What does French onion soup contain?

The authentic French onion soup recipe uses very simple ingredients: butter, onions, flour, white wine, flour, beef broth, and salt and pepper. There are many different variations, so you may find some substitutions here and there, but this great recipe is a classic. Top it all off with toasted bread and some bubbly cheese, and it's ready to serve!

Does French onion soup contain meat?

Although French onion soup doesn't contain meat exactly, it is traditionally made with beef broth for a really rich, savory flavor.

Why is my French onion soup bland?

Because this classic French soup has so few ingredients, you really have to follow each step properly to get the best flavor. Fully caramelize the onions to release their flavors, use high-quality beef stock, and season the broth to taste using salt. If you skip any of these steps, your soup may taste overly watery and bland. Be patient; it's worth the wait to make it the right way.

French Onion Soup

Name: French Onion Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: ¼ cup butter; 4 medium onion, thinly sliced; 1/4 cup dry sherry or white wine; 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour; 6 cups beef broth; 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped; 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste); 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 6 slices French bread, about 1/2 inch thick; 1 1/2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated

Description

Cozy up with a warm, cheesy bowl of classic French Onion Soup. This version is made in the traditional way by cooking down and caramelizing fresh onions until they are a deep golden brown, then deglazing the pan with wine before letting all those flavors simmer together. Top off each bowl of soup with a thick piece of French bread and some melty cheese for a deeply flavorful, savory meal you'll crave all winter long.

Ingredients

¼ cup butter
4 medium onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup dry sherry or white wine
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
6 cups beef broth
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
6 slices French bread, about 1/2 inch thick
1 1/2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated

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Instructions

Melt butter in a large pot or 4 quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat and melt until it starts to bubble, about 1 minute. Add onion and sauté until tender and golden brown, about 12-15 minutes.
Add wine and stir well to deglaze the pot. Stir in flour and mix well until evenly combined and thickened, about 1 minute.
Add beef broth and thyme. Mix well and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let it simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Preheat broiler on Hi for 5 minutes. Ladle soup into individual oven-safe serving bowls and place the serving bowls on a large baking sheet (you may have to do this in batches).
On each bowl, add a slice of bread on top and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of cheese.
Transfer the baking sheet into the oven and broil until the melted cheese turns golden brown, about 1 minute.
Garnish with some chopped thyme and serve warm.

Notes

How to store: Store leftover French onion soup in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for 3-4 days. Store the bread and cheese separately to keep them from becoming soggy.

How to reheat: Heat up some of this easy onion soup in a small saucepan over medium-low heat before topping it with freshly toasted bread and cheese.

How to freeze: Freeze chilled leftover soup in a freezer safe container for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Soup
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: French