Here’s a classic, rich French Onion Soup recipe — deeply caramelized onions, savory broth, and cheesy toasted bread on top.
🧅 Classic French Onion Soup
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
- 4–5 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
- 6 cups beef or vegetable broth
- 1–2 tsp fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- 1 baguette, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups grated Gruyère cheese (or Swiss cheese)
Instructions
1️⃣ Caramelize onions
- Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat.
- Add onions and sugar. Cook 30–40 minutes, stirring frequently, until deep golden brown and soft.
2️⃣ Add garlic and deglaze
- Stir in garlic for 1 minute.
- Pour in wine (if using) and scrape the bottom to release browned bits. Cook 2–3 minutes until wine reduces.
3️⃣ Simmer the soup
- Add broth, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer 20–30 minutes. Remove bay leaf.
4️⃣ Prepare the bread
- Toast baguette slices in oven at 350°F (175°C) until lightly browned.
5️⃣ Assemble and broil
- Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls.
- Place toasted bread on top, sprinkle generously with cheese.
- Broil 2–3 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
Tips
- Use low heat to caramelize onions properly; don’t rush.
- Gruyère melts beautifully and adds authentic flavor, but Swiss or mozzarella works in a pinch.
- French Onion Soup is best served immediately while cheese is melty.
If you want, I can also give a slow-cooker version that makes caramelizing onions easier for busy cooks.
