This easy French onion soup recipe is so scrumptious you will be joyful as you eat it. This recipe also proves that you don’t need to caramelize the onions for a delicious soup!
Before, when Christopher wasn’t thrilled about eating soup, this easy French onion soup is the only soup he wanted or would eat at a restaurant. He has since branched out but I do love making this soup for him.
Well, not only for him because I eat it too.
What is your most favorite thing about easy French onion soups?
My favorite thing is the cheesy crispy bread topping the oniony goodness.
What is your least favorite thing about easy French onion soups?
I find them too sweet! I know, I know, most people love that about French onion soup. But not little Lainey. I’m funny that way. I LOVE sweets but I don’t like sweetened foods for dinner. Know what I mean?
I want my sweets to be sweet and my food to be, well, food! (Unless I’m eating breakfast foods for supper; but that’s a different story.)
SO, while other recipes tout caramelizing the onions, I don’t find the need to caramelize Vidalia onions. They are sweet enough, I say. That means they save you time. And you won’t notice the difference!
YAY!
Enough chitter chatter.
On to the easy French onion soup recipe
I always start with my Vidalia onions. I cut them in half and then slice each half in thinnish slices.
I cut up just enough of the onions to fill my 8 cup bowl.
I heat my Dutch oven on medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 3 tablespoons of butter. I add the onions when the butter has melted and sauté them for 15 minutes, until the juices have been released.
I add 2 teaspoons of garlic paste and stir it around for 2 minutes.
Time to add some beef broth, sherry and wine.
See that orange bit in the photo above? That, believe it or not, is my reflection! I’m wearing an orange sweatshirt. It took me a while to figure that out. I said to myself, “What the heck? There aren’t carrots in this soup!”
Hehe.
Time for Thyme
I also add thyme, a little bit of maple syrup, a tad of soy sauce and a little salt.
I let the easy French onion soup come to a boil before I lower it to a simmer for 50 minutes. I place the cover on it partially and wait patiently as it cooks.
Now it’s time to ladle the soup in some crocks and get this show on the road!
I turn the broiler on high.
I have a nice loaf of crusty French bread. I slice it thinly. Since it’s just Christopher and me, I toast 4 pieces and float 2 of them on top of each crock of easy French onion soup.
I also gather provolone and muenster cheese. I tear a slice of muenster cheese in half and place a half on each crock. I place a full slice of provolone over each half slice of muenster.
I place the crocks of easy French onion soup on a jelly roll pan.
Into the oven it goes.
I stand there hovering by the oven because I don’t want to burn the cheese. It took 2 minutes to get the cheese to melty perfection.
I had to stick little trivets under the bowls since they were piping hot.
Let’s stick my teaspoon in the soup, shall we?
Let’s not stop there, though! Let’s bring that spoon up out of the crock of easy French onion soup so I can take a photo and get on with eating it!
Yum!!
I hope you enjoyed this easy French onion soup recipe as much as Christopher and I love eating it!
Please feel free to Yum the recipe to Yummly, Pin any photo to Pinterest and leave me a comment. What is your favorite soup?
And as always, may all your dishes be delish!
This easy and delicious soup has just the right sweetness which makes it outstanding.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 onions vidalia, or 4 cups of sliced onions
- 2 teaspoons garlic paste or 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 32 ounces beef broth or vegetable if you want to keep it vegetarian
- 1/4 cup dry sherry
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup optional
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 4 slices crusty bread small French bread loaf
- 2 slices provolone cheese
- 1 slice muenster cheese
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Heat medium sauce pan on medium heat
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Add oil and butter
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Add onions and sauté for 15 minutes - until juices are released
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Add garlic paste and cook for 2 minutes
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Add broth, sherry, wine, thyme, maple syrup, salt and soy sauce
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Bring to a boil, and lower to a simmer and cook for 50 minutes
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Preheat oven to broil, on high
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Ladle soup in crocks
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Cut French loaf into slices. Toast 4 pieces (or as many pieces as you are serving. I do 2 per crock.
