French Onion Soup

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This French Onion Soup is loaded with perfectly caramelized onions, savory beef stock, and bubbly Gruyère cheese. One spoonful of this bistro-quality soup and it’ll instantly become your go-to comfort food!

White ceramic bowl of French onion soup topped with melted cheese, garnished with parsley. Sliced bread and a checkered cloth in the background.

There’s nothing better on a chilly day than a big bowl of homemade French Onion Soup. I’ve tried plenty of soup recipes, but this one has earned a permanent spot at my dinner table. The magic is all in those onions, gently cooked until they’re sweet, golden brown, and irresistibly tender.

The best part is that this soup can make any dinner feel like a special occasion. The crispy baguette slices topped with gooey melted gruyere cheese take a few simple ingredients and turn them into comfort-food at it’s best. Trust me, once you try this version of French onion soup, you’ll be craving it non-stop!

If you’re craving more cozy soup recipes, be sure to try my homemade Easy Potato Soup, Classic Chicken Noodle Soup or Chicken Taco Soup next! If you love French onion flavors, you’ll want to give my French Onion Soup Chicken a try too!

Two bowls of baked cheesy soup garnished with herbs, surrounded by toasted bread, gold spoons, a salad, and a glass of white wine on a light surface.

Why We Love This Recipe

Cozy comfort food: Warm savory broth, soft and sweet onions, ooey gooey cheese and a crusty slice of bread…it’s perfection!
Simple ingredient list: With a handful of ingredients and a little bit of time, you’ll have the best homemade soup you’ve ever tasted.
Freezer-friendly: The base of this soup is perfect for meal prep. When you’re ready to serve it, just thaw it out, ladle into ovenproof bowls. Top with the cheese and crusty bread and it’s all set to go in the oven.

Ingredients

Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps caramelize the onions beautifully.
Vegetable oil: Keeps the butter from burning while caramelizing the onions.
Sweet or Vidalia onions, thinly sliced: Caramelized perfectly, they give the soup its signature rich, sweet flavor.
Salt: Enhances the sweetness of the caramelized onions.
Black pepper: Adds just the right touch of mild heat to balance the sweetness.
Granulated sugar: Speeds up caramelization, bringing out the natural sweetness of onions.
Dry white wine: Adds depth and a tangy, rich flavor that perfectly complements the caramelized onions.
All-purpose flour: Thickens the soup slightly to create a hearty texture.
Beef broth: Forms the savory base for the soup.
Worcestershire sauce: Gives a delicious depth of flavor.
Dried thyme: Classic herb that pairs wonderfully with caramelized onions and beef broth.
Bay leaves: Infuse the broth with subtle aromatic flavor as it simmers.
Dry sherry: Provides authentic, restaurant-quality flavor.
Baguette, cut into ½-inch thick slices: Crispy, golden bread that holds up under melted cheese and broth.
Grated Gruyère cheese: Melts into gooey, irresistible deliciousness on top of your soup.
Parmesan cheese: Adds a tasty hint of salty richness to complement the Gruyère.
Fresh Italian parsley or fresh thyme for garnish: Brightens the soup visually and adds a fresh finish.

How To Make French Onion Soup

Step 1. Place butter in a large pot or Dutch oven and heat over medium until melted and bubbling.

Step 2. Add the onions, along with the vegetable oil, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions become extremely soft.

Step 3. Evenly sprinkle sugar over the softened onions and cook another 20 minutes. You’ll want to stir a little more frequently to scrape up the tasty browned bits from the bottom. By now, onions should be deeply caramelized and brown in color.

Step 4. Pour in white wine to deglaze, stirring continuously for about 6-8 minutes, or until most of the liquid evaporates and onions turn soft and mushy.

A pot filled with sliced onions and pepper on a white surface, next to a wooden spoon and a blue and white checkered cloth.

Pot of onions and wine in a blue-handled pot next to a wooden spoon and checkered cloth on a white surface.

Step 5. Sprinkle flour over the onions and stir until they’re well-coated. Then, stir in the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil while occasionally stirring. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 30 minutes.

A pot of sauteed onions with wine and flour on top. A wooden spoon and checkered cloth are nearby.

A blue pot filled with soup containing onions, broth, and herbs. A wooden spoon and a checkered cloth are placed nearby on a white surface.

Step 6. While the soup simmers, preheat oven to 400°F and place your oven rack in the center position. Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet.

Step 7. Toast in the oven for about 8-10 minutes until golden and crisp. Remove and set aside.

Twelve slices of bread arranged on a black baking tray. A blue and white checkered cloth is visible at the bottom left corner.

Twelve toasted bread slices on a black baking sheet, placed on a white surface with a blue and white checkered cloth at the corner.

