French onion soup with bread and melted cheese on top in white bowl.
Recipes,  Soups

How to Make French Onion Soup

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It is not even close to autumn yet, but I wanted to learn how to make French Onion Soup. This soup always comforts me when others make it, so I have wanted to master making it myself for quite some time.

French Onion Soup has simple ingredients and doesn’t take much time to make. It was ready for my family in less than 45 minutes, including slicing the onions and grating the cheese.

French onion soup with bread and cheese on top in white bowl.

Ingredients You Will Need

  • Onions
  • Butter
  • Beef Broth
  • Worcestershire Sauce
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • French Bread
  • Swiss Cheese
  • Parmesan Cheese
Ingredients for French onion soup on counter.

Equipment You May Need

  • Large Soup Pot
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Ladle
  • Oven-Safe Bowls

Helpful Tips for Making French Onion Soup

  • Slice onions as thinly as possible so they will cook faster and will be easier to eat.
  • Toast the French bread in an air fryer, if you have one. The slices are too thick for a toaster. You can also toast bread in the oven.
  • Swiss cheese is hard to find pre-shredded, so you will probably have to shred it yourself. I used the cheese grater attachment for my Kitchenaid stand mixer. You can also shred it by hand, of course.
  • Place the oven-safe bowls on a baking sheet so it is easier to put them in the oven.

Substitutes and Variations

  • Replace the beef broth with vegetable broth to make French onion soup vegetarian.
  • Soy sauce can be used in place of Worcestershire sauce.
  • Instead of Swiss cheese, you can use Gruyere or provolone. Gruyere has a stronger flavor, while provolone has a milder flavor. It depends on what you prefer.

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy

If you like this soup, you may also like Classic Minestrone Soup. This Creamy Corn Chowder and this Chicken Mushroom Soup are also delicious recipes to try. This Tuscan White Bean Soup is also a great comfort food. Instead of buying French bread, you can make your own Homemade Bread to top off your soup.

Final Thoughts

French onion soup is a comforting meal any time of the year. It is made with simple ingredients and doesn’t take much time to put together. I appreciated that it didn’t need to cook all day, as some soups do. It also made our house smell amazing. If you haven’t had French onion soup, you need to try my recipe soon.

French onion soup with bread and cheese on top in white bowl.

How to Make French Onion Soup

Heidi Bruaw
French onion soup features caramelized onions simmered in a rich beef broth, topped with crusty bread and a blanket of gooey, melted cheese.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine French
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • Cups Onions thinly sliced
  • 4 Tablespoons Butter
  • 32 Ounces Beef Broth
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • French Bread toasted
  • 2 Cups Swiss Cheese shredded
  • ¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese grated

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425℉.
  • In the soup pot, cook the onion in butter until brown.
  • Pour in the beef broth and the Worcestershire sauce and bring to a boil.
  • Season with salt and pepper to your liking.
  • Use a ladle to transfer soup into oven-safe bowls.
  • Top with toasted French bread.
  • Sprinkle with the Swiss and Parmesan cheese.
  • Place in the oven until the cheeses melt.

Notes

  • Slice onions as thinly as possible so they will cook faster and will be easier to eat.
  • Toast the French bread in an air fryer, if you have one. The slices are too thick for a toaster. You can also toast bread in the oven.
  • Swiss cheese is hard to find pre-shredded, so you will probably have to shred it yourself. I used the cheese grater attachment for my Kitchenaid stand mixer. You can also shred it by hand, of course.
  • Place the oven-safe bowls on a baking sheet so it is easier to put them in the oven.
Keyword French Onion Soup

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