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EASY French Onion Soup and VIDEO

French Onion Soup is one of the most delicious soups that most people enjoy only when they’re dining out in a restaurant. Today I’m going to show you how to make this easy recipe that’s topped with homemade croutons and tons of cheese! 

Easy French Onion Soup with Homemade Croutons served in white bowl.

Easy French Onion Soup with Mozzarella Cheese and Homemade Croutons

This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2014 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them! 

Affiliate Disclosure:  This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, click here.

French Onion Soup

French Onion Soup is one of my favorite soup recipes! My husband and I love ordering French Onion Soup when we go out to dinner. 

You might think this soup is difficult to make, but after you see the video below, you’ll agree it’s a recipe anyone can make right at home in their own kitchen.   

This recipe is not only great for dinner, but any leftovers freeze beautifully.  On busy days, I take a container of this soup out of the freezer to enjoy for dinner. 

Tips for Making Homemade French Onion Soup

  • Traditional French Onion Soup recipes use Gruyere cheese or provolone cheese. 
  • I’m using mozzarella cheese for French Onion Soup.
  • Another way to make this recipe is easy is by using homemade croutons instead of a single thick slice of French bread. It’s so much easier to enjoy the soup without having to try breaking the thick sliced bread into pieces. Or am I the only one that has problems doing that? 
  • You’ll notice that there is no alcohol added to this recipe. 

Ingredients: 

Make sure you print out the recipe below and save it for later!

  • Thinly sliced yellow onions- you need about 5 cups of onions, so I suggest using a food processor, but a sharp knife works great too! 
  • Butter
  • Bay Leaf
  • Beef Broth
  • Flour
  • Sugar – I’ve had a few people email me asking why you need to add sugar to the onions and not only does it add flavor, but it helps caramelize the onions to get that deep rich color. 
  • Salt and pepper – this is for the homemade croutons. The beef broth should have enough salt. However, taste the soup after it has cooked and add more if you need to. 
  • Loaf of French bread to make homemade croutons
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Parmesan cheese

Directions: 

In a large stock pot, melt the butter and add the sliced onions. After a few minutes of cooking, add the sugar and continue to cook the onions slowly, stirring frequently, for about 30 minutes; until they turn a deep golden brown. Next, add the flour and cook for another few minutes.

How to Brown and Caramelize onions for soup.

How to Brown and Caramelize Onions for Homemade French Onion Soup.

This is the color the onions should be after they have cooked for about 30 minutes. They are a beautiful deep golden brown.

Now, add the beef broth and bay leaf. Allow the French onion soup to simmer for another 30 minutes. Taste the soup and see if it needs any salt or pepper. I always wait till the end to season as the broth can add enough saltiness.

Browned onions in dutch onion pan.

Homemade French Onion soup simmering in dutch oven pan.

Easy French Onion Soup Recipe with Croutons

Traditionally, you add a thick slice of French bread. Then it’s topped with cheese and placed under the broiler until the bread and cheese are melted. I find it easier to enjoy the soup by adding homemade croutons instead of a thick slice of bread. 

How to Make Homemade Croutons:

  • Slice the French bread into cubes. 
  • Butter each cube as you place them on a baking sheet lined with either aluminum foil or parchment baking sheets. 
  • Sprinkle with salt and butter. 
  • Place the baking tray under the broiler for a few minutes until the homemade croutons are golden brown. 

How to Serve the Soup: 

  • Spoon the soup into an oven-safe bowl and top with the homemade croutons.
  • Top with the homemade croutons.
  • Then add about 2 tablespoons of mozzarella cheese on top of the croutons.
  • Place the bowls of soup under the broiler for a few minutes or until the cheese is melted.
  • Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top before serving.
How to make homemade croutons for homemade French onion soup.

How to make Homemade Croutons.

Helpful Kitchen Tools:

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Easy French Onion Soup with Homemade Croutons

French Onion Soup

Yield: 6 servings

French Onion Soup is one of the most delicious soups that most people enjoy only when they’re dining out in a restaurant. Today I’m going to show you how to make this easy recipe that’s topped with homemade croutons and tons of cheese! 

