The Best French Onion Soup
Updated Nov 02, 2025, Published on Dec 23, 2021
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THE BEST French Onion Soup. I can't think of many better winter recipes than French Onion Soup. Everything from the sweet caramelized onions to the thick layer of melty cheese sinking into the toasted bread is perfect. This French Onion Soup can be served in smaller crocks as an appetizer or in larger crocks as an entrée.
I have found that adding demi glace and better than bouillon beef base gives this soup an extra depth of that beefy flavor. It takes a decent amount of time to properly caramelize the onions, but I promise the payout is worth it!
What ingredients do I need to make this French Onion Soup?
- 4 tbsp Butter
- 4 to 5 large Yellow Onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 6 cups Beef Stock
- 1 packet Demi Glace, I used the Demi Glace Gold Classic French Demi-Glace 1.5 oz packet
- 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme
- 1 cup White Wine, dry
- 1/2 cup Brandy
- 1/2 cup Sherry
- 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 8 to 12 slices Baguette, buttered & toasted, 1/2 inch slices
- 1.5 cups Gruyère cheese, shredded
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp Better than Bouillon Beef Base, optional, stir in at the end for an extra boost of flavor
How do I make this French Onion Soup?
- Melt butter in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Add sliced onions and about 1/2 teaspoon of Kosher salt, or to taste. Stir and cover, letting the onions cook for 5 minutes. Remove the cover, turn heat to medium low, and cook for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until onions are very caramelized.
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan, heat beef stock and stir in demi glace.
- Once onions are caramelized, add fresh thyme. Pour in white wine, sherry, and brandy. Let some of the alcohol cook off for a few minutes.
- Ladle broth into the dutch oven, season to taste with salt and pepper, and stir in Worcestershire sauce. Boil for 10-15 minutes. Taste the soup and add in the optional better than bouillon beef base for extra flavor if desired.
- Ladle soup into oven-safe crocks. Top with toasted baguettes and shredded cheese. Broil in the oven for a few minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
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The Best French Onion Soup
This is the best french onion soup. It's warm, savory, sweet, cheesy, and the absolute perfect meal for a cold winter night.
Equipment
- Dutch Oven I love my Le Creuset for caramelizing onions and making soup!
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon Butter
- 4 to 5 large Yellow Onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 6 cups Beef Stock, or beef broth/stock of your choice
- 1 packet Demi Glace, I used the Demi Glace Gold Classic French Demi-Glace 1.5 oz packet
- 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme
- 1 cup White Wine, dry
- 1/2 cup Brandy
- 1/2 cup Sherry
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 8 to 12 slices Baguette, buttered & toasted, 1/2 inch slices
- 1.5 cups Gruyère Cheese, shredded
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon Reduced Sodium Beef Base, optional, stir in at the end for an extra boost of flavor
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Add sliced onions and about 1/2 teaspoon of Kosher salt, or to taste. Stir and cover, letting the onions cook for 5 minutes. Remove the cover, turn heat to medium low, and cook for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until onions are very caramelized.
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan, heat beef stock and stir in demi glace.
- Once onions are caramelized, add fresh thyme. Pour in white wine, sherry, and brandy. Let some of the alcohol cook off for a few minutes.
- Ladle broth into the dutch oven, season to taste with salt and pepper, and stir in Worcestershire sauce. Boil for 10-15 minutes. Taste the soup and add in the optional better than bouillon beef base for extra flavor if desired.
- Ladle soup into oven-safe crocks. Top with toasted baguettes and shredded cheese. Broil in the oven for a few minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
Video
@carolbeecooks Warm up with this ultimate edition of #souptok - French Onion Soup 🧅 #goodsoup #frenchonionsoup #soup #souprecipe
♬ Overdue - Instrumental - Metro Boomin
Nutrition
Calories: 565kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 85mg, Sodium: 1206mg, Potassium: 1010mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 859IU, Vitamin C: 12mg, Calcium: 579mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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