Best 6 Special French Onion Soup Recipes

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Prepare to embark on a culinary exploration that will transport your taste buds to the heart of France with our selection of exceptional French onion soup recipes. This classic dish, renowned for its rich, flavorful broth enveloped by perfectly caramelized onions, has captured the hearts of soup enthusiasts worldwide. Whether you crave a traditional rendition or an innovative twist, we invite you to discover the essence of this culinary masterpiece through our carefully curated collection of recipes.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

FRENCH ONION SOUP



French Onion Soup image

This classic French onion soup topped with melted gruyère and parmesan is the epitome of rustic comfort food.

Provided by Jennifer Segal

Categories     Soups

Yield 4 to 6

Number Of Ingredients 16

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 pounds Vidalia (or sweet) onions (about 5 medium), halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¾ teaspoon granulated sugar
1 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 cups beef broth
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon dried thyme
2 bay leaves
1 small baguette, cut into ½-in slices
1 tablespoon dry sherry
8 ounces Gruyère cheese, grated (about 2 heaping cups; look for one imported from Switzerland)
½ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Steps:

  • In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the oil, onions, salt, pepper, and sugar. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until onions are deep golden brown and caramelized, 45 to 55 minutes. In the beginning, you will only need to stir the onions only occasionally. As they start to brown midway through cooking, you will need to stir them frequently, scraping the fond (the brown particles) from the bottom of the pan. If the onions are browning too quickly, reduce the heat slightly or add a few tablespoons of water to deglaze the pan and continue cooking.
  • Add the wine and raise the heat to high. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to scrape any fond from the bottom of the pan, until almost all of the liquid has evaporated and the onions are jammy, 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for one minute.
  • Add the broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves to the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook, covered, for about 30 minutes.
  • While the soup simmers, preheat the oven to 400°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Arrange the baguette slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until the bread is dry, crisp, and golden at edges, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
  • When the soup is finished, remove the bay leaves and add the sherry; taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. If the soup needs a deeper flavor, try a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce. If it's not quite sweet enough, add ¼ teaspoon sugar.
  • Adjust an oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Set individual broiler-safe crocks on a baking sheet and divide the hot soup among the crocks (be sure the soup is very hot as it won't warm up much in the oven). Top each crock with 1 or 2 baguette slices (do not overlap slices) and sprinkle evenly with Gruyère and then Parmigianno Reggiano. Slide the crocks into the oven and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly around edges, 3 to 5 minutes. Let the crocks cool for a few minutes before serving. (Alternatively, if using regular soup bowls: Top each toast slice with some cheese and return to broiler to melt, about 2 minutes more. Divide the soup among bowls and top each serving with two cheese toasts.)
  • Make-Ahead Instructions: The soup can be made and refrigerated up to 3 days ahead (without toasts or cheese), or up to 3 months ahead and frozen. Toasts can be made (without the cheese) and kept sealed at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 642, Fat 31 g, Carbohydrate 53 g, Protein 31 g, SaturatedFat 17 g, Sugar 19 g, Fiber 4 g, Sodium 1,697 mg, Cholesterol 82 mg

CLASSIC FRENCH ONION SOUP



Classic French Onion Soup image

Enjoy my signature French onion soup the way my granddaughter Becky does: I make onion soup for her in a crock bowl, complete with garlic croutons and gobs of melted Swiss cheese on top. -Lou Sansevero, Ferron, Utah

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner     Lunch

Time 2h15m

Yield 12 servings (2-1/4 quarts).

Number Of Ingredients 11

5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon butter
8 cups thinly sliced onions (about 3 pounds)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup port wine
2 cartons (32 ounces each) beef broth
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
24 slices French bread baguette (1/2 inch thick)
2 large garlic cloves, peeled and halved
3/4 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese

Steps:

  • In a Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons oil and butter over medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir until softened, 10-13 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown, 30-40 minutes. Add minced garlic; cook 2 minutes longer., Stir in wine. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Add broth, pepper and salt; return to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. Place baguette slices on a baking sheet; brush both sides with remaining 3 tablespoons oil. Bake until toasted, 3-5 minutes on each side. Rub toasts with halved garlic. , To serve, place twelve 8-oz. broiler-safe bowls or ramekins on baking sheets; place 2 toasts in each. Ladle with soup; top with cheese. Broil 4 in. from heat until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 172 calories, Fat 9g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 10mg cholesterol, Sodium 773mg sodium, Carbohydrate 16g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 6g protein.

