This Easy French Onion Soup recipe is the perfect saltiness and spice. Gooey cheese and a fantastic taste. A classic, quick and delicious soup recipe.
Easy French Onion Soup
In the Winter months, I crave {and I mean crave} French Onion Soup. Yet, I’m picky with this type of soup, and will only order it at certain restaurants.
I find that some are too salty, others broths too weak, and so on. Let’s just say I appreciate {and devour} a great tasting French Onion Soup.
One of my goals for this year to ‘eat out’ less though, so I actually haven’t had my favourite soup all Winter. I know, the horror!
In an effort to stick to my goals and also have the food I love too, I’ve been like a mad scientist in the kitchen. I’ve been super busy trying to make restaurant favourites at home, just like this Easy Wonton Soup.
And a perfect example of make at home perfection is my Olive Garden Copycat, Chicken Gnocchi Soup. Mmmm.
So, one day when I was mad-craving French Onion Soup, I scoured cookbooks and websites trying to find an easy recipe. I found that most were just too detailed.
If you have made it before, you might be thinking “well, not really, Tammi”. Truth is, it’s not a complicated recipe and even the lengthy ones were simple. Yet I wanted so insanely simple, so that I could fill my craving, and now.
Thing is, when this craving for soup strikes, I want something that doesn’t make me want to resort to opening a can. So simple in direction that I would make it at home on a whim and not feel that I’m making a dinner. Because, it’s soup – it should take as much time as it is to make a whole dinner.
How do you make easy French onion soup?
What I did was take crucial aspects of a french onion soup, and took out the extras. Bare-boned, classic soup that is effortless without sacrificing on flavour. And, voila. Here it is!
You simply saute onions until transparent in colour, transfer to a beef broth base with spices, and then bake with onion broth, crisp bread and a blend of Gruyere and swiss cheese.
What kind of cheese is used for French onion soup?
Now, these cheese you choose does matter. Gruyere cheese is best! Yet, sometimes I get super lazy and just use mozzarella cheese, which you can do and the result is a nice soup. Yet, choosing that sharper cheese does result in a different and fantastic flavour, so keep that in mind and try to stick with Gruyere.
What kind of bread do you use for French onion soup?
I try and get a french loaf for the bread in my french onion soup. Day old is best! Yet in a pinch, you can toast any bread and it’ll work – yet I do think french is best. As the name says!
In short, this Easy French Onion Soup recipe is the perfect saltiness and spice. Gooey cheese and a fantastic taste.
My kids, who wouldn’t go near an onion if you paid them {isn’t that the case with most kids?}, ate about half a bowl each. Colour me impressed!
Plus, it’s a really easy recipe since there’s limited ingredients to chop etc. The only problem was waiting for the onion mixture to simmer, the house smelled incredible and I almost didn’t wait the full 30 minutes!
Yet, for a good tasting soup, you must – the little wait will be worth it!
Try this quick recipe for french onion soup and enjoy!
This Easy French Onion Soup recipe is the perfect saltiness and spice. Gooey cheese and a fantastic taste. A classic, quick and delicious soup recipe.
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 medium onions thinly sliced
- 8-10 ounces condensed beef broth
- 2 tsp thyme
- 4 tbsp shredded Gruyere cheese
- 2 tbsp grated swiss cheese
- 4 slices French bread 1 inch thick
- Place a large skillet over medium low heat and melt butter.
- Saute onion for about 8 minutes until transparent in colour.
- In a medium saucepan combine beef broth, sautéed onion along with pepper and thyme and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Under the oven broiler, toast French bread on both sides until crispy.
- Pour French onion soup into 4 individual soup bowls and float desired amount of sliced toasted French bread in each.
- Sprinkle cheeses on top of each {the more, the merrier!}.
- Broil in the oven until the cheese bubbles.
- Enjoy!
Holly Wright says
01/17/2014 at 10:58 amthis looks so yummy!
Tammi says
01/19/2014 at 8:12 amThanks Holly!
