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 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.
My favorite thing about this soup is the cheesy crispy bread topping the oniony goodness.
One of the things I don’t like about typical French onion soups I find in restaurants is they are 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!
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!
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Helpful tips
- Use vidalia onions as they are the sweetest and have such a lovely flavor.
- If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, I really recommend their organic broths as they are affordable, tasty and robust.
- I use different cheeses each time I make this soup. My favorites are muenster, provolone and Swiss. But you can use whatever you like.
How to make easy French onion soup
Pre-step
Get a Dutch oven or stockpot.
Step one
Gather the onions.
Step two
Cut onions in half and then in thinnish slices. (A)
Step three
Sliced onions filling my 8 cup bowl. (B)
Step four
Heat the Dutch oven on medium heat. Add oil and butter and once that heats up, add onions and sauté for 15 minutes. (C) Add garlic and sauté for 2 minutes.
Step five
Add broth, sherry wine, thyme, maple syrup and soy sauce. (D)
Step six
Bring to a boil and lower to a simmer and cook for 50 minutes. (E)
Step seven
Slice bread and get out the cheese.
Ladle the soup into bowls. (F)
Step eight
Place your oven rack in the second highest position and turn the broiler on high.
Step nine
Toast bread in a toaster or toaster oven and place a few pieces of toast in each crock. (G)
Step ten
Either cut or tear your cheese in half (in this case, muenster) and place a half in each bowl. Then place a piece of provolone in each crock. (H)
Step eleven
Put the crocks on a jelly roll pan and place it in the oven for two minutes. Stand there and make sure the cheese doesn’t burn.
I had to stick little trivets under the bowls since they were piping hot.
Let’s stick my teaspoon in the soup, shall we?
Yum!!
Other popular soup recipes
I hope you enjoyed this easy French onion soup recipe as much as Christopher and I love eating it!
Please leave me a comment. What is your favorite soup?
And as always, may all your dishes be delish!
If you’ve tried this easy or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Easy French Onion Soup
Ingredients
- 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
- ¼ cup dry sherry
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup optional
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
Add-ons
- 4 slices crusty bread small French bread loaf
- 2 slices provolone cheese
- 1 slice muenster cheese
Instructions
- Heat medium sauce pan on medium heat
- Add oil and butter
- Add onions and sauté for 15 minutes – until juices are released
- Add garlic paste and cook for 2 minutes
- Add broth, sherry, wine, thyme, maple syrup, salt and soy sauce
- Bring to a boil, and lower to a simmer and cook for 50 minutes
- Preheat oven to broil, on high
- Ladle soup in crocks
- Cut French loaf into slices. Toast 4 pieces (or as many pieces as you are serving. I do 2 per crock.
- Place tasted bread on soup in crocks, place a half of munster on each crock and a piece of provolone on the munster
- Place crocks on jelly roll pans and place the pan under the broiler
- Stand there and make sure the cheese doesn’t get burned – mine took 2 minutes
- Serve
- Eat
- Smile
- Enjoy
Equipment
Notes
- Use vidalia onions as they are the sweetest and have such a lovely flavor.
- If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, I really recommend their organic broths as they are affordable, tasty and robust.
- I use different cheeses each time I make this soup. My favorites are muenster, provolone and Swiss. But you can use whatever you like.
Abby
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!
Elaine
Thanks so much Abby! Yay. A kindred spirit! I’m sure you will love this soup!
Dana
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.
Elaine
Yay! it is just as great with veggie broth!! And it’s still snowing today! 🙁
Dannii
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.
Elaine
Yay Dannii! I love this soup too and ate it a lot growing up! Thank you for your comment.
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ
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.
Elaine
Thanks Stephanie. It’s so yummy. 🙂
Traci
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 🙂
Elaine
Woohoo Traci. Thanks so much!
Veena Azmanov
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!
Elaine
Thanks Veena!! It is so good!
BlogtasticFood
Still haven’t made French onion soup but now I really want to try! (:
Elaine
Nicolas! Thank you! It’s easy and delicious!
Gloria
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.
Elaine
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!
Analida @ ethnicspoon.com
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!
Elaine
Thank you Analida!
Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life
I love how easy this is and I particularly love the individual servings! I can’t wait to give this a try!
Elaine
Thank you Claire! 🙂 I hope you enjoy it!
Kiki Johnson
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.
Elaine
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!
Paige
Yum this is one of my very favorite soups, and love the shortcuts you’ve done here…looks wonderful!
Elaine
Thanks so much Paige! I appreciate it.
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
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!
Elaine
Thanks so much Ashley! I appreciate your comment!
Amanda Mason
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!
Elaine
Thanks so much Amanda! You made me smile!
Stacey
How gorgeous and cozy! I think this is one of my all time favorite soups, rich and full of flavor!
Elaine
I totally agree Stacey! Thanks so much!
Julie
Talk about the ultimate comfort food! That cheesy layer on top is broiled to PERFECTION. Delicious!
Elaine
Thanks so much Julie!! 🙂
Christopher
Mmmmmm. The savory broth! The gooey, nutty cheese! The soggy bread! A perfect meal.
Elaine
We’ll have to have it again soon!