SPECIAL FRENCH ONION SOUP



Special French Onion Soup image

Combined with a salad, this rich soup is a meal for my husband and me. I top it with Brie, prosciutto and garlic on French bread to make it extra tasty. -Laura McAllister, Morganton, North Carolina

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 1h40m

Yield 9 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
6 large sweet onions, thinly sliced (about 12 cups)
1 whole garlic bulb
1/4 cup dry red wine or beef broth
6 cups beef broth
1-1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf
Dash cayenne pepper
Pepper to taste
9 slices French bread (1 inch thick)
1 round (8 ounces) Brie cheese, rind removed, softened
6 thin slices prosciutto or deli ham, chopped
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • In Dutch oven over medium heat, melt butter with 1/4 cup oil; add onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Cook 45 minutes longer or until onions are golden, stirring occasionally., Meanwhile, remove papery outer skin from garlic (do not peel or separate cloves). Cut top off garlic bulb; brush with remaining oil. Wrap in heavy-duty foil. , Bake at 425° for 30-35 minutes or until softened. Cool for 10-15 minutes. Squeeze softened garlic into a small bowl; mash and set aside., Add wine to the onion mixture; cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, cayenne and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes., Place bread on a baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Spread each slice with Brie and mashed garlic; sprinkle with prosciutto. , Discard bay leaf from soup; ladle 1 cup each into nine ovenproof bowls. Top with one slice of toast; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Place bowls on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 396 calories, Fat 27g fat (12g saturated fat), Cholesterol 63mg cholesterol, Sodium 1348mg sodium, Carbohydrate 20g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 19g protein.

THE BEST FRENCH ONION SOUP



The Best French Onion Soup image

This bistro classic is deceptively easy to make. It just takes a little time and a few good ingredients. We found that yellow onions, also known as Spanish onions, work best for this recipe. They have a nice balance of sweetness and bitterness and caramelize perfectly. Just don't take them too dark -- a nice golden brown is perfect. Good beef broth also makes a big difference. If you can't make your own, look for a high-quality prepared variety.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     appetizer

Time 1h55m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

6 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced (see Cook's Note)
3 bay leaves
3 to 4 sprigs fresh thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups dry white wine
8 cups low-sodium beef broth
8 slices French-style baguette (about the size of the top of the soup crocks)
4 cups coarsely shredded Gruyere (about 2 pounds)

Steps:

  • Melt the butter in a very large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onions, bay leaves, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and a few grinds black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are very soft and light golden-brown, about 1 hour. (The onions will begin to stick to the bottom of the pan and turn brown after about 30 minutes; just keep scraping them up and stirring them into the rest of the onions. If they are browning to quickly, lower the heat.)
  • Add the wine to the pot, bring to a simmer and cook until it has almost completely evaporated, about 4 minutes. Add the beef broth and 1 cup of water, bring to a simmer and cook until the flavors come together and the soup is rich, about 45 minutes. Remove the bay leaves. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Keep the soup warm on a low burner or cool completely and refrigerate to reheat later. (The soup can be refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month.)
  • Preheat the broiler. Place four soup crocks on a rimmed baking sheet and fill them about 3/4 of the way with hot soup. Float a slice of baguette on top of each and cover with 1/2 cup Gruyere. Broil until the Gruyere is golden brown (don't be alarmed if some soup bubbles out), 2 to 3 minutes.

RESTAURANT-STYLE FRENCH ONION SOUP



Restaurant-Style French Onion Soup image

Classic French onion soup, similar to one you can get in a restaurant. Made with wine and sherry to bring out the beef flavor of the broth. Two different cheeses top it off to give it that bubbly, browned, and stretchy topping.

