There is truly nothing like a warm bowl of a simple French onion soup to make you feel cozy and comfortable. We've got perfectly caramelized onions, melty cheese, and toasty (yet soggy) bread on top, it's the OG of soup season that makes you feel good in each and every slurp.
Soups are enjoyable all the time in my opinion. I cannot get enough of my staple broccoli and cheddar soup or whipping up a pot of roasted acorn squash soup on the stove. But, there's something about a french onion soup that just hits time and time again.
TL; DR Recipe Summary
- 👩🏼🍳 Cook Level: Intermediate (due to caramelizing onions)
- ⏱️ Cook Time: 45 minutes to caramelize; 30 minutes for an additional simmer.
- 😋 Taste: Sweet, salty, umami, earthy, creamy, cheesy.
- 🍽️ Best Served With: Make a large batch of this simple french onion soup for dinner to go with my one pot chicken and rice or my cast iron skillet lemon chicken.
Jump to:
Soup Tips and Reminders
- LOW AND SLOW: Cook the onions on a low to medium-low heat for a prolonged period, from 45 minutes to sometimes closer to an hour. They should give off a sweet aroma and be golden brown, not burnt.
- Stir occasionally: Stir the onions every few minutes to ensure even cooking and prevent them from sticking.
- Add liquid for moisture: If the onions start to stick or burn, deglaze the pan with a splash of water, broth, or wine to help release the onions from the bottom of the pan.
- Be patient: Allow the natural sugars to caramelize, and the water content to evaporate, concentrating the onion flavor to achieve the desired deep golden-brown color and naturally sweet flavor.
The Main Ingredients
- Onions - Sweet yellow onions are my favorite to use for this recipe but you could also use vidalia or standard white onions.
- Butter - The butter is important for rendering down the onions and giving the soup a comforting, creamy flavor.
- Flour - Using flour in this soup helps to thicken the liquid and also combine the onions together with the butter.
- Beef Broth - The stock that gets added to the onions to make the soup itself.
- Cheese - I like a typical gruyere or provolone for this, but I also have used swiss (in the photos) and brie, which both work really well too.
- French Baguette - A classic thin and buoyant bread that gets sliced into thick pieces and added directly to the soup, which then absorbs the yummy liquid and flavor.
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for more information about quantities, measurements, and specific cooking instructions.
Recipe Swaps and Substitutions
- Swap out the beef broth for vegetable stock if you're vegetarian.
- Use gluten free bread instead of the French baguette
- If you can find a dairy-free cheese that you know will melt well, feel free to use that instead of the dairy version.
How to make french onion soup
Step 1: Slice the onions into ½" slices the set aside.
Step 2: In a medium dutch oven or stockpot, melt the butter and add the onions.
Step 3: Cook the onions on a low flame until they begin to caramelize and become golden brown, approximately 45 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Step 4: Once the onions are golden brown and caramelized, add the flour, the stir to combine.
Step 5: Pour in the beef broth and stir. Cover the soup and let simmer on a low flame for 30 minutes.
Step 6: Preheat the oven to broil, then ladle two scoops of soup into a broil-safe ramekin or bowl, then add a slice of French baguette and top with cheese. Add to the broiler for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melty and slightly golden brown. Serve with fresh thyme.
French Onion Soup FAQs
I used swiss in this particular recipe but that's because it's all I had and I hate wasting cheese! Traditionally, gruyere or provolone are used in making this soup.
Yes, you can swap out many of the ingredients to fit your needs. Use vegetable stock instead of beef, and use gluten free bread instead of the classic French baguette.
You can add the contents of the soup to a large glass or plastic food storage container and add to the fridge. This will do well for up to 5 days. You can also freeze this for two months!
Need more soup in your life? Here's some more!
Did you love this recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you're just as in love with this recipe as I am, please share a comment below and rate it! Better yet, share this recipe with family and friends!! Thank you!
Simple French Onion Soup
Equipment
- Dutch Oven or Large Stock Pot
- Oven-Safe Bowls
- ladle
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 2 large Onions sliced
- 4 tablespoon Butter
- 32 oz Beef Broth
- 2 tablespoon Flour
- 1 loaf French Baguette sliced
- 2 oz Cheese grated or sliced
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice the onions into ½" slices the set aside.
- In a medium dutch oven or stockpot, melt the butter and add the onions.
- Cook the onions on a low flame until they begin to caramelize and become golden brown, approximately 45 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Once the onions are golden brown and caramelized, add the flour, the stir to combine.
- Pour in the beef broth and stir. Cover the soup and let simmer on a low flame for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to broil, then ladle two scoops of soup into a broil-safe ramekin or bowl, then add a slice of French baguette and top with cheese. Add to the broiler for2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melty and slightly golden brown. Serve with fresh thyme.
Beth T says
You had me at simple, and simple it was in the best way! French onion is one of my favorite soups, but I haven’t been able to find a good recipe until now! So good! Such great onion flavor and so easy to make!