• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Foreign Fork logo
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
    • Search by Interactive Map
    • African Recipes
    • Asian Recipes
    • Caribbean Recipes
    • Central American Recipes
    • European Recipes
    • Middle Eastern Recipes
    • North American Recipes
    • Oceanic Recipes
    • South American Recipes
    • Search by Course
      • Breakfast
      • Appetizers
      • Drinks
      • Breads
      • Soups
      • Main Courses
      • Sauces
      • Side Dishes
      • Desserts
    • Search by Ingredient
      • Beef Recipes
      • Chicken Recipes
      • Potato Recipes
      • Rice Recipes
      • Seafood Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Be Featured on TFF!
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
    • Search by Interactive Map
    • African Recipes
    • Asian Recipes
    • Caribbean Recipes
    • Central American Recipes
    • European Recipes
    • Middle Eastern Recipes
    • North American Recipes
    • Oceanic Recipes
    • South American Recipes
    • Search by Course
      • Breakfast
      • Appetizers
      • Drinks
      • Breads
      • Soups
      • Main Courses
      • Sauces
      • Side Dishes
      • Desserts
    • Search by Ingredient
      • Beef Recipes
      • Chicken Recipes
      • Potato Recipes
      • Rice Recipes
      • Seafood Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Be Featured on TFF!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » France

    French Onion Soup (Stovetop Version)

    Published on Aug 30, 2023 Modified: Aug 31, 2023 by Alexandria Drzazgowski.

    Jump to Recipe

    French Onion Soup is a creamy bowl of comfort food. It may be a labor of love to make, but it is worth every delicious bite!

    Soup crocks of French onion soup with melted cheese over bread soaked in rich beef broth.

    Hello Reader! I try my hardest to research recipes as best as I can before posting to ensure I am representing each culture correctly. If this recipe is from your country and I have made a mistake or you have suggestions for how to make it more authentic, I would love to hear! Please leave a comment below letting me know what should be different, and I will rework the recipe. It is always my intention to pay homage and respect to each cultural dish that I cook. Thanks for reading!

    It takes just the right combination of high-quality ingredients and patience to make the most perfect bowl of French Onion Soup. 

    This classic French soup starts with butter and delicious, slowly cooked caramelized onions. The onions are then covered with a delicious, rich beef stock, seasoned with a splash of white wine. 

    Of course, the soup would not be as popular as it is without that perfect single layer of crusty toasted bread covered in gooey melted cheese on top.

    Each bite of French Onion Soup is truly something special! 

    While all of these ingredients are simple enough to find, putting them together in just the right way can be tricky. Move too fast and you will easily burn your onions. Use the wrong bread and it may end up soggy. The wrong cheese could end up rubbery. 

    This classic French onion soup recipe is designed for when you have a little time to slow down, enjoy being in the kitchen, and make yourself a dish that is truly worth the effort. Check out my post on What to Serve with Ratatouille for some delicious French main courses that can be enjoyed alongside this French Onion Soup as well.

    Jump to:
    • Recipe Origins
    • Why Make This Recipe
    • What Do I Need To Make This Recipe
    • Tools
    • How To Make This Recipe
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQs
    • Alcohol-Free Options
    • How to Melt the Cheese if You Don’t Have Soup Crocks
    • French Onion Soup (Stovetop Version)

    Recipe Origins

    There are a couple of different stories about how the rich flavor of French Onion soup was developed. A simple onion soup may have been enjoyed for centuries in Rome, but the French onion soup as we know it today is thought to have come from King Louis XV’s family.

    One story is that King Louis XV himself was the inventor of the dish. After returning to his home after a long day of hunting, he discovered there was nothing to eat in the home but butter, onions, and champagne. 

    These simple ingredients were combined and French onion soup was born!

    Another story goes that a chef named Nicolas Appert was working at a hotel called La Pomme d’Or in Châlons-en-Champagne when King Louis’s father-in-law, the Duke of Lorraine, stopped in.

    After trying just a few bites of Appert’s creation, the Duke of Lorraine rushed to the kitchen to learn how to make it. He shared the dish with his daughter and son-in-law when he arrived in Versailles. 

