Easy French Onion Soup Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (2024)

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This easy French onion soup is perfect for chilly evenings!

Give some of my other soups a try too, like this wonderful Italian Navy Bean soup, this delicious Minestrone, or this easy-to-make Miso soup!

Easy French Onion Soup Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (1)

Easy French Onion Soup

French onion soup is a simple, delicious soup that is fairly easy to make. It takes a little time, but the process is super simple. Let’s dive in.

French Onion Soup Ingredients

The two critical components of this classic soup are the broth and the onions.

Beef broth – You can make this from scratch or buy it. However, either way, you’ll want to be sure that it’s flavorful and delicious when you taste it on its own. A bad broth will make a bad soup. So make sure you season your broth well before proceeding with making this soup.

Onions – White or yellow onions seem to work best here. The important thing is to caramelize them well. It’s not a step you want to skip, because part of the flavor of this soup is the sweetness that comes from caramelizing the onions.

Balsamic vinegar – I use this to replace the flavor of wine. If you would rather make this with wine, a nice white wine will work well here. But if you opt for the vinegar like me, you can also add a tiny bit of sweetener to the pot (about 1 tsp.) to really help mimic the wine flavor. This isn’t necessary, but it’s tasty. Use a good quality balsamic. If you only have the cheap stuff (I buy it too, most of us do!), pour some in a pot and cook it down by half to get a richer balsamic vinegar.

Olive oil – I have little patience some days, so I sometimes end up sautéing my onions in oil. But the proper way to do it is to cook them slowly starting with some butter, and adding wine or water until they are well caramelized. So only use the oil if you have no patience like me. The flavor of the soup won’t be as rich or have as many sweet undertones, but it works in a pinch.

Cheese – I personally love using parmesan cheese or mozzarella. But most people will swear by Gruyere cheese, which is a mild Swiss. I have tried regular Swiss, and I don’t recommend it.

Bread – For this, you can slice and toast a baguette, or you can use croutons. Either will work. I just find it easier to make croutons from whole-grain bread. Whole-grain baguettes are not easy to find.

How To Make Easy French Onion Soup

First, you’ll want to peel and slice your onions (see tips for cutting below). Use a nice big cutting board for this. And if onions make you cry, store them in the fridge for a few days before cutting them. If you have a gas stove, you can also cut near the open flame to help burn off the fumes. Just don’t get so close that you burn yourself!

To caramelize your onions, remember to keep your heat low. Caramelizing onions is a slow process. It’s not hard, it just takes some time. You’ll want to start off with melting a

  • Clean and slice your onions.
  • In a soup pot, sauté your onions in the olive oil until they are soft and dark brown with caramelization.
  • Add beef broth and vinegar to the pot and boil until the liquid has cooked down by approximately half.
  • Serve sprinkled with approximately 2 tbsp. parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top.
  • If you want croutons, you can make a few whole-grain croutons at home. See the link above.

Substitutions

  • Vegan French Onion Soup – If you are vegan or vegetarian, this soup is quite delicious made with vegetable broth. Omit the cheese and make sure you use vegan bread or croutons.
  • Gluten-Free French Onion Soup – Make sure your broth is gluten-free (most are, but not all) and use a gluten-free bread or crouton.
  • Dairy-Free French Onion Soup – This soup is quite good without the cheese! Just make sure that if you use bread or croutons, they are also dairy-free. Some are made with cheese or milk products in the seasoning.
  • Oil-Free French Onion Soup – If oils are an issue, feel free to substitute butter or ghee in the same amounts where oil is called for.

What Are The Best Onions To Use For French Onion Soup?

The best onions to use for French onion soup are yellow onions. Caramelize them well in some butter, with white wine or water until they are a deep caramel brown. Then proceed with making your soup.

How Do You Cut Onions For French Onion Soup?

Cut the onion in half, from root end to end. Take off the top skin layer. Lay it flat on your cutting board, and slice it in the other direction, across the half of the onion. (See video link below)

Why Is It Called French Onion Soup?

This soup originated in Paris in the 18th century. It is traditionally made of beef broth, caramelized onions, herbs, and often some sort of wine.

How Long Does HOmemade French Onion Soup Last?

It will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you don’t put the cheese or croutons in it, you can freeze it for up to 6 months.

What To Serve With French Onion Soup

This delicious soup goes with many different dishes. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Sides:

  • Green salad
  • Garlic bread

As a side to:

  • Pasta
  • Panini
  • Sandwich
  • Steak
  • Chicken
  • Fish

Making In Advance, Storing And Freezing

Making French Onion Soup In Advance – French onion soup can be made up to two days in advance. Make the soup, but don’t bother with bread/croutons or cheese until you are ready to heat and serve it.

Storing French Onion Soup – Keep this soup in the fridge for up to three or four days.

Freezing French Onion Soup – You can freeze French onion soup, without the bread/croutons or cheese, for up to 6 months.

To see how to slice the onions properly, check out this video on youtube.

