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    Home > Recipes > Soups + Stews

    The Best Homemade French Onion Soup

    Published: Oct 11, 2014 | Updated: Jul 20, 2022

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    This is the best Homemade French Onion Soup! It has a generous portion of caramelized onions in a rich, flavorful beef broth made from scratch. Three types of cheese are broiled on top of croutons to melty, toasty perfection. 

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    Homemade French Onion Soup

    Everyone knows that the three key ingredients in French cuisine are butter, butter, and butter, but I would argue that there is a fourth. That secret is high quality ingredients. Real cream, quality cheese, fresh, in-season produce, and, of course, butter.

    French Onion Soup, at its core, is a very simple soup. It is here that quality ingredients matter.

    If you want to turn a good soup into a tantalizing culinary experience, you need to start with homemade beef broth. I’m talkin’ roasted veal and beef bones simmering for hours. Try it. Then you’ll understand.

    You will want to make sure that your onions are deliciously caramelized. Almost more than you think is right. Even darker than the pictures in my initial post. They will smell sweet with a note of caramel, and should be a rich caramel brown.

    Homemade French Onion Soup

    My secret in this recipe? Cognac. There are only 2 tablespoons in 4 servings but this is the flavor that pulls the onions and broth and cheese together and makes a symphony of taste. It is the flavor that your guests won’t quite be able to pinpoint, but they will know there is something truly delightful and different about your French Onion Soup. Cognac.

    French Onion Soup

    Gruyere cheese is traditional and you would not be remiss using all gruyere, but I used a medley of gruyere, Swiss, and fontina and it was delicious.

    Dig through the cheese and the bread with your spoon and scoop up some of the broth and onions into one complete bite. Marvel as your eyes close and you sigh in pleasure. It is seriously that delicious. Simple done right.

    Homemade French Onion Soup

    That is what home cooking is all about, right?

    I didn’t need an excessive amount of salt in this soup, and that is how I wrote it below. Sometimes salt is a flavor enhancer and sometimes it is compensating for a lack of flavor development. Many a restaurant French onion soup is suffering from this disorder. Sad but true.

    Homemade French Onion Soup
    French Onion Soup

    The Best Homemade French Onion Soup

    Chef Lindsey
    This is the best Homemade French Onion Soup! It has a generous portion of caramelized onions in a rich, flavorful beef broth made from scratch. The cheese is broiled on top of croutons to melty, toasty perfection.
    Prevent screen from sleeping
    PRINT Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 50 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour
    Course Appetizer, Soup
    Cuisine American, French
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 431 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 cup caramelized onions
    • 1 tablespoon flour
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme (not packed)
    • 2 tablespoons Cognac*
    • 3 ½ cups beef broth (Preferably homemade or organic low-sodium)
    • Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper (to taste)
    • 1 French baguette (sliced ¾ inch thick along a diagonal)
    • 1 ½ cups gruyere (swiss and fontina cheese**)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions
     

    • When making French onion soup, I caramelize my onions in a Dutch oven, so that I only dirty one pot. L-A-Z-Y
    • Once your onions are sufficiently caramelized (deep, rich caramel in color) sprinkle with the flour and stir to coat. Add the thyme, Cognac, two large pinches kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper. Stir to distribute the spices and allow to cook on low for a few minutes.
    • Add your beef broth and simmer over low heat for 30-40 minutes. This allows the flavors to develop.
    • While your soup is simmering, toast your bread on a baking sheet under the broiler. Watch it carefully! Toast until brown on each side.
    • Ladle an equal amount of soup into each broiler-safe, 13 ounce bowl. Top with several bread slices and then top with ¼ of the cheese mixture. Broil on a baking sheet until the cheese has melted and has started to bubble and brown.
    • Serve immediately, but eat with care! HOT!

    Notes

    *Cognac is brandy that has been made in Cognac, France. It is like the Champagne of brandy. You can taste the difference. The higher the quality, the better the taste of your soup. Since there is such a tiny amount in this recipe, you could buy those small airplane bottles or a pint. If Cognac is not an option, then opt for the best brandy you can afford.
    **I used almost a cup of gruyere and then an overflowing ¼ cup each of fontina and swiss. You do your thing.
    ***My husband wanted more broth. I like it as written. If you know you would like a thinner soup (fewer onions in each bite) then increase your beef broth to 4 ½ cups. As long as you are using quality beef broth, this should not impact the flavor too much. Feel free to throw in a little extra thyme and Cognac.
    Based on a recipe by Martha Stewart
    Keyword appetizer, french onion soup, soup
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cheflindseyfarr
    Homemade French Onion Soup
    Homemade French Onion Soup
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    Comments

    1. rattlebridge farm --foodie friday says

      October 21, 2014 at 6:57 pm

      Your soup was chosen for the Foodie Friday round up! Have a great week.

