French Onion Soup with Cheesy Crouton Lids Recipe
A classic French Onion Soup recipe featuring deeply caramelized yellow onions simmered in a savory beef broth, topped with a melty blend of Gruyère and mozzarella cheese on toasted crusty bread crouton lids. This comforting and rich soup is perfect for a cozy meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Ingredients
- 4 large Yellow onions
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 8 cups Beef broth (low-sodium)
- 1 teaspoon Dried thyme
- 1 Bay leaf
- Salt (to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Crouton Lids
- 8 slices Crusty bread (sturdy baguette or sourdough)
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese (shredded)
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- Turkey bacon (optional, cooked and crumbled for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Peel and thinly slice 4 large yellow onions evenly using a sharp chef’s knife to ensure uniform caramelization.
- Caramelizing Onions and Making Soup: In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar over them. Stir occasionally and cook low and slow for 40-50 minutes until onions are deep golden brown and tender, developing rich sweetness.
- Add Garlic: Stir in 2 cloves minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, avoiding burning.
- Add Broth and Seasonings: Pour in 8 cups low-sodium beef broth, add 1 teaspoon dried thyme and 1 bay leaf. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Simmer Soup: Bring to a gentle simmer, cover partially, and cook for 20-30 minutes to meld flavors and deepen taste.
- Prepare Crouton Lids: While soup simmers, toast 8 slices of crusty bread until golden and crispy.
- Add Cheese: Combine 1 cup shredded Gruyère and 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Pile cheese generously on each toasted bread slice.
- Broil Cheese Lids: Preheat oven broiler. Place cheese-topped bread slices on a baking sheet and broil for 2-4 minutes until cheese bubbles and turns golden brown.
- Serve: Remove bay leaf from soup. Ladle hot soup into oven-safe bowls. Place a cheesy crouton lid on top of each bowl. Optionally, sprinkle cooked and crumbled turkey bacon over lids.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately and enjoy the melty, crispy, savory goodness!
Notes
- Caramelizing onions properly is key for deep flavor; cook low and slow without rushing.
- Use sturdy bread like baguette or sourdough to hold up under soup and cheese topping.
- Broil cheese closely and watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Low-sodium broth allows you to control seasoning precisely.
- Turkey bacon is an optional garnish for a smoky flavor, but not traditional.
Keywords: French Onion Soup, caramelized onions, Gruyère cheese, mozzarella, beef broth, cheesy crouton, comforting soup