    When Appert eventually wrote down his recipe in a cookbook, he dedicated it to the Duke of Lorraine.

    Why Make This Recipe

    1. Delicious Comfort Food: There are few things more comforting than a bowl of caramelized onions and melted cheese. 
    2. Simple Ingredients: While this French onion soup recipe may take some patience, the ingredients are easy to find and may even be on hand!
    3. Taste of France: French Onion Soup is a classic French dish. If you are preparing any sort of French meal, this dish is the perfect appetizer.

    What Do I Need To Make This Recipe

    1. Sweet Onions: I love the flavor of sweet onions but you could use yellow onions or red onions as well
    2. Sugar: Granulated Sugar
    3. Dry White Wine: Try to find a younger bottle from the Burgundy region for a really authentic choice 
    4. Beef Stock or Beef Broth: Taste your stock before you use it to make sure you like it. Good soup requires good stock.
    5. Garlic: You could use pre-cut garlic but fresh will definitely taste best. I recommend mincing your own garlic for best results. 
    6. Baguette: It’s best if your baguette is stale. I like to purchase a baguette the day before and leave it on the counter overnight for the perfect texture.
    7. Cheese: Gruyere cheese is the best choice for French Onion Soup. Check out this article about the Best Cheese for French Onion Soup for other options as well! 

    Tools

    1. Dutch Oven or a Large Pot: Make sure either option has a lid!
    2. Cast Iron Skillet: To caramelize onions if desired. 
    3. Soup Crocks: Oven safe to broil the soup

    How To Make This Recipe

    Step One: Caramelize the Onions

    Sauteed sliced onions in a Dutch oven to make French onion soup with.
    Wooden spoon stirring caramelized onions in a Dutch oven for a bowl of French onion soup.

    Add a large pot or Dutch oven to your stove over medium heat. Add the butter to the pot and allow it to melt. Then, add the onions.

    Stir the onions in the pot until they start to really whither and brown. You can add extra butter if you think it’s necessary. This step could take anywhere from 30-60 minutes depending on the size of your onions, the type of pot you use, and the heat level you are using. 

    Once the onions have started to brown, add 1 tbsp granulated sugar and stir for another 20-30 minutes until the onions caramelize.

    Step Two: Make the Broth

    Broth and seasonings added to the caramelized onions in a Dutch oven to prepare for French onion soup.

    Once the sweet caramelized onions are ready, add the all-purpose flour and stir for 30 seconds until the onions are coated. 

    Add ¼ cup of dry white wine to deglaze the pan. Stir for a few seconds to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Continue sauteeing until the wine cooks down.

    Once the wine is gone from the pot, add the beef stock, minced garlic, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and black pepper.

    Add the lid to the pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer for 20 minutes. 

    Step Three: Add the Bread and Cheese

    Baking sheet with oven safe soup bowls with shredded cheese on the bottom of the bowls for French onion soup.
    Broth added to the cheese in the bowl for French onion soup.
    Bread and more shredded cheese tops the broth in the soup bowl for French onion soup.

    Set out 6 oven-proof bowls. Put about 2 tablespoons of gruyere cheese in the bottom of the oven-proof soup bowls, then ladle soup evenly amongst the bowls. Place enough baguette slices to cover the top of the soup, then sprinkle more gruyere cheese on top. Some people will add the bread to the bottom of the bowl instead. You can do this if you’d like. 

    Place the soup crocks on a cookie sheet and turn the oven to a High Broil. Place in the oven under the broiler and broil until the cheese starts to bubble and toast.

    Enjoy!

    Expert Tips

    Spoonful of french onion soup being lifted out of a bowl of melted cheese.
    • Stir the onions periodically when caramelizing, but do not stir too much. You want the onions to have a chance to caramelize with the browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Just make sure to not wait too long for your onions to start to burn instead of caramelize!
    • You can also use comte cheese and add parmesan cheese to the top if you wish, though this is not traditional.
    • This recipe calls for fresh herbs. If you decide to use dried you may want to use slightly less as dried herbs are a little bit concentrated.
    • To deepen the flavor even further you could add a bit of sherry or red wine vinegar in with the broth.

    FAQs

    What is the Difference Between Onion Soup and French Onion Soup?