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 21, 2014 at 7:40 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    2. Miss Kim @ behgopa says

      October 17, 2014 at 12:06 pm

      I love how your French Onion Soup represents your love story. I can't believe it's already been a year. It seems like yesterday that the wedding fairy was nagging you regularly lol.

      I love French Onion Soup. It's what I used to sip regularly at my last job (seasonally) during those busy nights. It kept me from passing out from hunger since it was one of the few things I can nibble on without spending much time to prepare (since the soups served at restaurants are premade before service). Love the globs of cheese in yours. That's the only way to eat it.

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 17, 2014 at 8:10 pm

        Thank you for getting my parallel story! I knew I could count on you. I miss the Wedding Fairy. She was such a staple for a while. Sigh. I'm sure she is happily tormenting her new bride to be. 🙂

        French onion soup is the bomb. And the more the merrier on the cheese!!! It was for the photos and I felt guilty but I ate it ALL.

        Reply
    3. Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector) says

      October 16, 2014 at 11:32 pm

      This looks really delicious!! Thanks for linking up with SNF! Pinned to our party board!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 17, 2014 at 8:20 pm

        Thanks, Jaren!

        Reply
    4. Jacqui says

      October 15, 2014 at 12:11 pm

      I will have to try this! Thank you for linking up to Party Time and we hope to see you again next week!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 15, 2014 at 5:41 pm

        Absolutely, Jacqui! Thanks for hosting.

        Reply
    5. Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong says

      October 15, 2014 at 8:32 am

      Happy First Anniversary Lindsey!! 🙂
      Love love love the soup.. looks fabulous.. 3 types of cheese on top and cognac in soup is just amazing.. love the pictures too.. 🙂

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 15, 2014 at 6:05 pm

        Thanks, Arpita! You are so sweet!

        Reply
    6. Judit @Glamorous Bite says

      October 14, 2014 at 6:04 pm

      Very Happy FIRST Anniversary Lindsey, and many, many more to come! Love French onion soup and for some reason it tastes so much better in Paris or Nice then back home. Your beautiful photos make me want to run to the kitchen and start cooking....
      Cheers,
      J

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 14, 2014 at 7:23 pm

        Thanks, Judit! Everything tastes better in France 😉

        Reply
    7. Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says

      October 14, 2014 at 1:21 pm

      French onion soup is my most favourite soup! This looks delicious, Lindsay!

      Reply
    8. Ella-HomeCookingAdventure says

      October 14, 2014 at 3:39 am

      Ahh.. you did French Onion Soup.. I've been wanted to do this for some while.. but kept postponing.. your's look really tempting. Wish you many happy anniversaries 🙂 We are about to celebrate 8 years at the end of October 🙂

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 14, 2014 at 8:49 am

        Congratulations on 8! You should absolutely try it! Knowing that you, you will make it all from scratch and it will be magnificent!

        Reply
    9. JanetFCTC says

      October 13, 2014 at 8:28 pm

      Awww, Happy Anniversary!!!

      And this is my all time favorite soup. You make it like I do in one way; covered in cheese, not some chintzy grating of Parmesan.

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 13, 2014 at 9:08 pm

        Thanks, Janet! Soup covered in chintzy grated parmesan does not even deserve to be called French Onion Soup. Must be melty cheese!

        Reply
    10. Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says

      October 13, 2014 at 4:48 pm

      Happy happy anniversary Lindsey! I love French Onion soup and yours looks seriously better than any we tried in Paris 🙂 I totally want to dive right head - the 3 cheeses in here sounds amazing!!! Pinning 🙂

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 13, 2014 at 9:09 pm

        Thanks, Kelly! The more the merrier when it comes to cheese!

        Reply
    11. Manali @ CookWithManali says

      October 13, 2014 at 3:25 pm

      Happy Anniversary Lindsey! 🙂 Gorgeous pictures and the soup looks delicious!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 13, 2014 at 9:18 pm

        Thanks, Manali!!

