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Simple French Onion Soup

Soups are always a favorite for dinners at my house. There is something so comforting about a bowl of soup that just can’t be duplicated with any other meal. French onion soup is one of those soups that for whatever reason I tend to get when I am at a restaurant, but don’t make at home as often. I recently made it and realized just how easy it actually is to make French onion soup and decided I definitely need to share the recipe with you and that we all should be making it more often right in our own kitchens. My recipe for French onion soup is one that just has a few ingredients, but is packed full of flavor and is super satisfying too! My simple French onion soup will quickly become one of your favorites to add into your soup rotation any day of the week!

The hardest part about this soup is being patient and letting your onions get nice and caramelized. I promise that having a little patience here will make your soup extra delicious because those onions will get nice and sweet and will be so full of flavor. This is the step that really makes or breaks a good French onion soup and once those onions start to turn a nice caramel color, you know that you are good to go and the rest is downhill!

Traditionally, this soup gets served in individual bowls so that each person can have their own crusty, cheesy bread on top. However, if you don’t have oven proof bowls, then you can also make cheesy bread separate and then serve the bread on top of the soup once it’s ladled into bowls. Either way works, but if you do have oven proof bowls, I do recommend serving it the traditional way, because the bread soaks up some of that soup and the cheese melts directly into the bowl and the combination is just heavenly.

You are going to love making French onion soup at home. It’s simple enough for any night of the week, but is also a great soup for entertaining because of it’s stunning presentation! Your guests will be totally impressed and they don’t have to know how easy it was for you to make! I love serving it with a simple salad and calling it done and done!

I am so excited for you to try this recipe out for yourself and see just how simple it is to make a restaurant quality meal right in your own kitchen.

Ingredients:

  • 5 Onions, Sliced Thin

  • 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

  • 1 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter

  • 1 Tbsp Fresh Thyme

  • 1 Bay Leaf

  • 1/4 Cup White Wine

  • 6 Cups Beef Broth

  • 1 Tbsp. Salt

  • 1 Tsp. Black Pepper

  • 3 Cups Bread Cubes

  • 6-8 Slices Swiss Cheese

Directions:

  • Heat a large pot over medium heat and add olive oil, butter, and onions.

  • Season with 1/2 of the salt and pepper and begin the process of caramelizing the onions.

  • Stir the onions every 5 min or so to prevent burning, but not too often so that you let the onions caramelize and get good color. Adjust the heat lower if the onions start to brown too quickly.

  • You will continue to do this for about 20-25 minutes until the onions are caramel in color.

  • Pour in wine to deglaze the bottom of the pot and let cook down for about 2 minutes.

  • At this time, add in fresh thyme, bay leaf, and beef stock and season with the rest of the salt and pepper and stir to combine.

  • Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.

  • Let simmer for about 30 minutes.

  • Preheat oven to broil.

  • When ready to serve the soup, ladle into individual oven proof ramekins or bowls and then add some bread cubes directly into the soup and then layer with 1-2 slices of swiss cheese.

  • Place ramekins onto a baking sheet and then into the oven on broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese is bubbly and brown.

  • Serve immediately.

It’s just so pretty on top of being so delicious. I just love this soup and I know you will too!