Onion soups have been popular since Roman times. Talk about a dish with a long history! And although people think of them as a poor man’s dish (onions are undeniably a humble main ingredient), the French took things up a notch by enhancing a simple onion soup with indulgent ingredients. Wine, cheese, freshly made bread, there’s so much more than onions in this dish. 🤤 When it’s cold out, and my inner French chef stays in for the night, you can find me in the kitchen, making some cozy French onion soup in my fancy little ramekins for dinner. Oui! 💁🏾♀️
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make French Onion Soup
Make the Soup
Cook the Onions – In a Dutch oven, add olive oil and cook sliced onions on medium heat for around 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often to prevent them from burning. (Photos 1-2)Caramelize Them – Add softened butter, salt, and pepper into the pot and stir well to melt and coat the onions. Turn the heat down to low and let the onions caramelize, stirring constantly until they reach a deep rich brown color. (Photo 3)The Roux – Add in the flour and stir. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Then stir in the wine while scraping the bottom of the pan to remove those flavorful browned bits. (Photos 4-5)Seasoning – Now, throw in bay leaves, garlic, and thyme sprigs. Then give it a quick stir. (Photo 6)Add Broths – Add beef and chicken stock and bring to a boil. (Photos 7-8)Simmer – Then simmer uncovered for another 15-20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, adjusting to taste.
Assemble the French Onion Soup
Toast the Bread – While the soup is cooking, lightly butter both sides of the bread (or use olive oil if desired). Toast bread in the oven or a skillet for 5-7 minutes.Prepare the Ramekins – When the soup is ready, pour it into ramekins or individual serving bowls – just make sure they are oven safe. (Photo 9)Add Toast – Top each bowl with a slice or two of your French toast, followed by grated cheese. (Photo 10)Broil – Place bowls on a baking sheet and pop them in the oven under the broiler until the cheese melts, 2-3 minutes.Serve – Remove and let cool slightly. Serve with more toast if desired. (Extra toast is essential! 😜)
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
Making this soup ahead of time is pretty straightforward. Simply follow the instructions for the soup part of the recipe, allow it to cool, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. The next day, heat the soup on the stove and finish by toasting the bread and broiling the cheese.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve this soup hot out of the oven while the cheese is still bubbling and melty. I highly recommend serving extra toast with the soup – you’ll want it for dipping once you’ve finished the topping. Store any leftover soup separate from the toast in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for 3-5 days. You can keep the toast in an airtight, resealable bag on your countertop for the same amount of time. You could also freeze this soup for three months; just make sure to save the bread and cheese topping part until you’re ready to serve. Reheat leftover soup on the stovetop, and once it’s hot, add the toast and cheese and broil, just like you did the first time. Easy peasy! 😃
What Goes with French Onion Soup
This French onion soup is a meal on its own. It is a comforting soup topped with crusty cheesy bread. What more could you ask for? But when I’m feeling a little extra, I love serving it as a starter to baked chicken breast and a tossed salad. I also like to go all out and make some fresh bread for the toast element. Try some no-knead bread or homemade white bread for the win.
More Satisfying Soup Recipes to Try
Conclusion
This recipe is one you are going to want to keep coming back to for sure. Have you tried it yet? Please review it and leave a comment because I love hearing how you used your own kitchen know-how to bring my recipes to life. 💕
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”joVBKJDJ” upload-date=”2022-03-31T17:40:03.000Z” name=”FRENCH ONION SOUP.mp4″ description=”French Onion Soup is a richly flavorful and soul-satisfying delight of French cooking. Caramelized onions, well-seasoned broth, and crispy cheese bread create the ultimate comfort food experience.” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was originally published in March 2019 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
