Easy French Onion Soup Recipe
This easy French Onion Soup recipe offers a simple yet comforting take on the classic French dish. Featuring caramelized yellow onions simmered in rich beef broth and topped with toasty baguette slices melted with Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses, it’s perfect for a cozy meal any time of year.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds (about 3) yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated white sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 6 cups beef broth
- 1 whole bay leaf
Topping
- 8 slices baguette
- 4 ounces (1 cup) grated Gruyere cheese
- 1 ounce (1/4 cup) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh thyme for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the olive oil, sliced onions, and sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions become soft, lightly browned, and caramelized, which should take about 30 minutes.
- Add Seasonings and Flour: Stir in the salt, pepper, and all-purpose flour. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to combine and cook off the raw flour taste.
- Simmer Soup: Pour in the beef broth and add the bay leaf. Increase the heat to bring the soup to a boil, then reduce it to medium-low and let it simmer gently for 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Toast Baguette: Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast them under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, until they are lightly browned and crisp.
- Assemble and Broil: Divide the soup evenly into 4 oven-safe bowls. Top each bowl with 2 toasted baguette slices. Sprinkle the grated Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses evenly over the bread. Place the bowls on a rimmed baking sheet and return them to the oven under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly with light browning. Garnish with fresh thyme if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute beef broth with vegetable broth and use vegetarian-friendly cheese.
- Keep an eye on the soup under the broiler to prevent the cheese from burning.
- Make sure to use oven-safe bowls for broiling the soup.
- Caramelizing onions slowly is key for developing the rich flavor of this soup.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
Keywords: French onion soup, caramelized onion soup, classic French soup, easy French soup, Gruyere soup, comforting soup
Find it online: https://spiceupwithsophie.com/easy-french-onion-soup-recipe/
