This single serving French onion soup recipe has a subtle sweetness from the onions and a depth of flavor from the broth and wine. The creamy soup's croutons and melted cheese add a crunchy, salty contrast. This easy french onion soup recipe is both comforting and satisfying, with a complex and well-balanced flavor.
Why Try This Recipe
French onion soup is a simple soup made with just a few ingredients, yet it is so rich in flavor that it's hard to resist. The sweetness of the onions, the depth of beef stock, and the tangy taste of red wine come together in perfect harmony to create a delicious soup that is perfect for any occasion.
This easy onion soup recipe is a great way to enjoy traditional French onion soup at home. You can customize it to your liking by using different kinds of onions or cheese. Try making it with red onions for a sweeter flavor, or use provolone cheese instead of mozzarella for a different kind of cheese.
This recipe is a great place to start if you've never made French onion soup. It may seem like a slow process, but the result is a bowl of soup worth the effort.
Table of Contents
✔ Main Ingredients Notes
The recipe card at the bottom of this post contains the full ingredient list and instructions.
- Onions: The best onions for making French onion soup are yellow onions. Using a sweet onion can make the soup overly sweet.
- Seasoning: Adjust to your personal taste, however you should use a kosher salt; regular table salt can make the soup too salty. If you don't have kosher salt, use just a table salt pinch.
- White Wine: If you prefer to omit the wine, substitute it with water.
- Garlic Paste: Chunky garlic paste is easy to use; you can also substitute finely minced fresh garlic.
✎ How to Make Classic French Onion Soup
Step One: Microwave the sliced onions for 5-6 minutes to soften.
Step Two: In a 2-quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook until the onions are soft and caramelized,
Step Three: Pour in the white wine and continue cooking until the mixture begins to boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for approximately 5 minutes.
Step Four: Stir in the flour and cook over low heat for 15-20 minutes, occasionally stirring to avoid burning. Add more liquid if needed.
Step Five: Stir in the beef broth and bring the soup back to a simmer, cook for 10 minutes.
Step Six: While the soup cooks, toast a thick slice of French bread and cut into bite-sized pieces.
Add the toasted bread on top of the soup and sprinkle with the Gruyere cheese on top. If you want a gooey cheese, then use sliced cheese and place it under the broiler to melt.
Sydney's Recipe Notes
- The key to great French onion soup is caramelizing the onions. This can take time, but it's worth it for the deep, rich flavor. The caramelization process of the onions, the addition of red wine, and the use of good-quality beef stock all contribute to this soup's richness and depth of flavor.
- Using the microwave to give the onions a head start makes this a much quicker French onion soup recipe.
- French Onion Soup is traditionally made with beef broth, but chicken broth can also be used.
- You can also add herbs like thyme and bay leaves to enhance the flavor.
- Gruyere cheese is traditionally used for French Onion Soup, but Swiss cheese or another type can be substituted.
Best Cheese for French Onion Soup
French onion soup is typically made with Gruyere cheese and/or Comte cheese, both of which are traditional French cheeses. These cheeses have a nutty, savory flavor and are able to withstand the heat of the soup without completely melting.
Other good cheese options for French onion soup include:
- Swiss: Similar to Gruyere, Swiss cheese has a nutty flavor and melts well.
- Parmesan: Adds a nutty, salty flavor and a bit of texture to the soup.
- Provolone: Has a mild, creamy flavor and melts well.
- Fontina Has a buttery, nutty flavor and melts well.
Serving Suggestions
- Served in an oven-safe bowl or crock, with a slice of toasted bread on top and grated cheese melted over the bread.
- Add fresh herbs like a sprig of thyme.
- You can add toppings like croutons or bacon bits can be added before broiling.
- It's traditionally served as a starter or first course, but it can also be a hearty main course if served with a salad or sandwich on the side.
- It's also important to note that the soup should be hot when served, as the cheese will not melt properly if it's not.
Helpful Tools For This Recipe
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How to Store Leftovers
To store leftover French onion soup, let it cool to room temperature and then transfer it to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
It's important to note that the cheese and bread will lose their texture when reheated, so it's best to store them separately.
To reheat the french onion soup, transfer it to a saucepan and reheat over medium heat or transfer it to a microwave-safe container and heat or in the microwave. Before serving, add the cheese and toast the bread separately and place them on top of the soup.
You can also freeze French onion soup for up to 3 months. To do this, let it cool completely, and then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or resealable plastic bag. Be sure to leave some headroom since liquids will expand as they freeze.
When you're ready to reheat the frozen soup, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and follow the instructions above
？Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely, it's fine to make the soup a day or two in advance. Also, caramelizing the onions can take a while. You can do this step ahead of time and store the caramelized onions in the refrigerator until you're ready to make the soup.
This recipe should not be too thin because it already uses flour as a thickener; however, if it's still too thin, mix a small amount of cornstarch or flour with cold water to make a slurry, and then slowly pour it into the soup while stirring. This will thicken the soup as it heats up.
Yes, substitute oil for butter when caramelizing the onions, and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth. The flavor will not be rich, but it will still be very good.
A high-quality, low-sodium broth or stock is best, so you can control the salt level in the soup. You can also make your own beef broth or stock at home, giving you more control over the ingredients and the level of flavor.
More Ways to Prepare Onions
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📖 Recipe
French Onion Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
- 1 medium yellow onion sliced thin
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground coarse black pepper
- 1½ ounces dry white wine wine
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ cups low-sodium beef broth
- 3 slices French baguette lightly toasted and cut into bite-sized pieces.
- 2 tablespoons Gruyere cheese shredded
Instructions
- Microwave the sliced onions for 5-6 minutes to soften.
- In a 2-quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook until the onions are soft and caramelized, about 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Pour in the white wine and continue cooking until the mixture begins to boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for approximately 5 minutes.
- Stir in the flour and cook over low heat for 15-20 minutes, occasionally stirring to avoid burning. Add more liquid if needed.
- Stir in the beef broth and bring the soup back to a simmer,cook for 10 minutes.
- While the soup cooks, toast a thick slice of French bread and cut into bite sized pieces. Add the toasted bread on top of the soup and sprinkle with the Gruyere cheese on top.
Notes
- The key to great French onion soup is caramelizing the onions. This can take time, but it's worth it for the deep, rich flavor.
- French Onion Soup is traditionally made with beef broth, but chicken broth can also be used.
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