Lynda Cook says
01/17/2014 at 11:32 amthis is one of the easiest onion soup recipes I’ve seen, looks so good! I think I am going to make this one next week, thanks for sharing
Tammi says
01/19/2014 at 8:13 amIt is really easy, and I love that. I definitely have no time to waste, even in the kitchen!
Aly Mashrah says
01/17/2014 at 2:56 pmI’ve never had french onion soup before, but that looks delicious! I’ll have to give it a try.
Tammi says
01/19/2014 at 8:14 amOh you must!!
kristin says
01/17/2014 at 3:52 pmOh my goodness, I have always wanted to try onion soup. Now I must!!!
Tammi says
01/19/2014 at 8:15 amWow, I’m surprised you haven’t Kristin, you just have to try it!
mel says
01/17/2014 at 4:12 pmThis looks so good!!!!
Heather H says
01/17/2014 at 6:21 pmThis looks delicious ! I love French Onion soup ! I am going to make this … I just need the bowls !
Tiffany (Fabulous Mom Blog) says
01/17/2014 at 6:24 pmI’m all about easy. Thanks for sharing. I’ve been wanting a bowl of this ever since it got cold here.
Elizabeth Vlug says
01/18/2014 at 5:44 amYou had me at “easy”. This looks like a recipe I will enjoy. Thanks for sharing.
Tammi says
01/19/2014 at 8:16 amLet me know what you think when you try it!
Tania Smith says
01/18/2014 at 7:54 amYummeh! Thank you for sharing! I absolutely love french onion soup.
I will be making this soup this weekend.
Chandra Christine O'Connor says
01/18/2014 at 8:50 amlove french onion soup I add a bit of cooking sherry in mine.
Tammi says
01/19/2014 at 8:16 amI was debating on doing that ….
Wanda Muise says
01/18/2014 at 8:51 amThanks for sharing the recipe. I was looking for a good french onion, my husband loves this soup. I think I will surprise him this evening . Thanks!!!
Tammi says
01/19/2014 at 8:22 amNice!! Enjoy Wanda!!
kathy downey says
01/18/2014 at 8:52 amthanks,i am looking forward to trying this
debbie s says
01/18/2014 at 9:11 amIm making this today!!!
Tammi says
01/19/2014 at 8:22 amEnjoy Debbie!
Nicole W. says
01/18/2014 at 10:43 amYummm!! I love French Onion soup, thanks for the easy recipe! Will likely be trying this out soon 🙂
Ashley S says
01/18/2014 at 11:06 amLove french onion soup!! Love it even better when it’s easy to make 🙂
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
01/18/2014 at 8:16 pmI adore French Onion Soup and I used to make my own too. Not made it in a while though so I guess it’s time now that you’ve made me lust after it, my mouth is watering already 🙂
Doreen Lamoureux says
01/19/2014 at 11:43 amMy husband says that onion soup is his favorite. I have not ever made onion soup but I am going to try. I will be printing this out and looking for Gruyere cheese. Never heard of it before and I will attempt and succeed. I am going to surprise him.
Angela @ A Mama's Corner of the World says
01/19/2014 at 12:22 pmWe love French Onion soup!
susanne mccarthy says
01/20/2014 at 6:30 amI am not a french onion soup fan but my husband is. I will have to try this recipe out on him…..very simple and straightforward! Thanks!!
nicolthepickle says
01/20/2014 at 6:36 amYummy, my Dh likes his French onion soup with toasted garlic bread on it the best.
This is my go to recipe when I’m busy and need supper soon.
Judy C (Judy Cowan) says
01/20/2014 at 7:54 amLooks great! I love French Onion Soup but my hubby hates it so I only make it now and then as a treat. You now have me craving it!
angela m says
01/20/2014 at 8:43 amI have been craving and talking about making french onion soup. I have made it once before in my slow cooker, and it called for sherry! I am going to try your recipe, it looks delicious. Thanks
jessica s says
01/20/2014 at 9:00 amthis looks easy enough for even me to make! thanks for posting!
kristen visser says
01/20/2014 at 10:02 amim not one for french onion soup…my husband has always loved it. but i would definitely love to give this a go. I haven’t tried french onion soup in years and it looks so delicious!
