French onion soup is a bistro favorite and one that I love to order when we go out to eat. Sometimes I’ll make it my lunch with a salad on the side, but other times it’s a great appetizer or side dish to a meal. I used to get it when we had a Mimi’s Cafe nearby, but that location closed so I learned to make it at home myself. Honestly, I think my version is even better.
What is French Onion Soup?
French Onion Soup is a classic French dish made with caramelized onions, a rich beefy broth, and topped with golden bubbly melted gruyere cheese and toasted bread. The onions are typically slow-cooked until they become sweet and caramelized, adding rich flavor to the broth. The soup is often served in individual oven-safe bowls, topped with a slice of baguette or French bread and melted Gruyère or Swiss cheese. This soup is traditionally served as an appetizer or a starter rather than as a main dish. It’s a rich and flavorful soup that is often enjoyed before the main course in a meal. The combination of caramelized onions, beef broth, melted cheese, and toasted bread makes it a hearty and satisfying appetizer. However, some people may choose to have a larger portion and pair it with a salad or other side dishes, turning it into a more substantial meal.
French Onion Soup Ingredients
Onions – We prefer sweet onions for French onion soup, but yellow onions also work well. You could even make this recipe with red onions, shallots, or even leeks, although the flavor will be slightly different for each. Salted Butter – For cooking the onions. Sugar – I like to add just a small amount of granulated sugar to help bring out the natural sugars and sweetness of the onions while they caramelize. Salt & Pepper Garlic – Use fresh minced garlic for the best flavor. Flour – A small amount of flour helps thicken the soup every so slightly so it has some body to it. White Wine – This is an optional ingredient but it’s traditionally used to add flavor and body to the soup and the alcohol boils off completely, keeping this a family friendly soup recipe. You can absolutely omit this ingredient if you want to make French onion soup without wine. Beef Broth – Use a high quality beef broth for the best flavor. You could also use beef stock in place of broth for a meatier flavor, but we find that it can overpower the onion taste of the soup. Worcestershire Sauce – Adds depth to the flavor of the soup. This ingredient isn’t traditional, but it adds umami elements to the soup base that we love and we definitely recommend it if you are omitting the white wine. Bay Leaves & Fresh Thyme – This isn’t an overly herby soup but the bay leaves and fresh thyme leaves are wonderful. You can use dried thyme instead, if that’s what you have on hand. Baguette – Everybody’s favorite part about french onion soup, right? Use a stale baguette that is 1-2 days old for best results. Cheese – Gruyere cheese is the most traditional approach, but I like adding a little freshly grated parmesan or parmigiano reggiano.
How to Make French Onion Soup
French Onion Soup Tips
Serve right away. Serve the French Onion Soup immediately after broiling to enjoy the gooey, melted cheese at its best. The longer the soup sits, the more likely the cheese may start to sink. Make-Ahead. You can make the soup broth ahead of time and wait to top them with the bread and cheese when ready to enjoy. The soup broth can be made up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated, then reheated before adding the toasted baguette and cheese.
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