Home > Soup > French Onion Soup Recipe (VIDEO)

December 11, 2020

French Onion Soup Recipe (VIDEO)

Name: French Onion Soup Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 2 Tbsp olive oil (plus more to brush toasts); 2 Tbsp unsalted butter; 3 lbs 6 large yellow onions, halved, peeled and thinly sliced with the grain; 1/2 tsp granulated sugar; 2 garlic cloves (minced); 1/2 cup dry sherry wine (or use dry vermouth or dry white wine); 8 cups beef stock or broth; 1 bay leaf; 3 sprigs fresh thyme (plus more to garnish (or 1/4 tsp dried thyme)); 1 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste, divided); 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste); 12 slices baguette; 8 oz gruyere cheese (1 1/2 cups shredded, divided)

Our perfected homemade French Onion Soup has the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is to re-create this restaurant-quality onion soup recipe.

French onion soup topped with cheesy toasts

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We love warm, comforting soup recipes from Clam Chowder to hearty Beef Stew and our famous Zuppa Toscana. If you are a soup lover, this French Onion Soup is a must-try!

French Onion Soup Video Tutorial:

We have been perfecting our French Onion Soup game for years. After trying so many different versions, this one is truly excellent. Watch our tips for making the best French Onion Soup with perfectly caramelized onions, and just the right amount of sweetness.

If you enjoyed this video for French Onion Soup, please subscribe to our Youtube Channel (P.S. Click the bell icon to be notified when we post a new recipe).

What is French Onion Soup:

French Onion Soup is made of caramelized onions in a rich beef-wine broth and is served with a signature cheesy toast topping. It originated in France and just like Borscht, it is timeless and well-loved.

This onion soup is often on the menu in high-end restaurants, but it’s simple to re-create at home. Just imagine you’re in Paris as you enjoy every bite.

french onion soup with gruyere cheese pull topping

Ingredients for French Onion Soup

The key to making great French Onion soup is in giving the onions time to caramelize properly. Don’t rush this process but we do have a secret (just a bit of sugar) to cut down the time significantly.

Onions – use yellow onions for the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
Sugar – just 1/2 teaspoon helps to speed up the caramelization process.
Garlic, bay leaf, and thyme – these aromatics, plus salt and pepper are all you need for flavor.
Beef Stock – using beef stock or broth will give you better taste and color versus chicken or vegetable stock.
Dry Sherry – be sure to pick a dry sherry wine so your soup doesn’t end up too sweet.

Ingredients for onion soup with onions, sherry, beef broth, gruyere, thyme, baguette

The Best Onions for Onion Soup:

Yellow onions work best for caramelizing with the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavor. We highly recommend yellow onions.
Sweet onions have 25% more sugar than yellow onions. If using, be sure to use extra-dry sherry
White onions should be avoided since they taste flat when caramelized. Save them for guacamole.
Red onions can turn blueish with lengthy cooking.

Pro Tip for Slicing Onions: Thinly slice your onions parallel with the lines on the onion (from root to stem). It will look nicer in the soup and you’ll break less of the onion cells which release the onion vapors that make you cry. This means fewer tears while cutting onions.

Slicing onions parallel with the onion lines

How to Make French Onion Soup:

Slice Onions – peel onions and thinly slice onions.
Soften Onions – let the onions ‘sweat’ and soften for 10 minutes.
Caramelize Onions – Add 1/2 tsp sugar to speed up the caramelization process. Sautee over medium heat until onions have browned (40 min).
Add Garlic and saute for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add Dry Sherry and cook down until all the wine has evaporated, scraping the bottom to deglaze the pan.
Add beef stock along with aromatics (bay leaf and thyme), salt, and pepper. Simmer partially covered 30 minutes.

Common Questions:

Can I substitute the gruyere cheese?

Gruyere is the classic choice because it’s mild in flavor and melts beautifully. You could substitute with swiss cheese, provolone, fontina, or a blend of mozzarella (low-moisture part-skim) and parmesan.

Can I make French Onion Soup in a slow cooker?

You can finish the soup in a slow cooker, but we recommend first caramelizing the onions and reducing the sherry wine on the stovetop through step 5. In step 6, transfer to a slow cooker, add broth and seasonings, and cook covered on low heat for 6 hours then season to taste.

Can I substitute the sherry wine?

Dry sherry is traditional for making French Onion Soup, but you can substitute it with a dry white wine such as vermouth. Also, keep in mind since the sherry is reduced down, you essentially cook out most of the alcohol in the recipe.