Step 8. Once the soup finishes simmering, give it a quick stir, remove bay leaves, and stir in the sherry. Remove from heat and let it rest while you position the oven rack about 4-6 inches from the top of the oven. Preheat the broiler to high.

Step 9. Place oven-safe bowls or ramekins onto a baking sheet and ladle the soup into each one. Add a couple of the toasted baguette slices on top.

Three bowls of onion soup, garnished with melted cheese, accompanied by slices of toasted bread and a bowl of shredded cheese, on a white surface with a checkered cloth nearby.

Three bowls of French onion soup topped with toasted bread, surrounded by extra toast and shredded cheese on a speckled surface. A checkered cloth is visible in the corner.

Step 10. Then generously sprinkle Gruyere cheese over the top, followed by a light sprinkle of Parmesan.

Step 11. Broil for 2-4 minutes, watching carefully until cheese is melted, bubbly and lightly browned. Remove from oven and enjoy!

Three white bowls filled with soup topped with grated cheese, surrounded by round toasted bread slices and a bowl of cheese on a speckled surface, next to a blue and white checkered cloth.

Three bowls of French onion soup topped with melted cheese and herbs, accompanied by sliced baguette, a small bowl of grated cheese, and gold spoons. A parsley sprig is nearby on the white surface.

How To Store Leftover French Onion Soup

Place leftover soup without bread or cheese in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

You can also freeze the base of this soup, once it has cooled, for up to 2 months. Be sure to freeze it without adding the toppings.

When ready to enjoy again, just thaw overnight in the fridge. To reheat, pour the soup into an oven safe bowl and place it on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° until hot, add bread slices and cheese, then place under the broiler until the cheese is bubbling and golden.

A bowl of French onion soup topped with melted cheese and garnished with chopped herbs, in a white ceramic bowl.

Tips And Tricks

This is a great recipe because it’s so easy to make, but here are a few extra tips to guarantee delicious results every time:

Pick the right onions: Choose sweet yellow onions or Vidalia onions for the richest, sweetest caramelization.
Crispy bread: You’ll want to use bread that crisps up nicely. Softer breads can disintegrate. If you don’t have bread on hand, you can substitute croutons instead.
Be patient: Cook the onions slowly over medium-low heat. This allows time for them to turn nice and golden without burning.
Toast first: Toast baguette slices thoroughly so they stay crispy after broiling.
Adjust flavor: A pinch of sugar can correct any bitterness from over-browned onions.
Homemade if possible: Homemade beef stock or broth adds incredible depth, but of course, a quality store-bought broth also works well.
Heat proof bowls: To avoid a mess in the oven, you’ll want to be your bowls or ramekins are oven-safe to withstand broiling temperatures.
Broil carefully: Cheese can go from bubbly perfection to burnt very quickly so be sure to keep an eye on it.

A bowl of baked cheesy onion soup topped with parsley. Served with toasted bread slices on the side. White plate and table setting.

Variations and Add-ins for this French Onion Soup

This soup is amazing as is, but if you’re feeling creative, these are some delicious ways to mix things up:

Wine: You can substitute dry sherry with white wine. If you want to skip the wine completely, you can use extra beef broth instead.
Grated cheese options: While gruyere is often used in a classic French onion soup recipe, Swiss is more budget friendly. You can also use mozzarella cheese if that’s your favorite. Comté or Emmental are also good choices because they melt similarly and taste delicious.
Vinegar: Add a splash of balsamic vinegar during caramelization for extra depth and sweetness.

Close-up of a spoon lifting melted cheese from a bowl of French onion soup, with a salad and bread in the background.

FAQs

Can I make this French Onion Soup ahead of time?

Definitely! You can make the soup ahead, then add the bread and cheese on top just before broiling.

Why are my onions not caramelizing?

Your heat might be too high. Reduce heat to medium-low and allow plenty of time for the onions to slowly turn golden.

Can I use regular onions instead of sweet onions?

You can, but sweet or Vidalia onions caramelize best, giving you a richer, sweeter flavor.

Why is my cheese sinking into the soup?

Be sure to toast the baguette slices first. Crispy bread supports the cheese, preventing it from sinking.

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Lisa, author of Fun Money Mom, standing in front of a kitchen counter with a cupcake.

About Lisa O’Driscoll

Lisa O’Driscoll is a lifestyle and parenting expert, cookbook author, and the creative force behind Fun Money Mom, a popular blog she’s run since 2014. She’s the author of the children’s cookbook Roll It, Slice It, Mash It, Dice It, designed to get kids excited about cooking. With multiple TV appearances under her belt, she loves sharing her expertise on family-friendly recipes, creative DIYs, and party planning and is always on a mission to inspire and entertain!

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