Classic French Onion Soup (Printable)

Caramelized onions in savory broth, topped with toasted baguette and melted Gruyère for a French bistro classic.

# What You'll Need:

→ Alliums

01 - 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
02 - 2 large leeks, white and light green parts only, cleaned and thinly sliced
03 - 3 shallots, thinly sliced
04 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Fats

05 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Broth & Umami

07 - 8 cups high-quality beef broth
08 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 2 teaspoons soy sauce
10 - 1/2 cup dry white wine
11 - 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
12 - 1 bay leaf

→ Bread & Cheese

13 - 1 baguette, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
14 - 2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated
15 - 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

→ Seasonings

16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How-To:

01 - In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat until shimmering.
02 - Add the sliced onions, leeks, and shallots. Sauté, stirring frequently, until very soft and deep golden brown, approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes more.
03 - Pour in the dry white wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon.
04 - Stir in the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and cook uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
06 - Preheat the oven broiler. Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast under the broiler until golden, approximately 1 to 2 minutes per side.
07 - Ladle the hot soup into oven-safe bowls. Top each with toasted baguette slices and a generous amount of Gruyère cheese.
08 - Place bowls under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly, approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
09 - Remove from the broiler and serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh thyme if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Those melted, bubbling layers of cheese on top are honestly the best part, and you get to be in complete control of how much you add.
  • It's one of those soups that tastes even better the next day, so you're not just cooking dinner, you're setting yourself up for an effortless meal later.
  • The aroma alone makes your home feel like a cozy French bistro, which is worth the hour of cooking time.
02 -
  • The caramelization cannot be rushed; turning up the heat will give you browned onions instead of caramelized ones, and the flavor difference is everything.
  • Always use oven-safe bowls for the final cheese step, because regular ceramic will crack under the broiler's intense heat and you'll have a mess on your hands.
03 -
  • For even deeper umami, add a splash of sherry or cognac with the wine; it adds complexity that regular white wine alone won't achieve.
  • If you can't find Gruyère, Swiss or Emmental work beautifully as substitutes, and the soup will still taste absolutely wonderful.
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