Onion soup topped with cheesy toasts and thyme

How to Serve French Onion Soup (2 Ways):

#1: If you have broiler-safe serving bowls: Toast bread slices. Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle the tops with cheese, top with toasted bread then cover with more cheese and broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted.

How to broil cheese and toasts over French onion soup

#2: Broil the cheesy bread separately: If you don’t have broiler-safe bowls, you can prepare the toasts separately. Brush toasts with olive oil and bake. Ladle soup into warm bowls and sprinkle on cheese to melt. Top toasted bread with mounds of cheese and broil for 2-3 minutes. Place cheesy toasts over the hot soup bowls.

How to prepare cheesy toasts for French Onion soup

Make-Ahead:

Onion Soup – you can caramelize the onions and even make the entire soup base 3 days ahead. Once the soup is done, let it cool then cover and refrigerate until ready to reheat and serve.
Toasts – the bread toasts can be baked ahead and stored covered at room temperature for a few days since you are essentially making croutons. Add cheese and broil just before serving.
To Reheat – warm the soup in a saucepan until steaming hot.

french onion soup prepared in bowls ready to serve

Everyone needs a great French Onion Soup Recipe. The rich flavor and aroma of caramelized onions in a sherry-beef broth under a cheesy toast is irresistible.

More Soup Recipes to Try:

If you love this French Onion Soup, then you won’t want to miss these comforting, classic soup recipes.

Chicken Noodle Soup – an easy, family favorite
Creamy Potato Soup – loaded with the best toppings
Taco Soup – comes together in 30 minutes
Chicken Tortilla Soup – you’ll love how the chicken is cooked
Chicken Wild Rice Soup – creamy and comforting

French Onion Soup Recipe

5 from 29 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

French onion soup served with cheesy toasts

This classic French Onion Soup has simple ingredients but rich flavor. Be sure to use yellow onions and dry sherry wine to ensure the perfect balance of sweet and savory.

Author: Natasha Kravchuk

Skill Level: Medium

Cost to Make: $12-$16

Keyword: french onion soup, onion soup recipe

Cuisine: French

Course: Soup

Calories: 545

Servings: 6 people

Ingredients

2 Tbsp olive oil plus more to brush toasts
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
3 lbs 6 large yellow onions, halved, peeled and thinly sliced with the grain
1/2 tsp granulated sugar
2 garlic cloves minced
1/2 cup dry sherry wine or use dry vermouth or dry white wine
8 cups beef stock or broth
1 bay leaf
3 sprigs fresh thyme plus more to garnish (or 1/4 tsp dried thyme)
1 1/2 tsp salt or to taste, divided
1/2 tsp black pepper or to taste
12 slices baguette
8 oz gruyere cheese 1 1/2 cups shredded, divided

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

How to Make French Onion Soup:

Cut onions in half, cut off the ends, then peel and slice onions thinly (cut parallel with the grain of the onion).
In a large heavy-bottomed pot or dutch oven over medium heat, add 2 Tbsp olive oil and 2 Tbsp butter. Add sliced onions and sauté uncovered, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.
Sprinkle the onions with 1/2 tsp sugar which will help the onions caramelize faster. Sauté uncovered for another 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally until onions are caramelized and browned. Stir more frequently towards the end to prevent scorching or burning the onions.
Once onions are caramelized, add minced garlic and sauté another minute.
Add 1/2 cup sherry and deglaze the pot by scraping the bottom. Continue stirring until all of the sherry has cooked out (about 3 minutes over medium heat).
Add 8 cups beef stock, 1 bay leaf, thyme and 1 tsp salt. Partially cover and simmer for 30 minutes for the flavors to meld. Add another 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, or season to taste then remove from heat.

How to Make Crouton Topping:

While soup is finishing up, preheat oven to 400˚F. Slice baguette to 1/2” thick slices. Brush both sides lightly with olive oil, arrange on a baking sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes until golden brown at the edges.
Once soup is ready to serve, top breads with half of the cheese and broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden in spots.
Pour soup into warm bowls and sprinkle remaining cheese over the hot soup. Top with hot cheesy toasts then serve.

Nutrition Facts

French Onion Soup Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 545 Calories from Fat 216

% Daily Value*

Fat 24g37%

Saturated Fat 11g69%

Cholesterol 52mg17%

Sodium 1745mg76%

Potassium 1024mg29%

Carbohydrates 58g19%

Fiber 6g25%

Sugar 12g13%

Protein 26g52%

Vitamin A 500IU10%

Vitamin C 18mg22%

Calcium 514mg51%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Disclosure

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.