Easy One-Hour French Onion Soup

PinJUMP to RECIPE

This post may contain affiliate links.

One-Hour French Onion Soup โ€” This easy French onion soup recipe is ready in one hour. The broth has rich flavor, the onions are perfectly caramelized, and that cheese is heavenly.

Easy One-Hour French Onion Soup - Learn how to make the classic soup in 1 hour and it's EASY! Full of rich, savory flavor and topped with French bread and melted cheese that's IRRESISTIBLE!!

The Best French Onion Soup Recipe

Recently I was on vacation with my family and we ordered French onion soup in a restaurant. I don’t think my daughter had ever had it before but after we all literally were about to start licking our bowls clean, I knew I had to come home and make it.

I scoured the internet for French onion soup recipes, but nothing seemed ‘just right’ for me and how I like to cook. Some recipes involved really lengthy cooking times in a slow cooker (12+ hours), others called for homemade beef stock โ€” which I’m sure is lovely, but I just can’t be bothered. And others seemed incredibly fussy and complicated.

Enter this easy, straightforward French onion soup recipe that’s ready in one hour. Perfect for when you want French onion soup but don’t want to be tormented for an entire day by the smell of onions cooking and wafting through the house.

The broth has rich flavor, the onions are perfectly caramelized, and that cheese. Be still, my heart.

Classic French Onion Soup Ingredients 

Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy French onion soup recipe: 

  • Olive oil
  • Sweet Vidalia onions
  • Salt and pepper
  • Unsalted butter
  • Garlic
  • Dry cooking sherry
  • Beef broth
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Bay leaves
  • Dried thyme
  • Granulated sugar
  • French baguette 
  • Gruyere cheese

Easy One-Hour French Onion Soup - Learn how to make the classic soup in 1 hour and it's EASY! Full of rich, savory flavor and topped with French bread and melted cheese that's IRRESISTIBLE!!

How to Make French Onion Soup

Add the oil, onions, salt, and pepper to a large stockpot and cook over medium heat for roughly 30 minutes. The onions should be golden and caramelized, but not too dark in color. 

Add the butter and garlic, followed by the cooking sherry. Add the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and thyme, then bring to a simmer, cover, and allow soup to maintain a low simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, toast the baguette. Then, ladle the French onion soup into oven-safe bowl and top with a slice of toasted baguette. Sprinkle with Gruyere, then place under the broiler until the cheese is melted.  

Can I Use Another Cheese in This Recipe? 

No, there is no substitution for Gruyere cheese. It melts beautifully, it has the perfect savory quality, and it is what makes French onion soup quintessentially French onion soup. It’s a little pricey but worth it (and the other ingredients in the soup are quite inexpensive, so it balances out). Buy a block, grate it yourself, and savor it.

Can I Omit the Sherry? 

No, the cooking sherry is also a must in this French onion soup recipe. Keep in mind that the alcohol cooks out as the soup simmers on the stove, so by the time you actually eat the soup the sherry is essentially just a flavoring. 

Two picture collage of french onion soup with graphic title

Tips for Making the Best French Onion Soup

Cooking sherry is inexpensive and usually found near oils and vinegars in the grocery store. It adds a depth of flavor soup that’s key. If you don’t have it but do have a dry white wine, wine can be substituted.

I used reduced sodium beef broth so I can better control the salt level.

Toasting the bread in a regular toaster before adding it on top of the soup yields a less soggy, slimy result on top of the soup.

If you don’t have oven-safe bowls or are unsure if they are, add the toasted bread slices to a sheet pan, cover the bread with the cheese, place the sheet pan under the broiler, and then top each bowl of soup with the broiled bread/cheese, thereby keeping your questionable bowls out of the oven. It’s not quite the same, but it’s a pinch hitter move.

One-Hour French Onion Soup โ€” This easy French onion soup recipe is ready in one hour. The broth has rich flavor, the onions are perfectly caramelized, and that cheese is heavenly.

Pin This Recipe

Enjoy AverieCooks.com Without Ads! ๐Ÿ†•
Go Ad Free

4.57 from 23 votes

Easy One-Hour French Onion Soup

By Averie Sunshine
This easy French onion soup recipe is ready in one hour. The broth has rich flavor, the onions are perfectly caramelized, and that cheese is heavenly.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Save this recipe to your email
Enter your email and weโ€™ll send it to you!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Ingredients  

  • ยผ cup olive oil
  • 3 pounds sweet Vidalia onions, yellow onions may be substituted, peeled and sliced root to tip in long thin segments
  • 1 to 2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
  • โ…“ cup dry cooking sherry, dry white wine may be substituted
  • 8 cups 64 ounces reduced sodium beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ยฝ teaspoon dried thyme, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, optional and to taste
  • 1 French baguette, sliced into eight 1/2-inch thick slices (or as needed based on how many bowls youโ€™re portioning out), toasted
  • about 2 cups Gruyere cheese, grated and divided