Ingredients

  • 5 cups of thinly sliced yellow onions
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 8 cups beef broth
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Salt and pepper - to taste
  • 1 small loaf of French Bread cut into cubes
  • 1/4 cup softened butter
  • 2 cups Mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions

How to Prepare the Soup

  1. In a large stock pot, melt the butter and add the sliced onions.
  2. After a few minutes of cooking, add the sugar and continue to cook the onions slowly, stirring frequently, for about 30 minutes; until they turn a deep golden brown.
  3. Add the flour and cook for another few minutes.
  4. Then add the beef broth, bay leaf and allow the soup to simmer for another 30 minutes.
  5. Taste the soup and see if it needs any salt or pepper. I always wait till the end to season as the broth can add enough saltiness.
  6. Remove the bay leaf and keep the soup warm while you prepare the homemade croutons.

How to Prepare the Homemade Croutons

  1. Cut the French bread into cubes and spread the softened butter on top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired.
  2. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet and toast them in a preheated 425 degree oven for about 5 to 8 minutes or until they are golden browned.


How to Put the Soup Together

  1. Spoon the soup into an oven-safe bowl and top with the homemade croutons.
  2. Then sprinkle about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of mozzarella cheese to the top of each bowl.
  3. Place the bowls of soup under the broiler for a few minutes or until the cheese is melted.
  4. Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top before serving.

Notes

Traditionally, Gruyere cheese is used for French Onion Soup.  I have used Swiss cheese, Mozzarella cheese and Provolone cheese.  Any flavor of cheese really works with this recipe, so choose your favorite!



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As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 416Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 74mgSodium: 1741mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 3gSugar: 10gProtein: 17g

The nutrition information is calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you, please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator.

© Lois
Cuisine: French / Category: Soup

 

Homemade French Onion Soup

 

 

 

This post contains affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but I earn a commission when you shop through them. For more information, click here.

 

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About Lois

Originally from Queens, NY, Lois now calls northeastern PA home. You can find her blogging over at Walking on Sunshine where she shares a little of her life, but more importantly what’s for dinner at her house tonight.

Comments

  2. Terri says

    I love French onion soup. I am going to try this recipe this weekend. I love the idea of using homemade croutons, it will make it easier to eat. I’m very excited about this.

    Reply

  3. Teddee Grace says

    This sounds wonderful and so simple. I was surprised. But could you please review the last few steps? I see nothing about adding the cheese but two bits about adding croutons. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Lois says

      Thank you Teddee. I fixed the recipe card to show that you add the cheese on top of the croutons before placing the bowls of soup in the oven.

      Reply

  4. db says

    Yum! French Onion is my absolute favorite soup. Thanks for sharing with us at the Waste Not Wednesday Link Party. Looking forward to seeing what you are up to this week.

    Reply

  7. Janice Caputo-Carroll says

    This was an easy & delicious recipe to make.Homemade croutons too. I didn't even have any left to freeze, just enough to make another bowl.

    Reply

  12. Joanne DiPalo says

    We just love French Onion Soup. I haven't made this in a while but I think it's time this week now that the weather is cooling down. Thanks so much for sharing with Foodie Friends Friday party this weekend. Pinning/sharing.

    Reply

  18. Marilyn Clark says

    This recipe is amazing! I'm so glad you shared it at last week's Project Stash Link Party. We featured you and pinned you onto our Pinterest board! The party opens at 8:00 pm tonight so stop by, grab a featured button, and share how you've used your stash this week! 🙂 http://goo.gl/kOb80u

    Reply

  20. Hilary Cook says

    My husband and I LOVE French Onion Soup, but we are picky with flavor. Can you tell me why you add sugar? Just curious as I can't recall seeing anyone else use sugar in this recipe. Sounds yummy though and the picture makes me crave all over again.

    Reply

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