Classic French Onion Soup

Name: Classic French Onion Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 65 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 5 cups yellow onions, thinly sliced; 3 tablespoons butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon sugar; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 8 cups beef broth; 1/2 cup dry white wine; 2 sprigs fresh thyme; 1 bay leaf; 1 baguette, sliced into rounds; 2 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded; 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated; Salt and pepper to taste

A cozy bowl of caramelized onions in a rich savory broth topped with crusty bread and melted cheese.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 French· September 13, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

65 minutes

Total

80 minutes

Serves

There is nothing quite like a steaming bowl of French onion soup on a chilly day. It is the kind of meal that feels like a warm hug because the slow cooked onions develop such a deep and sweet flavor.

My favorite trick for this recipe is to take your time with the onions. Do not rush the caramelization process because that deep brown color is exactly where all the incredible flavor comes from.

🧺 Ingredients

5 cups yellow onions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups beef broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1 baguette, sliced into rounds
2 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Salt and pepper to taste

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Melt the butter and oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook, stirring often, for about 30 to 40 minutes until they are soft and deep golden brown.
2
Stir in the sugar and garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
3
Pour in the white wine and scrape the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits. Let it simmer for 3 minutes.
4
Add the beef broth, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes.
5
Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste and remove the herb sprigs and bay leaf.
6
Ladle the soup into oven safe bowls and place a few slices of toasted baguette on top of each.
7
Sprinkle a generous amount of Gruyere and Parmesan cheese over the bread.
8
Place the bowls on a baking sheet and broil for 3 to 5 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. If you want to make the prep faster, you can caramelize the onions a day in advance and keep them in the fridge until you are ready to make the soup.

#soup #french #comfort food #dinner #classic

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