Best French Onion Soup Recipe (2024)

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This Best French Onion Soup Recipe can be made on the stove top, in your instant pot or slow cooker.

Looking for more quick and tasty soup recipes, try my Healthy Leek Soup or my homemadeSimple Mushroom Soup.

Best French Onion Soup Recipe (1)

The secret to making the Best French Onion Soup Recipe is to cook those onions real well. Then of course you want a good solid beef stock and some gruyere cheese.

I’ve also shared another French Onion soup recipe with you all a few years back now. That recipe had scallops in it, yes scallops.

That recipe is a tad fancier and was done on the stovetop and then broiled in the oven. Takes a bit longer, but is also a goodie and a bit fancier.

If you want to take a look at that recipe. See here: French Onion Soup Broiled Scallops

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BEST CHEESE FOR FRENCH ONION SOUP

Gruyere cheese is most popular however you can use Swiss, Mozzarella as well.

I was craving French onion soup as of late. And came up with this delicious recipe in my Instant Pot! Of course this can be made on the stove – top just the same.

FRENCH ONION SOUP BOWLS

Are important to have when completely this soup because your going to want to put this pre -made soup in them under the broiler for the last few mins to heat the soup and broil the cheese.

Image coming home to a warm bowl of French onion soup? But with it taking only half the time to prepare than the average French onion soup recipe, because you let the instant pot cook it?

Yup, you can have it all with this one.

BEST ONIONS FOR FRENCH ONION SOUP

Yellow onions are the best, however this soup can be made with any type of onion just not green of course. It just would not be the same!

FRENCH ONION SOUP BOWLS

Should be oven safe as you will want to place the pre-made soup in them along with the cheese and fresh scallops for baking.

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ARE FRENCH ONION SOUP BOWLS OVEN SAFE

Some are some are, so if your going to use the oven vs the microwave be certain it is oven safe or it will smash.

INSTANT POT FRENCH ONION SOUP

Recipe, and let me tell you it is WINNER!

Since it all comes together in less than 30 minutes and tastes like you have been laboring all day in the kitchen to make.

WHAT DOES FRENCH ONION SOUP TASTE LIKE

If you have ever had caramelised onions, you will know it has a sweetness to them.

Then once they are simmered in a beef or vegetable broth with spices it becomes absolutely delicious.

So follow along!

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WHAT KIND OF CHEESE IS ON FRENCH ONION SOUP

Gruyere Cheese, you can also substitutefor provolone cheese or mix the two.

I just use gruyere here and sometimes will even use some mozza if that is all I have on hand.

WHAT ARE THE BEST ONIONS FOR FRENCH ONION SOUP

You can use yellow, white or even red onions for French onion soup.

BEST WINE FOR FRENCH ONION SOUP

A dry white or red wine works best.

FRENCH ONION SOUP RED OR WHITE WINE

Traditionally, in France. This soup is made with white wine and that is because it helps bring out the beef flavor.

SUBSTITUTE FOR RED OR WHITE WINE

You can always substitute Red or White wine with Red wine vinegar, grape, pomegranate, or cranberry juice and or chicken, beef, or vegetable stock.

HOW TO MAKE FRENCH ONION SOUP INSTANT POT

There are several ways to make French onion soup.

Some people do it on the stovetop then bring it to the oven to broil it.

While others make it in their instant pot (like in this recipe) and put it either in the microwave to melt the cheese or in the oven at the last minute.

It all comes down to personal preferences.

But one thing is for certain, you want to use lots of onion and a good quality beef stock for this soup!

  • Step one: You will want to slice your onions and then add your butter and olive oil to the instant pot.
  • And turn it on simmer, once the butter has melted you will add in the onions, salt and pepper and 1 package of Knorrs onion soup mix (my secret ingredient)

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  • Step 2: Saute the onions till browned, turning often.

Now those onions are perfectly browned, baby!

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Step 3: Add in the beef broth, white or wine, bay leaf and all remaining seasonings.

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Step 4: Simmer in the instant pot on medium heat all together for 15 more minutes.

Step 5: Discard the bay leaf, then ladle the soup into bowls and top with Gruyere cheese or Swiss cheese.

Step 6: Place each individual bowl in the microwave long enough to melt the cheese.

Step 7: You can also place in the oven near the top shelf and broil these bowls (as long as the bowls are oven safe) for 2 minutes.

Step 8: Top with fresh parsley or chives and enjoy!

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If you want bread in this soup, feel free to add some croutons before the cheese.

HOW TO SERVE FRENCH ONION SOUP

Serve with croutons if desired.

This recipe will make a large pot of soup, so if you have any any leftovers “which is highly unlikely”.

Then you can enjoy it over the next few days orfreeze it as a meal prep option for another time if desired.

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CAN FRENCH ONION SOUP BE FROZEN

Yes and it even tastes better the next day. So go ahead and make a BIG old pot and save some for another day! Just make sure that you do not freeze it with croutons or the cheese.

Place those on it the day of serving it!

Notes: Keep in mind, as with all my recipes.

If you want to make more or less of this soup, simple adjust the serving size in the ingredients sectionabove and the servings will automatically adjust for you.

And save yourself time and hassle, and let your food processor chop up your beets and cabbage up.

Also it gives a great consistency to the soup.

You are going to want to jot this recipe down, it is a keeper!

IS FRENCH ONION SOUP HEALTHY

Yes, it is packed with onions which are full of antioxidants and compounds that reduce cholesterol levels.

LOOKING FOR SOME MORE AWESOME SOUP RECIPES?

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    • Gnocchi Sausage Kale Soup
    • Broiled Lasagna Soup
    • Healthy Seafood Soup
    • Thai Carrot Soup

I am so thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this recipe i’d love to hear about it! Thank you very much for reading and until next time see ya in the kitchen.Don’t want to miss a recipe?Sign up for ourNEWSLETTERdelivered right to your inbox every Month!

