This French Onion Soup is made from scratch, cooked low and slow, giving the end result an incredible depth of flavor and aroma.

There is something so nostalgic about this classic soup. Just thinking about that first bite with gooey cheese, crunchy baguette, and the rich beef onion broth…it makes me swoon.

French Onion Soup - in Green Mini Ramekin with Crunchy Crouton on Top

This combination of flavors and textures is what makes French Onion Soup so epic. And even though it’s a popular soup to get out at restaurants, it’s really easy to make yourself.

The only obstacle to this dish is the mountain of onions you must slice, which is only really a problem if you’re one of those lucky people who cries when cutting onions. I’m one of those people.

If you wear contacts, I’ve discovered that wearing contacts (instead of glasses) helps reduce the tears significantly.

I’ve also tried wearing swimming goggles, though they fog up pretty quickly, so the cutting window is quite short. I haven’t tried the dedicated onion goggles (affiliate), but it seems those are hit-or-miss for whether or not they’ll fit your face.

Even with a little crying, French Onion Soup is delicious enough that it’s totally worth it.

French Onion Soup in Green Oval Dish 

While this soup is easy to make, it needs time and can’t be rushed. The onions take about an hour and a half to get to their brown, caramelized state. After that, the beef broth, wine, herbs, and onions need at least 30 minutes to simmer together.

The good news is the soup smells so good that I’m happy to have it cooking in my kitchen for a couple hours. Heaven!

How to Make French Onion Soup:

Slice 4 lbs of yellow onions, place them into a large soup pot, and season with salt. Also add 4 tablespoons of butter to the pot (I nestled it down to the bottom of the pot after taking the picture):

Sliced yellow onions and butter in big metal Pot

What Kind of Onion To Use:

Personally I use yellow onions for my french onion soup, though red onions are also a good option.

To clarify, I’m using regular yellow onions, NOT sweet onions. Using sweet onions like Vidalia will make your French Onion Soup too sweet in the end.

Cook the Onions:

Cover the pot and let the onions sweat over medium heat for about 20 minutes. They will now look a bit translucent and reduced in volume:

Softened Onions in Metal Pot

Leaving the pot uncovered, continue to cook the onions for an hour, until they have darkened in color and reduced down even further:

Caramelized Onions In Metal Pot with Pink Spatula

Add Sherry to the pot:

Pouring Sherry into the Onions to Make the Best French Onion Soup with Great Flavor

Then cook the onions for a few minutes, until the wine has cooked off:

Caramelized Onions with the Sherry Cooked Off

Add beef broth, a bundle of fresh thyme, and a bay leaf:

Bay Leaf and Thyme bundle in the Soup for Simmering

Simmer the soup for at least 30 minutes, to deepen the flavor. I sometimes go an hour if I have time.

Put the Finishing Touches On:

When you’re ready to serve, ladle the soup into heatproof bowls, and add toasted and buttered baguette slices, and a handful of shredded gruyere cheese:

Adding Shredded Gruyere Cheese to the French Onion Soup

Place under the broiler for a minute or two, until the cheese is bubbling and golden. Then it’s ready to hit the table:

Homemade French Onion Soup - in green ovenproof dish and broiled cheese crouton topping

Lasagna Soup, Butternut Squash Soup, and Chicken Noodle Soup are a few more of my cozy favorites. Enjoy!

French Onion Soup FAQ:

Can you make it ahead of time? Absolutely, and it makes for great leftovers. Just reheat the soup when you’re ready to serve, and broil it with the cheese and baguette.

How to freeze: Once it has finished cooking, let it cool, then put it into airtight containers. Thaw before serving again and adding the cheese and baguette.

How long does it keep? For at least 5 days in the refrigerator, or 2 months in the freezer.

Do you have to use Sherry? I love the flavor and it matters a lot for the aroma, so try to get some if you can. I recommend a more dry than sweet Sherry. However, you could also use a dry red wine if that’s what you have.

More Soup Recipes:

French Onion Soup in Green Ramekin

French Onion Soup

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Sliced yellow onions are cooked low and slow until soft and mellow, then turned into a wonderful French Onion Soup with Sherry, beef broth, and fresh thyme. Cheesy gruyere and toasted baguette slices finish it off!
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Ingredients

  • 4 lbs yellow onions thinly sliced (about 6 onions)
  • salt
  • 4 tbsp butter* (or olive oil)
  • 1/2 cup Sherry
  • 64 oz beef broth**
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 20 sprigs fresh thyme tied together with kitchen string
  • sliced baguette
  • softened butter for spreading
  • 8 oz gruyere cheese

Instructions 

  • Place the sliced onions in a big pot and season with 1/2 tsp salt. Nestle the butter underneath the onions (so it's close to the heat at the bottom of the pot), then cover the pot with a lid. Place the pot over medium heat, and let the onions sweat for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the lid, and let the onions cook for another hour, stirring every 5 minutes or so to make sure the onions aren’t burning. Note that the onions are more prone to burning at the end of the cooking process, as the water has cooked off.
  • Once the onions are caramelized and brown, and have reduced down in volume, add the Sherry. Raise the heat to medium high and cook for a few minutes, until the alcohol looks like it has cooked off (see blog photo).
  • Add the beef broth, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down and let the soup simmer for 30 minutes. Taste for seasoning, and add salt as necessary.
  • When you're ready to serve, preheat the oven broiler. Arrange the baguette slices on a sheet pan and toast under the broiler for about 1 minute, until golden. Flip the baguette slices over, and butter the other side to your liking, and toast again, until the other side is golden. Ladle the soup into ovenproof soup bowls. Float a few slices of toasted baguette on top, and add a handful of gruyere cheese, as much or as little as you'd like. Broil the tops for a few minutes until the cheese gets bubbly and brown. Enjoy!

Notes

*You may use unsalted or salted butter, whatever you have.
**It is very important to use a great quality beef broth. This is one of those products that varies wildly by brand. I didn't believe it until I did a taste test on my own. Imagine brand and Better than Bouillion are good choices, but I'm sure there are other good quality ones I haven't tasted.

Nutrition

Calories: 530kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 29g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 62mg, Sodium: 1687mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 11g

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Soup
Cuisine: French
Author: Fifteen Spatulas

Post updated in January 2021. Originally published October 2011.