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    Home ~ Recipes ~ Dinner Recipes for One

    Easy French Onion Soup Recipe for One

    LAST UPDATED: Jan 16, 2023 · PUBLISHED: Jan 16, 2023 · BY: Sydney · Leave a Comment

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    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 croutons and melted cheese add a crunchy, salty contrast to the creamy soup. This yummy soup is both comforting and satisfying, with a complex and well-balanced flavor.

    this Recipe

    Why This Recipe Works

    • Using the microwave to give the onions a head start makes this a much quicker French onion soup recipe.
    Table of Contents
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • ✔ Main Ingredients Notes
    • ✎ How to Make Classic French Onion Soup
    • Sydney's Recipe Notes
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Helpful Tools For This Recipe
    • How to Store Leftovers
    • ?Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Ways to Prepare Onions
    • 📖 Recipe

    ✔ 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.
    • 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.

    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.
    • 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

    This post contains affiliate links that won’t change your price but will I may be paid a small commission which helps fund this blog.

    • 2-Quart Sauce Pan
    • Oven Safe 12-Ounce Soup Ramekin

    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

    Can I make the soup ahead of time?

    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.

    How can I thicken the soup if it's too thin?

    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.

    Can I make this soup vegetarian?

    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.

    What type of beef broth or stock is best?

    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

    • Crispy Oven-Baked Onion Rings for One
    • Small Batch Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe

    Did you make this recipe? I would love it if you left a comment or review! Be sure to sign up for the email list, and follow "A Weekend Cook" on Pinterest and my Facebook page.

    📖 Recipe

    French onion soup topped with croutons in a round white bowl.

    French Onion Soup

    This single serving French onion soup has a subtle sweetness from the onions and a depth of flavor from the broth and wine. The croutons and melted cheese add a crunchy, salty contrast to the creamy soup. This yummy soup is comforting and satisfying with a complex and well-balanced flavor.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course, Soup
    Cuisine: French
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 1 bowl
    Calories: 677kcal
    Author:Sydney Dawes

    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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 677kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 1830mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g

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    Cooking scrumptious small batch recipes for one and sometimes for two are created in my small 1960’s kitchen. I learned to cook Shepherds Pie in England and Classic Marinara while living in Italy. Born in Southern California and raised in the Midwest, my cooking represents the best of both regions with an added touch of Southern hospitality.

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