How to make the easiest French onion soup topped with toasted baguette slices and Gruyère cheese.
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Nothing says comfort food like warm and satisfying homemade soup! That’s precisely why as soon as that chilly autumn air starts showing up I start breaking out my favorite soup recipes to warm me and my family back up. At the very top of my soup recipe list is this one for the holy grail of all soups: French Onion Soup!
This highly sought-after soup is not just for enjoying at restaurants and cafes anymore. My french onion soup recipe makes it super easy to whip up a batch of this satisfying comfort food right in your own kitchen! Complete with toasted baguette slices and bubbly Gruyère cheese on top. My mouth is starting to water just thinking about it!
French onion soup is perfect for everything from a fancy appetizer to a romantic meal for a date night in! But you don’t have to wait for a special occasion to break out this recipe. This sensational soup is easy enough to make that you can whip up a batch any time you get the craving for it.
Need another reason to fall in love with this divine soup recipe? French onion soup’s flavor deepens as it sits in the fridge, so it’s a fantastic recipe to make ahead for later! This also helps cut down on prep time if you want to save this scrumptious meal for a busy weeknight.
Easy Soup Equipment
First, let’s go over the tools needed for this recipe. I surprisingly don’t use a lot of equipment to make my french onion soup recipe. However, some of these kitchen tools are absolutely necessary for creating the perfect French onion soup with the bubbly cheese baked on top. Here’s what I use for this satisfying soup recipe:
Scrumptious French Onion Soup Ingredients
And now for the ingredients. To be such a scrumptious dish, this French onion soup only requires a short list of fresh and flavorful ingredients. Here’s what I use to make the yummiest homemade French onion soup:
French Onion Soup:
- 4 Yellow Onion - sliced thinly
- 2 garlic cloves - minced
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 2 Fresh Thyme sprigs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon Ground Pepper
- 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 6 Cups beef broth
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Good Garnishes:
- French baguette - sliced and toasted
- Fresh Chives sliced
- Gruyère cheese shredded or sliced Parmesan cheese
How to Make Easy French Onion Soup
Now let’s get to the part that I know you’ve been waiting for. Roll up those sleeves and grab your kitchen gear because dinnertime is near! Here is my easy process for making swoon-worthy French onion soup at home:
- First, prepare and measure out all of the soup ingredients.
- Next, heat the butter in a Dutch oven, or large pot, over medium heat. Add the sliced onions, salt, and pepper and toss to combine. Reduce the heat to low and cook the onions for about 40 minutes, or until the onions are very soft, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
- Then, increase the heat back up to medium and cook for 15 to 20 more minutes, stirring often, until the onions are golden brown.
- Add the balsamic vinegar, thyme, bay leaves, and garlic to the onions and stir. Sprinkle the flour on the onions, stir, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the beef broth and simmer the soup over medium heat for 30 minutes.
- While simmering, arrange a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat it to 350°F.
- Next, portion the soup evenly into oven-safe bowls and place the bowls on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Then, top each soup bowl with a slice or 2 of the toasted baguette and a generous amount of Gruyère cheese.
- Bake the topped soup bowls for 20-30 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted.
- If bubbly cheese is desired, turn the oven to broil. Broil the soups for 2 to 3 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and browned. Remove the bowls from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.
- Finally, serve the French onion soup with fresh chives and enjoy!
French Onion Soup Storage
If you need to save extra soup for later or if you want to make this soup ahead of time, it’s easy to store! Just keep in mind that French onion soup should be stored without the toppings. Baking the soup with the baguette slices and cheese needs to be done right before serving. Here’s how to store it:
To store French Onion soup: first, transfer it to an airtight container or Ziploc bag and label the date on the outside. Store for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Remember to freeze the bag of soup flat at first for easy storage. Thaw the frozen soup in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Satisfying Serving Ideas
Can’t get enough of those easy comfort food recipes? Neither can I! They’re just so perfect for keeping a busy family of hungry bellies satisfied. Here are some of my other favorite recipes to break out for comfort food season:
- Homemade Tomato Soup
- Stuffed Peppers
- Spicy Cornbread Muffins
- Baked Chicken Breasts
- Quick Chicken Alfredo
- One-Pot Pasta
- Turkey Chili and Cornbread Muffins
- Zucchini Cakes and Herb and Sour Cream Spread
French Onion Soup
Ingredients
Onion soup
- 4 Yellow Onion cliced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 2 Fresh Thyme springs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon Ground Pepper
- 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 6 Cups beef broth
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Garnish
- French baguette sliced and toasted
- Fresh Chives
- Gruyère cheese shredded or sliced parmesan cheese
Instructions
- First, prepare and measure out all of the soup ingredients.
- Next, heat the butter in a Dutch oven, or large pot, over medium heat. Add the sliced onions, salt, and pepper and toss to combine. Reduce the heat to low and cook the onions for about 40 minutes, or until the onions are very soft, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
- Then, increase the heat back up to medium and cook for 15 to 20 more minutes, stirring often, until the onions are golden brown.
- Add the balsamic vinegar, thyme, bay leaves, and garlic to the onions and stir. Sprinkle the flour on the onions, stir, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the beef broth and simmer the soup over medium heat for 30 minutes.
- While simmering, arrange a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat it to 350°F.
- Next, portion the soup evenly into oven-safe bowls and place the bowls on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Then, top each soup bowl with a slice or 2 of the toasted baguette and a generous amount of Gruyère cheese.
- Bake the topped soup bowls for 20-30 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted.
- If bubbly cheese is desired, turn the oven to broil. Broil the soups for 2 to 3 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and browned. Remove the bowls from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.
- Finally, serve the French onion soup with fresh chives and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Food Photography & Video Tips from My Studio
Here’s a peek at the tools, gear, and camera setups I use to film my recipe videos and photograph food at home. Over the years, I’ve tested dozens of different setups, and now I’m sharing what actually works for me—whether I’m filming overhead shots for YouTube or styling still photos for my blog. If you’re curious about how I create the content you see here, these posts are a great place to start.
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