Classic French Onion Soup (Printable)

Deeply caramelized onions in savory broth, topped with toasted bread and melted Gruyère cheese.

# What You'll Need:

→ Onions

01 - 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
02 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Soup Base

04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon sugar
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
08 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
09 - 1/2 cup dry white wine
10 - 5 cups beef or vegetable stock
11 - 2 sprigs fresh thyme
12 - 1 bay leaf

→ Topping

13 - 4 slices French baguette, about 1 inch thick
14 - 1 tablespoon olive oil for bread
15 - 1 cup Gruyère cheese, grated

# Directions:

01 - In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced onions, stirring to coat. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are soft and deeply caramelized, about 35 to 40 minutes. Add sugar and salt halfway through to help with caramelization.
02 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes to thicken slightly.
04 - Pour in the dry white wine, scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon to release any browned bits and incorporate them into the mixture.
05 - Pour in the stock, add thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove thyme and bay leaf. Season with pepper and additional salt as needed.
06 - Preheat oven broiler. Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet, brush both sides with olive oil, and toast under the broiler until golden, about 1 to 2 minutes per side.
07 - Ladle hot soup into oven-safe bowls. Top each with a toasted baguette slice, then cover generously with grated Gruyère cheese.
08 - Place bowls on a baking sheet and broil for 2 to 3 minutes, or until cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The slow caramelization process creates an incredible natural sweetness and depth.
  • It is a versatile dish that can be made vegetarian by using vegetable stock.
  • The combination of crunchy toasted bread and melted cheese provides the perfect texture contrast.
02 -
  • Always use oven-safe bowls when broiling the cheese topping to prevent cracking.
  • Deglazing the pot with wine is essential to capture the flavor of the browned bits at the bottom.
  • Check packaged ingredient labels for allergens as the recipe contains dairy and gluten.
Go Back