French Onion Soup - Warm and Comforting

This French Onion Soup is full of caramelized onions that have been simmered in red wine and beef broth, then put under the broiler to melt the cheese on top. This warm, comforting soup is perfect for cold days when you need to warm up!

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French Onion Soup is full of caramelized onions that have been simmered in red wine and beef broth, then put under the broiler to melt the cheese on top. This warm, comforting soup is perfect for cold days when you need to warm up!

This French Onion Soup recipe makes a delicious lunch or a great appetizer before dinner. Great for special family dinners or a romantic evening meal at home. This soup recipe warms your heart and soul and will make your guests tastebuds happy.

Recipe Inspiration

I never enjoyed a bowl of French Onion Soup until I visited a restaurant called Barkeaters in Watertown NY. It was my first bowl of soup I ever ordered out that wasn't Clam Chowder! It was so delicious, I knew that one day I would be trying it on my own.

Like most people, when it starts to get chilly outside I want warm and comforting food. This French Onion Soup has become a staple in our home the minute we have our first frost of the season. The aroma in the house is undeniably inviting making lunch even more welcome!

🥘 Ingredients

Onions: You want a sweet onion to make French Onion Soup. I use 4 large Vidalia onions for this recipe.

Beef Broth: Use a good quality broth. Bone broth is a good one to use. This is my favorite brand!

Fresh Thyme: I always have fresh thyme in my refrigerator. If you don't have fresh, that is ok, you can substitute with dried thyme.

Bay Leaf: This is a pantry item that I don't use too often, but that's ok because it lasts a long time! I use it mainly in soups and stews and will put some on top of my Jalapeno Meatloaf when baking.

Wine: I always have a variety of wine in my home. I belong to this Simply Red Club where I have two bottles delivered to my door every other month! A dry red is best. I went with Cabernet for this recipe.

Bread: Use a sturdy bread that won't fall apart when adding to the soup, but yet one that you can easily break with a spoon when dipping into the soup bowl. My preference is a crusty baguette with a firm edge but a chewy center.

Cheese: Use any cheese you love. The most common cheese used is Swiss, but I have also used Havarti, Provolone, and Parmesan Cheese.

🔪 Instructions

1. Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook until onions are soft and caramelized, about 30 minutes.
2. Add wine, bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the wine has evaporated and onions start to dry.
3. Discard bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Sprinkle flour over onions and cook stirring so the flour doesn't burn for about 10 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
4. Add the beef broth 1 cup at a time, stirring well while doing so. Bring the soup back to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer another 10 minutes.
5. Place the soup in oven-safe bowls on a large baking sheet. Arrange bread slices on top of the soup and sprinkle with the cheese.
6. Preheat the oven on broil.
7. Broil for 3 minutes or until bubbly and golden.

💭 Tips

There are a few things you can do to change this recipe to make it work for you. Some suggestions are listed below.

• Out of wine, or don't like the flavor of red wine? Substituting 1 cup of beef broth for the red wine will work just as well. Or, you may want to substitute a white wine in place of the red.
• Looking to reduce the carbs or be gluten-free? Omit the bread altogether and top with cheese slices, then broil.
• Substitute vegetable broth for beef broth and make this a vegetarian soup.
• Make it low carb and keto by using slices of this Keto Slider Bun for the bread. Skip the flour thickener and sprinkle a teaspoon of Xanthan Gum over the hot soup while stirring constantly.

I have made this soup both ways. For me, it depends on the bread I am using for the recipe. I have used a sturdy Italian bread and not toasted it. The bread did not get soggy and was easy to break my spoon into.

When I make this low carb and keto-friendly by using a keto bread, I always toast it. Keto bread can fall apart way too easily and toasting it firms it up and dries it out, making the bread sturdier.

Toasting a very crusty piece of bread can make it harder to break up when diving in with your spoon. Do you really want to fight to get a bite of your food? In the long run, it really is your preference for what you want to do.

More Soup Recipes

Chilly weather calls for a lot of soup, and I have the best soup recipes for you to make.

Hamburger Soup is one of my absolute favorite soup recipes. It's right up there with this French Onion Soup.

Grumpy is all about the meatballs in this Pho Soup recipe with Spicy Meatballs. A little bit of spicy with delicious Asian flavors, this soup can easily be made a meal and it is keto-friendly!

This low carb keto recipe for Cheesy Cauliflower Soup is made in a flash in the Instant Pot.

Miso Tofu Noodle Soup is meatless and filling. This Asian inspired soup recipe is easy and delicious.

This Chicken Noodle Soup is made low carb or if you want, you can use your favorite pasta instead. Either way, it is absolute comfort food!

If you're looking for a hot meal that is heartier, something you can stand on its own as a meal, this Instant Pot Venison Stew with Sweet Potatoes is a great stew recipe. Spicy and sweet, delicious to eat!

If you want a regular stew, then this Crockpot Venison Stew is the ticket. Not a fan of venison? Substitute beef and your good to go.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup is made in the Instant Pot, keto-friendly and very warm and satisfying.

A delicious vegetarian option is this Lentil Stew. The slightly spicy soup is packed with flavor and ready to serve in about an hour.

*If you made this recipe for French Onion Soup, please give it a star rating*

📋 Recipe

📖 Recipe

French Onion Soup

Shelby Law Ruttan

This French Onion Soup is full of caramelized onions that have been simmered in red wine and beef broth, then put under the broiler to melt the cheese on top. This warm, comforting soup is perfect for cold days when you need to warm up!

4.67 from 12 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 55 mins

Total Time 1 hr 10 mins

Course lunch

Cuisine French

Servings 8

Calories 371 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ¼ cup unsalted butter or olive oil
• 4 sweet onions thinly sliced
• 2 large garlic cloves chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 fresh thyme sprigs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup red wine
• 3 heaping tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 8 cups beef stock
• 6 baguette slices
• ½ pound swiss cheese

Instructions

 

• Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook until onions are soft and caramelized, about 30 minutes.
• Add wine, bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the wine has evaporated and onions start to dry.
• Discard bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Sprinkle flour over onions and cook stirring so the flour doesn't burn for about 10 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
• Add the beef broth 1 cup at a time, stirring well while doing so. Bring the soup back to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer another 10 minutes.
• Place the soup in oven-safe bowls on a large baking sheet. Arrange bread slices on top of the soup and sprinkle with the cheese.
• Preheat the oven on broil.
• Broil for 3 minutes or until bubbly and golden

Nutrition

Calories: 371kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 15gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 488mgFiber: 3gSugar: 9g

Keyword beef broth, comfort food, french onion, soup, warming dishes, wine

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