DINNERS RECIPES FOOD NEWS COCKTAILS TIPS & TOOLS SUBSCRIBE SIGN IN

Meals & Cooking > Recipes

Easy French Onion Soup

BY ANNA WATSON CARL UPDATED: JUL 1, 2022

5 3 Ratings

JUMP TO RECIPE SAVE TO MY RECIPES

""

If you're a fan of French onion soup and have made it at home before, you'll probably
notice two things immediately. 

1. We use white wine instead of red wine—or sherry.

2. We use a combo of chicken stock + beef stock.

The results are a slightly sweeter, but just as addictive take on the classic. If you have
a little extra time, you can deepen the flavor by allowing the soup to simmer another
15 minutes. To finish, simply ladle the soup into ramekins, top each serving with
bread, and melt the cheese right on top of the soup, under the broiler. The top gets
super crispy and bubbly, and the bottom softens slightly, making it easy to dig into.
French onion soup is simple but there are a few things to consider that can help you
nail it.

Which onions are best for French onion soup?

The classic French method calls for yellow onions but what's truly important is how
you slice them. It's important that the onions cook and caramelize evenly, so you'll
need even slices. To achieve even slices, remove the top and bottom of the onion,
halve from root to stem, peel, and cut each half into vertical 1/4" thick slices. Slicing
too thin will lead to mushy, overcooked, or burnt onions.

How to avoid bitter French onion soup?

Speaking of burnt onions, they are the main culprit when it comes to bitterness. Keep
an eye on the onions as they cook and lower the heat if necessary to keep them from
burning instead of caramelizing. 

How do I thicken French onion soup?

There are a few ways to thicken soup. The most common choice is flour but you can
also use potato starch or corn starch. Whisk 2 tbsp of flour, cornstarch, or potato
starch with 1/4 cup of the soup liquid and add it to the soup base. Bring the mixture to
a boil, then simmer for about 10 minutes, until thickened.

Can I use something other than white wine in French onion soup?
White wine brings a sweetness that intensifies the sweetness in the onions but there
are other wines you can use to achieve a similar effect. Brandy, dry vermouth, sweet
red wine, or marsala also make for a richly flavored soup.

How do you keep the bread from sinking in French onion soup?
A full ramekin is the key to cheesy bread that stays at the top of your soup. If the
bread starts to sink, try adding more onions to keep the bread afloat. When there isn't
enough liquid to support the bread, it will sink under the weight of the cheese. 

What do you eat with French onion soup?

Salads and sandwiches always make great soup sidekicks. You can stick with the
classics like chicken caesar salad or a club sandwich or get creative with a garlic-herb
wedge salad or a fully-loaded veggie sandwich!

Store leftover soup without bread and cheese in an airtight container for up to 5 days
or freeze for up to 3 months.
Editor's Note: The introduction to this recipe was updated on June 30, 2022, to include
more information about the dish.

YIELDS: 4 serving(s) TOTAL TIME: 1 hr 5 mins

PREP TIME: 10 mins CAL /SERV: 437

Ingredients

4 tbsp.  butter
3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced into half moons
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 c. white wine
2 c. low-sodium chicken stock
4 c. low-sodium beef stock
8 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more for serving
8 baguette slices
1 c. grated Gruyère

See All Nutritional Information

Directions SAVE TO MY RECIPES

Step 1

In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions and cook,
stirring occasionally, until deeply golden, about 25 minutes. Add flour
and cook 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Add wine and let
simmer until evaporated, 3 minutes. Add stocks and thyme and bring to a
boil. Reduce heat and let simmer 15 minutes. Season with salt and
pepper to taste and remove thyme. 

Step 2

Preheat broiler to high. Ladle soups into heat safe ramekins and top each
with 2 slices of bread and top with cheese. Broil until bubbling and
golden, 1 to 2 minutes. 

Step 3

 Top with thyme to serve.  

french onion soup

PARKER FEIERBACH

Delish: Eat Like Every Day's The Weekend

GET YOURS NOW!

In a dinner rut? We can help.

Want free recipes sent straight to your inbox? Sign up here.

Can we get your email address? NEED NOW.

By signing up, I agree to Hearst Magazines’ Terms of Use (including the dispute resolution procedures); my
information will be used as described in the Privacy Notice.

Recipes
grilled asparagus overnight oats

Easy Overnight Oats

Grilled Asparagus

garlic bread pizza enchilada sauce

30 Stoner Food Recipes Homemade Enchilada Sauce

tres leches cake

27 Summer Green Creamy Chicken Sheet-Pan Garlic

Salads Piccata With Gnocchi Butter Salmon &
Tres Leches Cake Asparagus

Cobb Egg Salad - Delish.com Keto Taco Cups - Delish.com

Creamy Chipotle
Shrimp Pasta
Avocado & Tomato Cobb Egg Salad Keto Taco Cups
Salad

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Newsletter Subscribe Customer Service About Us

Press Room Media Kit Community Guidelines Advertise With Us

Delish Shop Product Support Delish Unlimited Membership Support

WATCH: This Classic French Onion Soup Is The

A Part of Hearst Digital Media Perfect Comfort Food

Delish editors handpick every product we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page. 

©Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Notice CA Notice at Collection Your CA Privacy Rights/Shine the Light DAA Industry Opt Out Terms of Use Site Map

0:00  -1:02
