Description
This classic French onion soup features deeply caramelized onions, rich beef broth, and a thick layer of gooey, golden-brown Gruyère cheese over a crispy toasted baguette. Slow-cooked to perfection, this comforting and elegant dish is ideal for chilly nights or a gourmet appetizer. Follow this easy, restaurant-quality recipe with expert tips for achieving the perfect balance of flavors and textures.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Soup:
- 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp sugar (to enhance caramelization)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup dry white wine (or red wine for a richer flavor)
- 4 cups beef broth (or vegetable broth for a vegetarian version)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional, for extra depth)
- ½ tsp dried thyme (or 1 tsp fresh thyme)
- 1 bay leaf
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Topping:
- 4 slices of baguette or sourdough bread, toasted
- 1½ cups Gruyère cheese, shredded (or Swiss, Fontina, or Provolone)
Instructions
1. Caramelize the Onions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt butter and olive oil over medium-low heat.
- Add the thinly sliced onions, stirring to coat them in fat. Sprinkle with salt and sugar to help with caramelization.
- Cook slowly for 40-50 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions become deep golden brown. If they start sticking, deglaze with a splash of water.
2. Deglaze and Simmer
- Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in white or red wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Simmer for 3-5 minutes.
- Add broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, bay leaf, and black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 20-30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
3. Prepare the Bread and Cheese
- While the soup simmers, toast the bread slices until crisp.
- Grate the Gruyère cheese and set aside.
4. Broil for the Perfect Cheese Crust
- Preheat the broiler.
- Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls and place toasted bread slices on top.
- Generously sprinkle with Gruyère cheese and place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
5. Serve and Enjoy!
- Carefully remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy the rich, cheesy goodness!
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth and substitute vegan cheese.
- For extra umami, add a splash of balsamic vinegar or soy sauce.
- If you don’t have oven-safe bowls, melt the cheese on the bread separately, then place it on top of the soup before serving.
- To make ahead, store the soup without the bread and cheese topping, then reheat and assemble fresh before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop & Broiler
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: ~450 kcal
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: French onion soup, classic onion soup, homemade onion soup, easy French soup, cheesy onion soup