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Best French Onion Soup Recipe (12)

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Can't get any better than this

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsps of Butter
  • 1 tbsp of Olive Oil
  • 3 large sweet onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 package of Knorr Onion Mix
  • 2 x 900 ml Campbells Beef Stock
  • 1 cup of Gruyere or Swiss cheese
  • 1 tbsp of Brown Sugar
  • 1 tsp of Thyme
  • 1 tsp of Fresh garlic or powder
  • 2 Bay Leaves
  • 2 tbsp of Dry White or Red Wine
  • 2 tbsp of chopped parsley or fresh chives to serve

Instructions

  1. You will want to slice your onions and then add your butter and olive oil to the instant pot. And turn it on simmer, once the butter has melted you will add in the onions, salt and pepper and 1 package of Knorrs onion soup mix (my secret ingredient)
  2. Saute the onions till browned, turning often.
  3. Add in the beef broth, white or red wine, bay leaf and all the seasonings.
  4. Simmer in the instant pot on medium heat all together for 15 more minutes.
  5. Discard the bay leaf, then ladle the soup into bowls and top with Gruyere cheese or Swiss cheese.
  6. Place each individual bowl in the microwave long enough to melt the cheese. You can also place in the oven near the top shelf and broil these bowls (as long as the bowls are oven safe) for 2 minutes.
  7. Top with fresh parsley and enjoy!

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 530Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 1284mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 3gSugar: 19gProtein: 28g

These calculations are based off Nutritionix

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Best French Onion Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you deepen the flavor of French onion soup? ›

A few sprigs of thyme and a bay leaf elevate the soup even more, but I take it a step further, adding a splash of fish sauce for complexity and depth—don't worry, it won't taste fishy—and a hit of cider vinegar to balance some of that oniony sweetness.

Why do you put baking soda in French onion soup? ›

The caramelized onions for this soup cook more quickly due to a pinch of baking soda but still have that deep, slow-cooked flavor. Topping the soup with hot, cheesy toasts prepared while the soup simmers, eliminates the need to bake the soup in specialty French onion soup bowls.

What's the best kind of bread to use for French onion soup? ›

Baguette: Sliced French baguette is the traditional topping for French onion soup, but any crusty bread will suffice, and if you're in a pinch, you can use big croutons, too! Cheese: Gruyere is the standard, but shredded Swiss makes a great substitute.

What is the best wine to use for French onion soup? ›

Wine is optional to deglaze the pan and add flavour to the soup. I recommend a dry white or red wine, such as a good quality Pinot Grigio/Gris, Sauv Blanc, Sémillon, Chardonnay, Merlot or Pinot Noir. Generally, if you can't drink it, don't cook with it.

Why is my French onion soup so bland? ›

Most likely it could be from not caramelizing the onions long enough, as this is crucial for flavor development. Also, be sure to use a good quality broth and season the soup properly with salt and pepper. You can try adding a splash of balsamic vinegar or Worcestershire sauce for a boost of flavor.

How do you make French onion soup not bland? ›

The next time you're mixing up a pot of French onion soup, toss in a few bay leaves to upgrade the flavor a little more. The bold flavors can complement the taste of the soup and make for a more flavorful dish.

How do you make French onion soup less bitter? ›

Burned onions – result in bitter soup. Be careful to not burn the onions/cook them until they are too dark in color – you don't really need to cook them until they are dark brown – golden brown/light brown is enough.

How do you thicken French onion soup? ›

The easiest way to thicken your French onion soup is with flour. You can also use cornstarch if you don't have any flour. Remember to never add the flour or cornstarch directly to the soup – otherwise you run the risk of it clumping.

What if French onion soup is too sweet? ›

If the soup is too sweet, add some vinegar. If you would like a little more depth, add a splash of red wine. I like the onion-to-liquid ratio with 6 cups of water. But if you'd prefer a slightly more delicate soup, add an additional 1 cup/240 milliliters water or to taste.

What bowls are best for French onion soup? ›

French onion soup is traditionally served in lionhead bowls, which are deep but not very wide porcelain bowls. Here are four reasons why these bowls are perfect: Plenty of soup. Even as the bread on top starts to soak up some of the soup, there's still plenty left underneath.

Are red or yellow onions better for French onion soup? ›

Onions: You can use white, yellow or red onions for French onion soup. But to make it the classic way, you will need 5-6 large yellow onions, peeled and thinly sliced. Butter: The tastiest (French) way to caramelize those onions.

What is the difference between onion soup and French onion soup? ›

What is the Difference Between Onion Soup and French Onion Soup? French onion soup is always made with beef stock. Other onion soups can be made with chicken, vegetable, or beef stock. Additionally, French onion soup typically contains wine or sherry, which isn't typical or necessary in other onion soups.

How do you add depth of flavor to soup? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says.

How to doctor up canned French onion soup? ›

Some fresh rosemary or thyme brings a woody, peppery taste to the soup, complementing the umami flavor of the beef stock. With a splash of balsamic vinegar and green onions or fresh basil as a garnish, the canned soup is transformed from a grocery store original into a gourmet dish.

How do I make my French onion soup darker? ›

The caramelized onions are what give the soup its rich dark flavor and color, so don't skimp! Use a good quality beef broth. We use Better Than Bouillon to make our beef broth because it's extremely flavorful and contains a decent amount of salt, which seasons the soup well.

What can I add to French onion soup that is too sweet? ›

The sweetness can be balanced by adding some dry wine or vinegar. Taste as you go and don't overdo it. A little salt will balance it too, but don't forget that the grated cheese you will top it with is salty.

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