An easy, flavourful, French Onion soup recipe made with just a handful of ingredients. Hearty and wholesome, this classic French Onion Soup recipe takes approximately 1 hour 10 minutes to cook and 10 minutes or less to prepare. It’s worth all the time and more, I promise.

I feel like I have tasted all the soups out there – I have a lot of soups on this blog as it is one of my favourite foods. Soup with a side of buttered toast/bread or baguette, mmmm. Could eat it every day of my life. So, when I came across this recipe in an almost 20-year old Food and Home magazine, I was like why haven’t I ever made a French Onion Soup followed by me urgently searching the pantry draws for 4 onions! Found them and made this! What a delight this soup is for the soul.

I don’t really drink wine so I had to google what a dry white wine was – those answers are in a paragraph below but the abbreviated version is – Sauvignon Blanc.
Also, a note on the cheese – the sweetness of the onions pairs perfectly with a strong sharp cheese – Parmesan and Pecorino Romano are my recommendations but if you prefer something else, go for it. This recipe called for Gruyere which would also work but a different cheese to the strong sharp cheeses.
And don’t forget the Baguette, I love it with butter!

Main Ingredients for French Onion Soup
Vegetables: Onions
Fats: butter
Herbs and Spices: Fresh Thyme and Garlic, Salt and Pepper
Liquids: Vegetable Stock and Dry White Wine (like Sauvignon Blanc)
Cheese: Strong Hard Cheese like Gruyere or Parmesan
The Secret to an Incredible French Onion Soup
The onions need to be cooked slowly over a low temperature until tender and then caramelised. So basically the secret is time and patience for a French Onion Soup with deep flavours and colour.

Why You Will Love This Recipe
- It is so ridiculously simple mainly due to the fact that there are just a handful of ingredients. Yay for short ingredient lists.
- It is such a simple soup but it tastes so hearty, so comforting, so rich and lovely.
What is your recommendation for a Dry White Wine?
You can use Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigi
How to Make French Onion Soup
- Cook the onions slowly over low heat in the butter. It simmers gently away. This is called sweating the onions and takes about 30 minutes
- Caramelise the onions in sugar – another 10 minutes or so.
- Simmer time! Add in the stock and wine and the Thyme and allow all the flavours to meld over a gentle simmer for 30 minutes.
- Add salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
- Serve with shavings of Parmesan and a side of buttered slices of Baguette. Enjoy!

Easy French Onion Soup
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 mins
Total Time: 1 hour 20 mins
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
An easy, flavourful, French Onion soup recipe made with just a handful of ingredients. Allow the soup time to develop its deep characteristic flavours and colour and you will not be disappointed. Hearty and wholesome, this classic French Onion Soup recipe takes approximately 1 hour 10 minutes to cook and 10 minutes or less to prepare.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons Butter
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 4 large brown onions, sliced
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) sugar
- 1 litre good quality vegetable stock
- 1 ½ tablespoon fresh Thyme
- 1 cup (250ml) dry white wine
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 100g Pecorino Romano or Parmesan, shaved
- 1 Baguette
Instructions
- Melt the Butter in a large pot over low heat and add the onions and garlic. Cook down slowly until they are soft and translucent – this will take about 30 minutes so will require some patience
- Add the sugar and cook the onions until they are completely wilted and caramelised, another 5-10 minutes or so.
- Add the Thyme, wine and vegetable stock and cook for another 30 minutes on low-medium heat. You want a gentle simmer.
- Add salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- Serve with shaved parmesan or Gruyere cheese as well as buttered slices of Baguette. Yum!

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