More Healthy Soup Recipes

  • Bison Stew
  • German Lentil Soup
  • 3 Bean Soup

Recipes Used

  • Crouton Recipe

Easy French Onion Soup Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (3)

Easy French Onion Soup

Note: Slice your onions thin. It makes the texture of the soup far more enjoyable.

2.86 from 21 votes

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Course: Soup

Cuisine: French

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 5 servings

Calories: 58kcal

Author: Tiffany McCauley

Ingredients

  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 2 medium onions
  • 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • parmesan cheese (optional for topping)

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Clean and slice your onions.

  • In a soup pot, sauté your onions in the olive oil until they are soft and dark brown with caramelization.

  • Add beef broth and vinegar to the pot and boil until the liquid has cooked down by approximately half.

  • Serve sprinkled with approximately 2 tbsp. parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top.

  • If you want croutons, you can make a few whole grain croutons at home. See link above.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data below is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible. Data does not include optional ingredients.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 58kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 716mg | Potassium: 167mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 3.2mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 11/1/10.

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Easy French Onion Soup Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (2024)

FAQs

How do you deepen the flavor of French onion soup? ›

A few sprigs of thyme and a bay leaf elevate the soup even more, but I take it a step further, adding a splash of fish sauce for complexity and depth—don't worry, it won't taste fishy—and a hit of cider vinegar to balance some of that oniony sweetness.

Why do you put baking soda in French onion soup? ›

The caramelized onions for this soup cook more quickly due to a pinch of baking soda but still have that deep, slow-cooked flavor. Topping the soup with hot, cheesy toasts prepared while the soup simmers, eliminates the need to bake the soup in specialty French onion soup bowls.

What is the difference between French onion soup and regular onion soup? ›

What is the Difference Between Onion Soup and French Onion Soup? French onion soup is always made with beef stock. Other onion soups can be made with chicken, vegetable, or beef stock. Additionally, French onion soup typically contains wine or sherry, which isn't typical or necessary in other onion soups.

What to add to bland French onion soup? ›

Fix a bland onion soup by using supermarket broth and mild white onions, tasteless oil for sauteeing, stale plain white bread instead of croutons, and mild white cheese. Start by reducing the broth. Simmering out some water will intensify the flavor of the broth. Once you get it to the right point, add some salt.

How to doctor up canned French onion soup? ›

Some fresh rosemary or thyme brings a woody, peppery taste to the soup, complementing the umami flavor of the beef stock. With a splash of balsamic vinegar and green onions or fresh basil as a garnish, the canned soup is transformed from a grocery store original into a gourmet dish.

What can I add to soup for depth of flavor? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

Why do you put lemon juice in soup? ›

In this case, however, the lemon provides more of a flavor undertone that enhances other seasonings like thyme, parsley, and turmeric. According to trained chef Leetal Arazi, who spoke with Real Simple, you can bring a "zesty flavor" to your soup simply by adding lemon.

How do you thicken French onion soup? ›

The easiest way to thicken your French onion soup is with flour. You can also use cornstarch if you don't have any flour. Remember to never add the flour or cornstarch directly to the soup – otherwise you run the risk of it clumping.

How dark should caramelized onions be for French onion soup? ›

I will say this though, you don't want to over carmelize because the onions can become bitter. As long as they're a nice dark brown and still soft and translucent, they'll surely have the nice sweet finish you're looking for. So there you have it!

What ethnicity is French onion soup? ›

The classic French onion soup gets its name from its country of origin: France. After making its debut in the 18th century, it has become a national treasure. During ancient times (and still today), onions were cheap and easy to grow, and hence, readily available.

Why is my French onion soup watery? ›

Sometimes soup just needs to simmer longer to reach the perfect consistency. Check to see if the vegetables are tender, and then taste the broth. If the soup tastes a bit watery, give it more time.

Is French onion soup for the poor? ›

The story behind this famous soup

In ancient times, Romans saw it as a dish for the poor. This is due to the fact that onion cultivation was accessible to all, especially to peasants.

Why does onion soup upset my stomach? ›

Onions are hard to digest largely because they contain fructans, which are not absorbed well in the small intestine. In fact, as fructans ferment, they can cause a great deal of digestive distress in the form of bloating, gas and diarrhea.

Why does my French onion soup taste weird? ›

Lack of seasoning: Seasoning is crucial in any dish, and French onion soup is no exception. If you don't add enough salt, pepper, or other herbs and spices, the soup may taste bland. Weak broth: The quality and intensity of the beef broth used in the soup can greatly impact its flavor.

How do you make soup taste stronger? ›

You can extract a clean, strong broth from a combination of water and several pantry ingredients. It's all about layering powerful flavor-enhancers that you probably already have on hand—bacon, tomato paste, herbs, peppercorns, a Parmesan rind, and, of course, kosher salt.

How do you get the depth of Flavour in vegetable soup? ›

You can also add tomato paste or fresh or dried herbs like oregano or thyme. Starchy root vegetables like potato, parsnips, turnips and swede will add body to the soup and turn it into a true meal in a bowl. Using a good-quality stock (or making your own) will enhance the flavour of the soup.

What makes French onion soup tangy? ›

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.

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