This is a simple French Onion Soup recipe that’s made without wine and is loaded with caramelized onions, a rich and savory broth, and just the right amount of spices. It takes just minutes to prepare, letting your stove do the rest of the work. Topped with a piece of French bread and smothered with melted cheese, this is the ultimate soup to warm you up on a chilly day!
Quick French Onion Soup Recipe
After researching through cookbooks, food sites, and Pinterest, I was shocked to find out how easy classic French Onion Soup is to make! So I set out to make my own version of my favorite soup, and boy, did I create a winner!
This simple French onion soup recipe is loaded with caramelized onions, a rich and savory broth, and just the right amount of spices. It takes just minutes to prepare, letting your stove do the rest of the work.
Topped with a piece of French bread and smothered with melted cheese, this is the ultimate soup to warm you up on a chilly day! If you’re a French Onion Soup fantastic like I am, then this soup was made for you.
The beef broth is seasoned with just the right amount of flavors, providing the perfect touch for the caramelized onions. And because you just can’t eat this soup without lots of cheese and bread, it’s loaded on there, too.
One bite and I was hooked! I purposely made this French onion soup recipe without wine, making it the perfect meal for when you can’t be bothered to make an extra trip to the grocery store!
French Onion Soup Ingredients
This is a super simple French onion soup recipe made without wine. It requires just nine basic ingredients:
- Yellow onions
- Unsalted butter
- Beef broth
- Garlic powder
- Dried thyme
- Bay leaf
- Salt and pepper
- French bread
- Gruyere cheese
What’s the Best Cheese for French Onion Soup?
I recommend using Gruyere cheese. Buy a block and shred it yourself for the best flavor and texture.
If you can’t find Gruyere or don’t have it on hand, an acceptable substitute for Gruyere cheese in French onion soup would be classic Swiss cheese.
What Kind of Onions Are Best for French Onion Soup?
Technically any type of onion will work, but I prefer using yellow onions for this quick and easy French onion soup.
Yellow onions are milder in flavor than other varieties, and they have a natural sweetness that really shines after they’re sliced and caramelized over low heat.
How to Cut Onions for French Onion Soup
Cutting the onions for this simple french onion soup is easy!
- Remove the papery outer skin from the onions.
- Slice the onion in half vertically, from root to stem.
- Working one half at a time, carefully hold the onion near the root and thinly slice it working from the stem end to the root end.
- Repeat with the remaining onions.
Tip: Thinly sliced onions caramelize faster. However, you don’t want to make the slices paper thin otherwise they’ll burn.
How to Make French Onion Soup Without Wine
As I’ve mentioned above, I made this French onion soup without wine. The hubster and I don’t drink much wine, so rather than make a special trip to the grocery store for a bottle I improvised with what I had on hand. The results were delicious!
Here’s a look at how this French onion soup recipe comes together:
- In a large pot, sauté the onions and butter until onions are lightly brown and caramelized, about 10-15 minutes.
- Add beef broth, garlic powder, dried thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Bring mixture to a boil, then cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- About 10 minutes before soup is done, place bread slices on a baking sheet and broil on medium heat for 2-3 minutes, or until tops are golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside. Keep broiler on medium heat.
- Once soup has simmered, pour into oven-safe bowls.
- Top each bowl with a cheesy bread slice and return to the broiler for another 4 to 5 minutes.
What to Serve with French Onion Soup
Not sure what goes with French onion soup? You can make the soup the main entree and pair it with an easy side, or you can serve it alongside wraps or sandwiches.
Here are some dishes that pair well with French onion soup:
- Grilled Ham and Swiss Sandwich
- Apple Cranberry Pecan Salad
- Cranberry Mushroom Spinach Salad
- Prosciutto, Raspberry, and Brie Grilled Cheese
- Garlic Herb Salmon
Can You Freeze French Onion Soup?
Yes, it freezes well for up to three months. However, you must freeze the soup without the cheesy bread slice on top.
Looking for easy soup recipes? I’ve got you covered!
- One-Pot Lasagna Soup
- Creamy Cauliflower Soup
- Easy Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Cheeseburger Soup
- Easy Black Bean Soup
Simple French Onion Soup
Ingredients
- 4 medium yellow onions sliced into thin strips
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 6 slices french bread
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese (or use Swiss cheese)
Instructions
- In a large pot, saute onions and butter until onions are lightly brown and caramelized, about 10-15 minutes.
- Add beef broth, garlic powder, dried thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to a boil, then cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- About 10 minutes before soup is done, place bread slices on a baking sheet and broil on medium heat for 2-3 minutes, or until tops are golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside. Keep broiler on medium heat.
- Once soup has simmered, pour into oven-safe bowls. Place 1 slice of bread into each bowl and then top with shredded cheese (I used about ¼ cup cheese per bowl).
- Place back into the oven and broil on medium heat until cheese is fully melted, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Serve immediately.
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