Ultimate French Onion Soup

Name: Ultimate French Onion Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 70 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 1 stick unsalted butter; 4 large onions (thinly sliced); 2 cloves garlic (chopped); 2 whole bay leaves; 2 sprigs fresh thyme; 1/2 cup red wine; 6 cups low-sodium beef broth; 2 tbsp all purpose flour; 1/2 loaf Italian bread (sliced); 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese (shredded); salt and pepper to taste

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Ultimate French Onion Soup is a rich, flavorful soup made with caramelized onions and beef stock and topped with cheesy bread.

bowl of soup, topped with cheesy toast sits on a white plate with additional cheesy toast slices.

On a cold day there's nothing better than a bowl of soup to warm you up. I love French Onion soup for the rich flavor but mainly for the cheesy bread that's on top.

overhead image of soup in a white bowl with 3 pieces of chees toast and fresh thyme sprig.

What is French Onion Soup

French Onion Soup is an easy soup recipe that originated in France. Onions are caramelized with fresh thyme and a bay leaf, then deglazed with red wine and simmered in beef stock. The soup is topped with a slice of cheesy bread that melted into the soup as you eat it.

Ingredients

onions
butter
fresh thyme
garlic
bay leaf
wine (red or white)
beef broth
all purpose flour
salt and pepper
bread
Gruyere cheese

Instructions

First, melt the butter. Add butter to a large saucepan and melt over low heat.

Meanwhile, prepare the onions. Thinly slice the onions. Once the butter is melted, add the onions to the saucepan, along with the thyme, garlic and bay leaf.

Process shot - sliced onions in pot with thyme, bay leaf and garlic.

Then, caramelize the onions. Increase the heat to medium and begin caramelizing the onions, stirring them every 5-7 minutes until they're golden brown. This takes approximately 45 minutes.

Next, add in the wine, flour and broth. Pour in the wine and let it simmer for 5 minutes, until mostly evaporated. Then whisk in the flour, stirring until it's fully coated. Finally, pour in the beef broth and bring the soup back up to a simmer for 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Process shot - wine being poured into onion mixture.

Process shot - flour being added to onion mixture.

After that, prepare the bread. Slice the bread into rounds and top with shredded cheese. Place on a baking sheet and broil for 3-4 minutes until melted and toasty.

Finally, serve the soup. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with slices of toasted cheesy bread. Serve immediately.

Alternate cooking option: if you have bowls that are safe to go under the broiler, ladle soup into the bowls, top with slices of bread and sprinkle cheese on top. Broil for 3-5 minutes until cheese has melted.

Overhead shot of bowl of soup with three pieces of cheesy toast and a fresh thyme garnish.

Serving Suggestions

I love the toasted cheesy bread so I always serve this soup with a few additional pieces. It would also be great as a side dish to a beef entree, like steak. It also would be delicious with a baked potato, sauteed mushrooms or a salad.

Angled image of soup in a white bowl, zoomed in on the cheesy toast floating on top.

FAQ

What kind of onions are used in French Onion Soup?

Yellow onions are most commonly used in french onion soup.

What kind of cheese do you use in French Onion Soup?

Gruyere is most common, but Swiss or even Provolone will do.

Can I substitute the wine in French Onion Soup?

Absolutely! Replace it with additional broth or stock.

Soup in a white bowl on a white plate surrounded by pieces of cheesy toast.

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