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The Best Easy French Onion Soup Recipe for Cozy Nights

Close-up of a baked french onion soup recipe serving, topped with melted, bubbly cheese over croutons.
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Make this classic French Onion Soup at home. You achieve deeply caramelized onions, rich beef broth, and a perfect melted Gruyère topping for a satisfying, cozy dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
  • 8 cups high-quality beef stock
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 baguette, sliced into thick rounds
  • 1 1/2 cups grated Gruyère cheese

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter and olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sliced onions, salt, and sugar.
  2. Cook the onions slowly, stirring occasionally, for 40 to 50 minutes until they are deeply caramelized and dark brown. This step builds the flavor base for your savory onion soup.
  3. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. If using, pour in the white wine and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Let the wine reduce by half.
  5. Pour in the beef stock, add the bay leaves and thyme. Bring the soup to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover partially, and cook for 30 minutes to let the flavors combine. Remove the bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper.
  6. Preheat your broiler. Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast them lightly under the broiler until golden brown.
  7. Ladle the soup into oven-safe bowls. Float one or two toasted baguette slices on top of the soup in each bowl.
  8. Top the bread generously with the grated Gruyère cheese.
  9. Place the bowls on a baking sheet and broil for 2 to 4 minutes, watching closely, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For the richest flavor, use a high-quality, low-sodium beef broth.
  • If you skip the wine, add 1/2 cup of beef stock to deglaze the pot.
  • You can substitute Gruyère with Emmentaler or Provolone if needed, but Gruyère provides the classic flavor.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cheffinity.com/french-onion-soup-recipe/