    There are a few differences between onion soup and French onion soup. Onion soup isn’t very specific. It may use a few different types of onions and any type of beef or chicken stock. 

    French onion soup is specific about the type of onions and broth used. It also has the signature cheesy toast on top of each individual dish.

    How Do You Eat French Onion Soup?

    French onion soup is one soup that may require more than a spoon to enjoy.
    The goal is to serve the soup while the gooey cheese is still freshly melted and hot, so that your guests can scoop fresh cheese, soft bread, and broth at the same time, but that might not always happen.

    If you have French onion soup served to you and the cheese has had some time to settle, you may use a knife to push the melty cheese and bread to the edge of the dish to cut it and then push a bite-sized piece of cheesy bread onto your spoon with some broth.

    It’s also a good idea, when you lift your spoon, to scoop away from your body. This allows any drips to drip back into the bowl, which is especially important with melted cheese.

    Why is my French Onion Soup Bitter?

    If your soup tastes a bit bitter, you may have rushed your onions. You want to make sure the onions are cooked at a low temperature, nice and slow. Give it time!

    Cooking the onions too fast may burn them or prevent them from picking up the sweetness of the sugar and butter.

    You could also try using a different stock next time.

    Why Are My Onions Not Browning?

    If you have never caramelized onions before you may be surprised by how long it takes. The cooking times for the caramelization process can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. 

    Take your time and don’t try to rush things. Eventually, the onions will turn a deep golden brown and achieve that perfect depth of flavor, but it takes time! 

    Alcohol-Free Options

    If you prefer to keep your French Onion Soup alcohol-free, you certainly can! In that case, I would recommend adding some balsamic vinegar or Worcestershire sauce to the pot of soup at the end to give it more depth of flavor. In the meantime, when the instructions call for using white wine to deglaze the pot, you can simply substitute with more beef broth. 

    How to Melt the Cheese if You Don’t Have Soup Crocks

    This dish requires using oven-safe soup crocks in order to melt your cheese on top of the soup. If you do not have soup crocks, here are a few suggestions

    • Place your bread on a cookie sheet and top with cheese, then broil this in the oven until the cheese is melted. Then scoop this up with a spatula and place on top of your soup bowl. 
    • Use a kitchen torch! 

    Did you enjoy this Stovetop French Onion Soup recipe? If so, make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you: 

    • Escargot Recipe from France
    • Ratatouille
    • Easy Creme Brulee Recipe
    • Croque Madame Sandwich
    Save This Recipe Form

    Save This Recipe!

    Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!

    A large crock of French Onion Soup with melted cheese on top.

    French Onion Soup (Stovetop Version)

    French Onion Soup is a creamy bowl of comfort food. It may be a labor of love to make, but it is worth every delicious bite!
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: France
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 414kcal
    Author: Alexandria Drzazgowski

    Equipment

    • Dutch Oven 
    • Cast Iron Skillet
    • Soup Crocks
    • Baking Sheet
    • Oven Mitt
    • Wine Opener
    • Pan(s)

    Ingredients

    • 5 tbsp salted Butter
    • 4 large sweet onions, sliced thinly
    • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
    • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
    • ¼ cup Dry white wine, Try to find a younger bottle from the Burgundy region for a really authentic choice
    • 8 cups beef stock, two quarts
    • 1 Tbsp Garlic, about 2 cloves, minced
    • 2 Bay leaves
    • 2 sprigs Thyme
    • ¼ tsp Salt
    • ¼ tsp Pepper
    • Stale Baguette, cut into slices
    • 10 oz Gruyere cheese , block, shredded, or more if you like to go heavy on the cheese