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Place tasted bread on soup in crocks, place a half of munster on each crock and a piece of provolone on the munster
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Place crocks on jelly roll pans and place the pan under the broiler
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Stand there and make sure the cheese doesn't get burned - mine took 2 minutes
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Serve
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Eat
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Smile
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Enjoy
I’m so intrigued by this recipe because 1. The crispy bread and melty cheese topping is my favorite, too! and 2. I’m not a huge fan of sweetness in suppers that are supposed to be savory. Plus, I love onions, so I’m sure I’ll love this!
Thanks so much Abby! Yay. A kindred spirit! I’m sure you will love this soup!
Goodness gracious, look at that stretchy cheeeeeeeese! French onion soup is hands-down one of my faves. I have to make it with veg broth these days but it’s still scrumptious. I haven’t made it in ages though, time to get to it! It’s supposed to snow this weekend (I can’t even comprehend that, I live in the freaking SOUTH), so that would be a great time for it.
Yay! it is just as great with veggie broth!! And it’s still snowing today! 🙁
This is my favourite soup and I ate it a lot growing up, as it’s popular where my family are from in Belgium. Loads of cheese is a must.
Yay Dannii! I love this soup too and ate it a lot growing up! Thank you for your comment.
You have me craving french onion soup now. And my favorite part is definitely the gooey cheesy bread topping. I like the addition of maple syrup you added…going have to give that a try.
Thanks Stephanie. It’s so yummy. 🙂
That cheese pullllll! Way to go on this one, Elaine! I would eat this any season of the year! Gorgeous, easy recipe! Pinning now, and making later 🙂
Woohoo Traci. Thanks so much!
ммм I really like this French onion soup! It looks very tasty. I like that it can be prepared quickly and easily. I definitely want to try this! Thanks for sharing this great soup!
Thanks Veena!! It is so good!
Still haven’t made French onion soup but now I really want to try! (:
Nicolas! Thank you! It’s easy and delicious!
This reminds me it as been TOO long since I made this soup. Although Spring is here….the warm weather is not. I think this just might have to be on the menu this weekend…with a nice glass of wine. We can enjoy watching the snow staying warm with this.
Thanks Gloria!! I know, can you believe the snow. Luckily for us, it didn’t stick. I love soup in all types of weather!! Enjoy!
There is nothing quite like French onion soup and the lovely burnt crisp cheese on top! When my son was in culinary school had developed his own recipe of this that we now make at home. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Analida!
I love how easy this is and I particularly love the individual servings! I can’t wait to give this a try!
Thank you Claire! 🙂 I hope you enjoy it!
I am 100 % with you on the sweet food for dinner! Can’t do that either. Plus, I am the most impatient chef ever and caramelizing onions drives me crazy which is why I have never even tried to make French Onion Soup at home. I am so going to bookmark this recipe and try it ASAP.
Yay, Kiki! A kindred spirit. I’m impatient too. I’ve done it both ways, caramelizing them and not and there really isn’t a difference in taste, just looks. 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
Yum this is one of my very favorite soups, and love the shortcuts you’ve done here…looks wonderful!
Thanks so much Paige! I appreciate it.
A good French onion soup is definitely a thing of beauty. And I agree – some of them are *too* sweet! This looks like a wonderful version with some really great shortcuts!
Thanks so much Ashley! I appreciate your comment!
Oh my goodness…this recipe!! It’s perfect! It’s beautiful but I LOVE how you listed all the steps for me! That makes it so much easier when I’m cooking recipes! Your pictures are just beautiful! my mouth is watering!
Thanks so much Amanda! You made me smile!
How gorgeous and cozy! I think this is one of my all time favorite soups, rich and full of flavor!
I totally agree Stacey! Thanks so much!
Talk about the ultimate comfort food! That cheesy layer on top is broiled to PERFECTION. Delicious!
Thanks so much Julie!! 🙂
Mmmmmm. The savory broth! The gooey, nutty cheese! The soggy bread! A perfect meal.
We’ll have to have it again soon!