Provided by Jenny

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Soup Recipes     Vegetable Soup Recipes     Onion Soup Recipes     French Onion Soup Recipes

Time 1h35m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

½ cup butter
8 onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
½ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup red wine
1 tablespoon sherry
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 quarts beef broth
1 French baguette, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
olive oil, or as needed
6 slices Swiss cheese
6 slices provolone cheese

Steps:

  • Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Cook and stir onions, garlic, salt, black pepper, and thyme until onions are soft and brown, about 30 minutes. Pour in red wine and sherry; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until you can no longer smell alcohol cooking off, about 15 more minutes.
  • Sprinkle onion mixture with flour and stir until coated; cook for 10 minutes. Pour in broth, stir to blend in flour, and simmer until slightly thickened, about 20 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) while soup is simmering. Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
  • Toast the baguette slices in the preheated oven until golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes, turning the bread over halfway through cooking. Remove toast and set aside.
  • Set an oven rack about 8 inches from the heat source and turn on the oven's broiler.
  • Ladle soup into 6 oven-proof crocks, filling them about 3/4 full. Place 1 or 2 bread slices into the bowls and top each with a slice of Swiss cheese and a slice of provolone. Carefully place filled crocks onto a sturdy baking sheet.
  • Broil soup until the cheese is browned and bubbling, 3 to 4 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 792.4 calories, Carbohydrate 77.2 g, Cholesterol 86.3 mg, Fat 37.7 g, Fiber 7.2 g, Protein 31.3 g, SaturatedFat 21.1 g, Sodium 2169.7 mg, Sugar 15.6 g

FRENCH ONION SOUP RECIPE BY TASTY



French Onion Soup Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: olive oil, butter, yellow onion, salt, sugar, flour, beef stock, white wine, ground sage, whole bay leaf, french bread, cognac, swiss cheese, pepper, parmesan cheese

Provided by Tasty

Categories     Lunch

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
6 cups yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoons flour
6 cups beef stock
1 cup white wine
½ teaspoon ground sage
1 leaf whole bay leaf
1 loaf french bread, or baguette
3 tablespoons cognac, optional
12 oz swiss cheese, grated
pepper, to taste
4 oz parmesan cheese, grated

Steps:

  • In a large pot over medium-low heat, heat olive oil and add butter. Once the butter is melted, stir the onions and coat with oil and butter.
  • Cover and cook for 20 minutes, checking occasionally.
  • Turn up the heat to medium-high. Add ½ tsp salt and sugar. Stir and keep cooking until onions are brown and caramelized. (the bottom of the pan will develop some browning, it's very important!)
  • Stir in flour one tablespoon at a time and cook for about 30 seconds.
  • Preheat Oven To 325˚F (160˚C).
  • Add 1 cup (235 ml) of the beef broth. Use a whisk to scrape up (deglaze) the browned bits stuck on the bottom of the pan.
  • Add the remaining five cups of beef stock, wine, sage and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes.
  • In the meantime, cut the french bread or baguette into ½ inch (10 mm) thick pieces. Brush with oil on both sides and bake at 325˚F (160˚C) for 30 minutes, flipping halfway. Once they are done, increase oven temperature to 350˚F (175˚C).
  • Add optional ingredients.
  • In an oven safe bowl, pour the onion soup, filling about ¾ of the way full. Top with a piece of baked french bread, and generously sprinkle swiss and parmesan on top.
  • Bake for two to three minutes or until the cheese has melted completely and become slightly golden.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1549 calories, Carbohydrate 167 grams, Fat 64 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 45 grams, Sugar 38 grams

Tips:

  • Use a variety of onions: Vidalia, yellow, and sweet onions all add different flavors to the soup. Experiment to find the combination you like best.
  • Caramelize the onions slowly: This step takes time, but it's worth it. Slowly caramelizing the onions brings out their sweetness and complexity of flavor.
  • Use a good quality beef broth: The broth is the base of the soup, so it's important to use a good quality one. Look for a broth that is rich and flavorful.
  • Add a splash of white wine: White wine adds a touch of acidity and brightness to the soup. If you don't want to use wine, you can substitute it with chicken broth or water.
  • Garnish with fresh herbs: Fresh herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, or parsley, add a pop of color and flavor to the soup. They also help to balance out the richness of the broth.

Conclusion:

French onion soup is a classic for a reason. It's rich, flavorful, and comforting. With a few simple tips, you can make a pot of French onion soup that will impress your friends and family. So next time you're looking for a warm and satisfying meal, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed.

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