    Instructions

    • Add a large pot or dutch oven to your stove over medium heat. Add 5 tbsp butter to the pot and allow it to melt. Then, add 4 large sliced onions.
    • Stir the onions in the pot until they start to really whither and brown. You can add extra butter if you think it’s necessary. This step could take anywhere from 30-60 minutes depending on the size of your onions, the type of pot you use, and the heat level you are using.
    • Once the onions have started to brown, add 1 tbsp granulated sugar and stir for another 20-30 minutes until the onions caramelize.
    • Once the onions have caramelized, add 1 tbsp all-purpose flour and stir for 30 seconds until the onions are coated.
    • Add ¼ cup of dry white wine to deglaze the pan. Stir for a few seconds to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Continue sauteeing until the wine cooks down.
    • Once the wine is gone from the pot, add the 8 cups beef stock, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 2 bay leaves, 2 sprigs thyme, ¼ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper.
    • Add the lid onto the pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer for 20 minutes.
    • Set out 6 oven-safe bowls. Put about 2 tablespoons of gruyere cheese in the bottom of the bowl, then evenly distribute the soup amongst the bowls. Place enough bread slices to cover the top of the soup, then sprinkle more gruyere cheese on top. Some people will add the bread to the bottom of the bowl instead. You can do this if you’d like.
    • Place the soup crocks on a cookie sheet and turn the oven to a High Broil. Place in the oven under the broiler and broil until the cheese starts to bubble and toast.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    Copyright The Foreign Fork. For educational or personal use only.
    • Sweet Onions: I love the flavor of sweet onions but you could use yellow onions or red onions as well
    • Sugar: Granulated Sugar
    • Dry White Wine: Try to find a younger bottle from the Burgundy region for a really authentic choice
    • Beef Stock or Beef Broth: Taste your stock before you use it to make sure you like it. Good soup requires good stock.
    • Garlic: You could use pre-cut garlic but fresh will definitely taste best. I recommend mincing your own garlic for best results.
    • Baguette: It’s best if your baguette is stale. I like to purchase a baguette the day before and leave it on the counter overnight for the perfect texture.
    • Cheese: Gruyere cheese is the best choice for French Onion Soup. Check out this article about the Best Cheese for French Onion Soup for other options as well!
    • Stir the onions periodically when caramelizing, but do not stir too much. You want the onions to have a chance to caramelize with the browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Just make sure to not wait too long for your onions to start to burn instead of caramelize!
    • You can also use Comte cheese and add parmesan cheese to the top if you wish, though this is not traditional.
    • This recipe calls for fresh herbs. If you decide to use dried you may want to use slightly less as dried herbs are a little bit concentrated.
    • To deepen the flavor even further you could add a bit of sherry or red wine vinegar in with the broth.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 414kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 1161mg | Potassium: 913mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 760IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 555mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheForeignFork or tag #TheForeignFork!

    More French Recipes

    • Bowl of escargot in snail shells.
      Escargot Recipe from France
    • Image with title "What to Serve with Ratatouille" surrounded by photos of side dishes and ratatouille.
      What To Serve with Ratatouille
    • Homemade loaf of French brioche with sesame seeds on a cutting board with several slices laying in front of the loaf.
      The Best Brioche Recipe (for Beginners!)
    • A spoon taking a large scoop of beef bourguignon and mashed potatoes.
      Beef Bourguignon vs. Beef Stew

    Sharing is caring!

    71 shares

    Europe France Soup

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura Leyrer says

      October 08, 2024 at 9:20 am

      I can’t WAIT to try this. It sounds like heaven. Just being in an autumn kitchen with something wonderful streaming up the room and forcing you to take a step back to anticipate the holidays is one of my very favorite things. I’ll leave a review after we’re cuddled up under a blanket with the memory of one of our favorite meals. Thanks, as always, Alexandria!

      Reply
      • Alexandria Drzazgowski says

        October 09, 2024 at 1:51 pm

        Aw that sounds lovely, I always look forward to that time of year as well 🙂 I hope you love the recipe, come back and tell me what you thought!! <3

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    What are you looking for?

    Welcome to The Foreign Fork, I'm Alexandria!

    And I am cooking one meal from every country in the world. 196 countries, and we’re cooking them all… Welcome to the adventure! 

    Learn More

    Footer

    • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Press
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement

    Copyright © 2025 The Foreign Fork

    Stovetop French Onion Soup Recipe Pinterest Image top black banner
    Stovetop French Onion Soup Recipe Pinterest Image bottom design banner
    Stovetop French Onion Soup Recipe Pinterest Image top design banner
    Stovetop French Onion Soup Recipe Pinterest Image middle design banner
    71 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required