Description
Rich, comforting, and deeply flavorful, this Authentic French Onion Soup is everything you love about classic French bistro fare. Made with slow-caramelized onions, savory beef broth, a hint of white wine, and topped with crusty toasted baguette and bubbling Gruyère cheese, it’s the perfect easy dinner idea or cozy lunch option. Whether you’re searching for winter dinner ideas or a comforting appetizer, this easy recipe is guaranteed to warm you up from the inside out.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup dry white wine
6 cups beef broth
4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 French baguette, sliced into 1-inch rounds
1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese
Instructions
1. In a large pot, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, for 40–50 minutes until deep golden brown and caramelized.
2. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
3. Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any brown bits. Simmer for 5–7 minutes until the alcohol evaporates.
4. Add the beef broth, thyme, and bay leaves. Simmer the soup for 30–40 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Discard the thyme and bay leaves.
5. While the soup simmers, toast the baguette slices in the oven until golden and crisp.
6. Ladle hot soup into oven-safe bowls. Top each with toasted bread and a generous amount of Gruyère cheese.
7. Place bowls under the broiler for 2–4 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
8. Serve hot, optionally garnished with a sprig of thyme or fresh ground pepper.
Notes
Let the onions caramelize slowly—don’t rush this step. It’s the key to deep flavor.
Use oven-safe bowls to broil the cheese topping directly on the soup.
Homemade or high-quality broth will make your soup taste far more authentic.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: authentic french onion soup, easy dinner, winter comfort food, bistro soup, cheesy soup