Victoria Ess says
01/20/2014 at 10:38 amThanks for this!! I have never tried my hand at making French Onion Soup and am thankful for the “easy” recipe!
caryn s says
01/20/2014 at 11:58 amI french onion soup i just never thought to make it at home before now! Thanks for the recipe Tammi!
Clifford says
01/20/2014 at 12:07 pmNothing like a bowl of French onion soup on a cold winters day. It is one of my favourite soups and it’s easy to make so we have it often.
Sandy says
01/20/2014 at 2:14 pmYUM!! I need to make this!!!
Heidi C. says
01/20/2014 at 9:39 pmMy hubby would love this! I am definitely going to try this for him!
Debbie W says
01/21/2014 at 9:53 amWhat a simple, warm me up recipe. Thanks for sharing
Darlene Schuller says
01/21/2014 at 12:20 pmOh Tammi this looks fabulous! I can’t wait to try it. It’s soooo cold today too the perfect day for it.. i love onion soup!
Shana says
01/22/2014 at 1:09 amOh my word! I can’t wait to try this! My Hubby has never had French Onion Soup!
Laurie B says
01/22/2014 at 10:24 pmCan you guess what I am making for dinner tomorrow? I could really use a great big bowl of it with this polar vortex that we are in! Brrrrrrrrr….
Thanks for sharing!
crystal tucker says
01/25/2014 at 11:49 amMy oh my!!! I am 39 weeks pregnant and ny craving has been French onion soup!!!! I wish I would have had this recipe earlier instead of the frozen stuff I’ve been buying!!! I will have to try this tonight!!! So excited, thanks for the post!!!
KARENALBERTWINSLOW says
01/25/2014 at 1:02 pmTHIS IS SO EASY MOM & I MADE IT ONE TIME TOOK US ALL DAY BUT IT DID TASTE LIKE THE RESTURANT HAD MADE IT. THANKS
Jo says
01/26/2014 at 7:12 amTwo of my favourite things combined together: onion soup and EASY recipes! Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer M says
01/27/2014 at 11:38 amI LOVE French Onion soup. Best I’ve ever had is at the Hotel Sofitel in Minneapolis! It is a French hotel chain and they do it so well. I will try this recipe, I recently bought the bowls!
BarbFS says
01/27/2014 at 3:28 pmThis sounds awesome. I love French Onion Soup also, but seldom find one that’s to my liking. I will be trying this soon, perhaps it can take the chill off of these -30 degree winter days. Thanks for sharing! (I pinned this too!) 😀
ikkinlala says
01/28/2014 at 10:42 amThis looks amazing! It’s been such a long time since I had French onion soup.
Dianna Oshanyk says
03/25/2014 at 10:02 amOMG I cannot wait to try this. I have searched for an easy recipe and not found one. A must for this weekend. 🙂
Erynn says
05/11/2014 at 1:35 pmI Love French Onion Soup! Gonna make this organic tonight for Mother’s Day… YummY! Thanks for sharing. Aloha….
Christine says
02/23/2015 at 9:25 amTotally drooling! Saving and Pinning. This is one of my 6 yr old daughter’s favourite soups!!! Making this sometime this week!
Deb says
03/02/2015 at 8:16 amI love French Onion Soup!
Caroline says
10/01/2015 at 6:36 pmYum-my! One bowl over here please! Thanks!
Cheryla says
12/10/2015 at 8:19 pmlove French onion soup, thanks Tammi, going to make some this weekend!
Lyra says
01/19/2018 at 8:57 amThis sounds sooo good – I’m making this THIS weekend, for sure!
Lynda Cook says
11/19/2018 at 2:34 amThis is a very good and tasty soup, we enjoyed it very much!