        Reply
    12. Shashi @ runninsrilankan says

      October 13, 2014 at 12:15 pm

      Happy Happy Anniversary to you and your hubs, Lindsey!
      That first picture though had me mistaking love for lust - that's foodporn at it's finest!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 13, 2014 at 9:21 pm

        Thanks, Shashi!!! Haha thank you! Foodgawker didn't agree 😉

        Reply
    13. Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says

      October 13, 2014 at 8:56 am

      I DIIIIE! I adore beef, caramelized onions, and cheese soooo ya. YUMMALICIOUS

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 13, 2014 at 9:30 am

        You will LOVE this soup, Kayle! CHEESE!!!!

        Reply
    14. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says

      October 12, 2014 at 6:18 pm

      Happy anniversary!! And oh, this soup. It needs to happen. We spent an anniversary in Paris and my husband loves French Onion Soup. He got all confused because there it's just called Onion Soup on the menu, lol.

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 13, 2014 at 8:44 am

        Thanks, Dorothy! Paris is the perfect place to spend an anniversary...or really just any time. That's adorable - but he should know he was not alone because my husband also was a little concerned that he initially couldn't find it on any menu when, in fact, it was everywhere!

        Reply
    15. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

      October 12, 2014 at 6:13 pm

      I am in love with this soup, Lindsey! I'm drooling over here! French onion is my absolute favorite, yet I have never made it on my own before. I need to change that asap! Pinned and making soon!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 13, 2014 at 8:36 am

        If it is one of your favorites, then you definitely need to make this one! It's delicious. Thanks for the pin!

        Reply
    16. marcie says

      October 12, 2014 at 4:32 pm

      I thought your love story was just the soup! haha Seriously, happy anniversary! I feel the same way about French onion soup -- my husband is French and he enjoys it as much as I do, but it hasn't been the same outside of Paris. 🙁 However, making it at home it so easy and better than most restaurants. Yours looks phenomenal, and I love the addition of cognac! 🙂

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 13, 2014 at 8:29 am

        Thank you! Shhh I liked this one better than the ones we ate in Paris. And i could have written a love story just about French Onion Soup, but where's the fun in that?! The cognac was such a good addition.

        Reply
    17. David @ Spiced says

      October 12, 2014 at 10:58 am

      This soup looks absolutely delicious!!. I've actually been craving French Onion Soup lately, and now my craving has hit full stride. Oh, and Happy Anniversary, Lindsey! I hope you guys are off walking through Piedmont Park holding hands and looking longingly into each other's eyes. After all, isn't that what married folks do? 🙂

      Reply
    18. Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen says

      October 12, 2014 at 9:54 am

      Happy Anniversary, Lindsey! Your first wedding anniversary is something really special to celebrate!

      This soup... I can't get over that cheese! I think I'd have to eat the whole bowl with a piece of that crusty bread, rather than a spoon. 🙂

      Reply
    19. Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says

      October 12, 2014 at 9:34 am

      Lindsey, this soup looks INCREDIBLE, and the photos are the bomb! Love, love, love! And, congratulations on your first wedding anniversary! You are lucky to have each other! Hugs! Oh...and PINNED! 🙂

      Reply
    20. Jess @ Sweet Menu says

      October 12, 2014 at 6:20 am

      Talk about cheesy goodness! These photos are INCREDIBLE!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 12, 2014 at 9:02 am

        Thanks, Jess! It's all about the cheese!

        Reply
    21. Valya @ Valya's Taste of Home says says

      October 12, 2014 at 2:02 am

      Looks delicious! Love any kind of soups. They are perfect for fall cold days.

      Reply
    22. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

      October 11, 2014 at 10:31 pm

      I too just made a french onion soup.. great minds obviously think alike! Yours looks alot different to mine though, I didn't add cheese ontop but it is definitely something that I will be trying next time.. it looks seriously delicious!

      Reply
    23. Liz says

      October 11, 2014 at 12:55 pm

      I always put cognac in my French onion soup, too, but the 3 cheeses is what got to me! Terrific idea...the more cheese, the better!!!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 11, 2014 at 6:59 pm

        I agree! Bring on the cheese!

        Reply
    24. Lelia Farr says

      October 11, 2014 at 10:06 am

      How wonderful! Congratulations on your first wedding anniversary!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        October 11, 2014 at 10:56 am

        Thanks Mom!

        Reply
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