French Onion Soup

This French onion soup is way better than what I have had at most restaurants. The rich flavor of the broth paired with the gooey cheese is unbeatable!

Featured with this recipe

1. Easy French Onion Soup Ingredients
2. How to Make this Easy French Onion Soup Recipe
3. Freezing French Onion Soup
4. Vegan/Vegetarian Options
5. Frequently Asked Questions
6. In the Mood for More Soup
7. How to Make French Onion Soup
8. French Onion Soup Recipe

I love a good French onion soup, especially in the fall when you can get really good, sweet onions. This French onion soup is way better than what I have had at most restaurants. The rich flavor paired with the gooey cheese and soft bread is just so amazing!

There are no words that can describe how good this French onion soup is. Just as a little added note, when making French onion soup you want to use beef consomme. You will find it adds a good depth of flavor that beef broth alone just can’t provide. You can find beef consomme in the canned soup aisle in your grocery store. It is usually right next to the beef broth.

Easy French Onion Soup Ingredients

Homemade french onion soup is simple to make and has all the flavor. Snuggle up in your home and enjoy a bowl full of this savory blend of beef, onions, and baguette slices with melty cheese in every bite. It is a classic soup that everyone loves!

• Butter – Melt the butter in a pan to cook and crisp the onions. The butter will also be in the pan giving the soup extra flavor.
• Sweet onions – The yellow onion is the best onion and the more traditional onion when making classic French onion soup. The butter starts the caramelization process. When you caramelize the onions it gives the soup that extra flavor!
• Garlic – You can’t get enough garlic! This french soup needs to have a garlic taste and texture in the ingredients.
• Thyme – This has an earthy with some minty flavoring. It blends well with savory dishes.
• Bay leaf – Always a common and fun add in to any soups or stews. Bay leaves can be taken out before serving. It is not good to eat.
• Beef consomme – This is a dark liquid with a variety of rich flavors and a velvety texture to it. It has a gelatin content to it giving it a thicker base.
• Beef broth – Thin and flavorful liquid that is similar to beef consomme.
• Red wine vinegar – A distinctive and tangy flavor that balances out the ingredients for this french onion soup recipe.
• French bread – Bake the french bread or a thick crusty bread like a baguette on a baking sheet in the oven making it crispy. This will be layered in the soup and softened as it is soaked in the broth.
• Cheese mixture – The best cheese layer on top is a combination of provolone, Swiss, and parmesan cheeses. You can also substitute gruyere cheese or mozzarella. Putting it all under the broiler until the cheeses are bubbly creates the desired texture and effect of melty cheese!
• Paprika – Sprinkle a bit of hidden spice into the soup! No one will ever know!

How to Make this Easy French Onion Soup Recipe

This classic homemade French onion soup recipe is an easy make-at-home dinner! Don’t be startled by the ingredients. These ingredients are going to create the best French onion soup! First, sauté onions, simmer the liquid, bake the toast, and layer together with the cheese on top. It makes the best combination and comforting food ever!

1. Saute – Melt butter in a stock pot over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
2. Caramelizing – Stirring often, and cook the onions until they are soft and caramelized. This will take about 30 minutes.
3. Simmer – Add consomme, beef broth, and vinegar and simmer for another 30 minutes. At this point, you can also transfer to a crock pot and cook on low heat for several hours.
4. Bake – When ready to eat, toast French bread in the broiler until lightly toasted on each side. Remove from broiler, but keep broiler on.
5. Layer – Remove and discard bay leaf and thyme from the soup. Ladle soup evenly into oven-safe serving bowls. Place a slice of French bread into each bowl and top with provolone and Swiss cheese.
6. Broil – Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and paprika over the top and broil for about 5 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

Freezing French Onion Soup

French onion soup freezes well, so make an extra batch to keep in the freezer for a day when you just don’t feel like cooking. However, there are a couple of tips to keep in mind when freezing this type of soup:

• Make sure the soup has cooled completely before freezing, so it doesn’t run the risk of growing bacteria.
• Freeze in individual servings or in airtight freezer containers. This makes it easier to thaw and reheat only the amount you need.
• When you’re ready to reheat, remove the soup from the freezer and let it thaw in an airtight container in the fridge overnight. Heat the soup in a soup bowl in the microwave, stirring every thirty seconds or so.
• Keep in mind that the texture of the onions may change after freezing and reheating. They can become softer and less crisp compared to freshly made soup.
• You may need to adjust the seasonings, adding a little more salt and pepper to taste.

Vegan/Vegetarian Options

A vegan French onion soup is still savory, comforting, and full of flavor. It’s a perfect option for those following a vegan lifestyle or looking to enjoy a plant-based version of this classic soup. To make this French onion soup vegetarian or vegan, use a rich vegetable broth with some dry white wine (optional) and top with vegan mozzarella vegan Gruyère.

“My favorite! I absolutely adore soup of all kinds and I especially LOVE this soup! I never have it enough! So delicious! And deceptively easy! The caramelized onions, the rich broth… the perfectly broiled cheese on top. Yum!”

-Betsy

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Make French Onion Soup