Easy French onion soup becomes a treasured recipe. Discover this classic French onion soup recipe and you will kick yourself for not making it sooner!
It’s hard not to love French onion soup.
Like a treasure chest, this onion soup recipe with its salty molten cheese top, hiding bread soaked with rich savory sweet broth, contains hidden gems of caramelized onions. Ahh.
Everyone has their own version, but pretty much they are all the same.
I first encountered my treasure chest at the Magic Pan on Michigan Avenue, a very long time ago.
And though I consider French onion soup a special treat, I really should make it more often.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that anything with cheese is verboten, because really this simple peasant broth is pretty calorie free.
So if you must, just make the broth, but everyone needs a splurge now and then.
When I was married many moons ago we were gifted onion soup crocks in the classic colors of gold and brown. They looked something like this.
I kept them for many years on the top shelf where they gathered dust as they sat unused.
They were never very attractive to me and since my kitchen dishes are blue and white, I finally felt the urge to purge.
And so I did. As my daughter says, or really Marie Kondo, if it doesn’t give you joy there is no reason to keep it. So after 20 years I didn’t.
When I’m in a purging mood I throw with gleeful abandon, but those moods don’t strike me often. (This is a good thing because when I throw, it generally means I’m in a really bad mood.)
However when I do toss – watch out. By chance if these gold and brown crocks with handles are in your cabinets, I hope they are not gathering dust.
I hope they are bringing you joy. As much joy as this easy French Onion soup does me.
I now use deep white individual souffle dishes to make my soup and it works out just fine.
I still am able to run them under the broiler and turn that cheese into molten lava. And I’m still able to break into the treasure chest just fine. Just fine indeed.
More Soup:
White Bean, Bacon and Kale Soup
Barbeque Bean Soup with Sausage
Old Fashioned Beet Borscht Soup
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Easy French Onion Soup
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 60 Minutes
- Total Time: 75 Minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: StoveTop
- Cuisine: French
Description
Easy French onion soup should be a treasured recipe. Everyone loves French onion soup? Why save it for the mall?
Ingredients
- 3 T butter
- 1 3/4 lb onions or 2 very large, thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 8 c chicken stock
- 1 c white wine
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 thyme sprigs
- 12 slices crostini or toasted baguettes
- 4 oz grated Gruyere cheese
Instructions
- Melt butter in a heavy bottomed pot. Add the thinly sliced onions. Partially cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally for about 25 minutes or until the onions are golden and beginning to caramelize.
- Add the garlic . Let soften for a few minutes. Blend in the stock and the wine, stirring until blended. Add bay leaf and thyme and season with salt and pepper. (This will depend on how salty your chicken stock is.) I do like plenty of fresh ground pepper but that is up to you.
- Cover the pot and simmer for 25 minutes. Remove bay leaf and thyme and check for seasoning. Preheat the broiler.
- Using your choice of bowl, place the soup into bowls or souffle ramekins. Top with 1 layer of baguette slices. Sprinkle with grated cheese. I like to cover it thick! Place bowls in your broiler pan and then place under broiler until the cheese melts and turns golden. Serve while hot!
Gingi Freeman
Wednesday 31st of January 2018
This looks amazingly tasty!!! I want!!!!!! - http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Evolve With Mary
Wednesday 31st of January 2018
I made onion soup once, it was a huge all day headache, but man was it delicious. It’s been a couple of years and I’m willing to do it all again but only because you made it soooo darn easy. These little French Onion Soup Crocks are adorable!!!! OMG look at all that cheese :)
Amira's Pantry
Tuesday 30th of January 2018
Such a lovely soup in this weather ... perfect!
Eva Taylor
Monday 29th of January 2018
Thank you for dropping by my blog and leaving a comment. French onion soup is my absolute favourite, I like making it with beef broth or even making my own beef bones broth; the beef bone broth adds such richness to the soup that cannot be replicated with chicken broth. I also have a Guiness onion soup recipe on the blog, boy that one was super tasty too. And if you're feeling thrifty, I have an vegetarian version on the blog using onion skins (don't laugh, it makes a deliciously rich and dark broth).Your photos are beautiful, the melty gruyere looks awesome. Several years ago, we bought ourselves some Émile Henry French Onion Soup bowls and they are fantastic to serve the soup in (you know, the ones with the little lion heads on the sides). They have an incredible heat retention capability.
Healthy World Cuisine
Sunday 28th of January 2018
We remember those little dust collecting crocks too! Seriously delicious all those caramelized onions and killer broth. So what time is dinner?