from the side of the onion.

THE BEST FRENCH ONION SOUP

Firstly, onions are cooked until browned and caramelized. You may be tempted to cut corners and sauté them until softened without cooking them to a golden brown, but please keep going! It makes all the difference in flavour.

The trick to caramelizing onions is to let them fry for a good 5-8 minutes in between stirring to get those key browned bits on the base of your pot. Then, with each stir, you’re going to scrape the bottom of the pan to get those browned bits mixed through.

Secondly, the pot is deglazed with a touch of wine OR extra broth, then flour is added to thicken the soup. Once the broth and herbs are added, your soup just needs boil, then simmer, until done.

Lastly, while the soup is cooking, make your cheesy garlic breadsfor an easier way to get French onion soup served without oven-proof bowls.

WHAT CAN I USE INSTEAD OF GRUYERE IN FRENCH ONION SOUP?

You can follow our recipe and use a blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheese, however you can also use Swiss, Gouda or Provolone. You can also try it with a slice of rindless Brie.

BEST WINE IN 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 CAN I USE INSTEAD OF WINE IN FRENCH ONION SOUP?

Replace wine with extra beef stock.

MORE SOUP RECIPES

Vegetable Soup
Cauliflower Soup
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Creamy Roasted Tomato Basil Soup (No Cream)
Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup
Creamy Ham Potato Soup

Ingredients

▢ 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
▢ 6 large yellow onions, peeled, halved and thinly sliced (about 2 ½ pounds | 1.25 kg)
▢ 1 tablespoon minced garlic, (or 4 cloves garlic, minced)
▢ ¼ cup flour, (plain or all purpose)
▢ ½ cup dry white wine or red wine*
▢ 2 sprigs fresh thyme, roughly chopped
▢ 6 cups beef stock or broth
▢ 1 teaspoon beef bouillon powder
▢ 2 whole bay leaves, (dried or fresh)
▢ Salt and pepper, to taste
▢ 1 batch cheesy garlic bread

Instructions

In a large pot over medium-low heat, heat olive oil and melt butter. Add the onions and stir well to evenly coat with oil and butter. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring every five minutes or so, until the onions have softened.
Increase heat to medium-high and add ½ teaspoon of salt. Stir and continue cooking for a further 15 minutes or until onions are golden browned, soft and caramelized. (The bottom of the pan will also brown during the cooking process. This is where all of the flavour is).
Stir in garlic and cook for one minute, then add in flour and cook for about 4 minutes to brown slightly.Add wine to deglaze the pan, and scrape up the browned bits stuck on the bottom of the pan. Add in the thyme and simmer wine for 2 minutes until reduced by half.
Add beef stock, bouillon and bay leaf; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer, partially covered with a lid, for 30-40 minutes.
While the soup is simmering, prepare 1 loaf of cheesy garlic bread, or individually portioned garlic breads.
To serve, taste test and season with a little extra salt and pepper, to taste. Ladle into bowls and top with 1 or 2 slices of cheesy toast.

Notes

BEST WINE IN 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 CAN I USE INSTEAD OF WINE IN FRENCH ONION SOUP?

Replace wine with extra beef brothor stock to substitute.

Nutrition

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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.

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What is a substitute for Worcestershire sauce in French onion soup? ›

“Try a combination of 1 part ketchup to ½ part soy sauce and ½ part malt vinegar to start," Malivert says, "and play with the proportions to balance the flavor.” Use this as a 1-to-1 substitute for Worcestershire sauce.

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How do you fix bland French onion soup? ›

Umami is the fifth basic taste and can greatly enhance the flavor of any dish, including French onion soup. Consider these umami-rich ingredients to boost the taste: Add a splash of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce to the soup. These condiments are packed with umami and will add depth and complexity to the flavors.

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Why did Jason's Deli get rid of French onion soup? ›

Hi Jami, we removed the French Onion soup to make room for other new menu items - we hope you'll give them a try!

Keep Reading ›

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.

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What if I add too much thyme to French onion soup? ›

You can add extra broth, water, milk, cream (depending on the soup's base) to “water-down” the thyme flavor. Adding a neutral grain, such as rice or beans will help absorb it too.

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What can I add to French onion soup to make it less sweet? ›

If the soup is too sweet, add the vinegar. If you would like a little more depth, add a splash of red wine. Preheat the broiler. Portion the soup into bowls, top with bread, cover with cheese, and broil until the cheese is melted and nicely browned.

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Does French onion soup taste better the next day? ›

The truth is French Onion soup is usually better the next day. So if you can make it ahead of time, that's to your advantage. It will still be delicious either way. To store any leftovers, place the soup in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to a week.

How do you fix soup that has no flavor? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

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Do the French eat French onion soup? ›

The Onion Soup, a traditional and warming dish

It has even become a trendy dish that tourists are eager to try to experience French gastronomy. However, onion soup is in fact not part of French people's daily meals. It was originally meant to be eaten after a family reunion in the middle of the night to cure hangovers…

Was French onion soup for poor people? ›

During ancient times (and still today), onions were cheap and easy to grow, and hence, readily available. For the poor, the onion was a savior, with onion soups being popular during the Roman times. In fact, a version of the recipe first appeared in Taillevent's 14th-century cookbook, Viandier.

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Did Panera remove French onion soup? ›

Panera Bread is reintroducing the fan-favorite Bistro French Onion Soup after its temporary removal in September prompted a national outcry across social media.

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How do you add depth of flavor to soup? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says.

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What can I add to French onion soup that is too sweet? ›

The sweetness can be balanced by adding some dry wine or vinegar. Taste as you go and don't overdo it. A little salt will balance it too, but don't forget that the grated cheese you will top it with is salty.

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