Instructions 

  • To a large Dutch oven or stockpot, add the oil, onions, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, toss to coat, and cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes until onions have softened and are caramelized; stir intermittently.
  • Add the butter, garlic, stir to combine, and cook for about 1 minute, or until garlic is fragrant.
  • Add the sherry to deglaze the pan (use caution, it will bubble up). Scrape up and loosen the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  • Add the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, thyme, bring to a simmer, cover, and allow soup to maintain a low simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until broth has reduced slightly and thickened slightly.
  • While soup simmers, slice and toast the bread. Simply toast it in a regular toaster to a light/medium color (I find toasted bread to be less soggy and slimy on top of the finished soup); set aside.
    Preheat oven broiler to high.
  • After soup has simmered, taste it and optionally add 1 additional teaspoon salt, or as necessary to taste. Optionally add sugar, to taste. I used about 2 teaspoons salt total and 1 heaping teaspoon sugar because I think it balances the flavors. Remove the bay leaves.
  • Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls, top each bowl with a slice of bread, about 1/3 cup cheese per bowl or as desired, places bowls on a sheet pan, and broil for about 1 to 3 minutes, or until cheese has melted and is as dark as desired. Watch cheese closely so it doesnโ€™t burn. All broilers vary in intensity.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Tip: If you donโ€™t have oven-safe bowls or are unsure if they are, add the toasted bread slices to a sheet pan, cover bread with cheese, place sheet pan under broiler, and top each bowl of soup with the broiled bread/cheese.
  • Soup is best warm and fresh but will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Do not add the bread/cheese until you are ready to serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 429kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g, Cholesterol: 54mg, Sodium: 2399mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 13g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Easy Soup Recipes:

15 Best Fast and Easy Soup Recipes โ€“ Warm up with these easy soup recipes! Most are ready in under 30 minutes and perfect for busy weeknights! Hearty, comforting, and so good!

15 Best Fast and Easy Soup Recipes - Warm up with these easy soup recipes!! Most are ready in under 30 minutes and perfect for busy weeknights! Hearty, comforting, and so good!!

The Best 30-Minute Lasagna Soup โ€” All the flavor of lasagna minus the work!! Loaded with juicy tomatoes, sausage, and topped with melted cheese! Easy, hearty, comfort food that’s perfect for busy weeknights!!

The Best 30-Minute Lasagna Soup - All the flavor of lasagna minus the work!! Loaded with juicy tomatoes, sausage, and topped with melted cheese! Easy, hearty, comfort food that's perfect for busy weeknights!!

The Best Broccoli Cheese Soup (Better-Than-Panera Copycat) โ€“ Make the best soup of your life at home in 1 hour! Beyond words amazing! One of the most popular recipes on my blog and gets RAVE reviews!

The Best Broccoli Cheese Soup (Better-Than-Panera Copycat) - Make the best soup of your life at home in 1 hour! Beyond words amazing!!

Loaded Cheesy Chicken Potato Chowder โ€“ Potatoes, chicken, carrots, corn and more! Thick, creamy, rich, and wonderfully cheesy! Fast and easy comfort food that everyone loves!

Loaded Cheesy Chicken Potato Chowder - Potatoes, chicken, carrots, corn and more!! Thick, creamy, rich, and wonderfully cheesy!! Fast and easy comfort food that everyone loves!!

Loaded Cheesy, Bacon, Corn, and Potato Chowder โ€“ Loaded with all the good stuff! Bacon, cheese, and more! Hearty, comforting, fast, and easy! A dinnertime favorite thatโ€™s perfect for busy nights!

Loaded Cheesy, Bacon, Corn, and Potato Chowder - Loaded with all the good stuff!! Bacon, cheese, and more! Hearty, comforting, fast, and easy! A dinnertime favorite that's perfect for busy nights!!

Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup - Classic, comforting, and tastes just like grandma made but way easier and faster!! This soup is AMAZING and it'll be your new favorite recipe!!

Easy 30-Minute Homemade White Chicken Chili โ€“ Hearty, healthy, loaded with tender chicken, and packed with bold flavor! Fast and easy comfort food that everyone loves! Itโ€™ll be on rotation all winter!

Easy 30-Minute Homemade White Chicken Chili - Hearty, healthy, loaded with tender chicken, and packed with bold flavor!! Fast and easy comfort food that everyone loves!! It'll be on rotation all winter!

Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup โ€“  Chicken, tomatoes, corn, black beans, avocado, cheese, and addictively crunchy tortilla strips! Fast, easy weeknight meal, and better than from a restaurant!

Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup - Chicken, tomatoes, corn, black beans, avocado, cheese, and addictively crunchy tortilla strips! Fast, easy weeknight meal, and better than from a restaurant!!

Easy 30-Minute Kale, White Bean, and Chicken Soup โ€“ Loaded with juicy chicken, healthy kale, and tender beans! Easy, hearty, and satisfying! Love it when something healthy tastes so good!

Easy 30-Minute Kale, White Bean, and Chicken Soup - Loaded with juicy chicken, healthy kale, and tender beans! Easy, hearty, and satisfying! Love it when something healthy tastes so good!!

Easy 30-Minute Minestrone Soup (Better-Than-Olive-Garden-Copycat) โ€“ Homemade is always better and this soup is amazing! The best minestrone ever! Perfect for busy weeknights and itโ€™s healthy!

Easy 30-Minute Minestrone Soup (Better-Than-Olive-Garden-Copycat) - Homemade is always better and this soup is amazing!! The best minestrone ever! Perfect for busy weeknights and it's healthy!!

4.57 from 23 votes (20 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Recipe Rating




The maximum upload file size: 5 MB. You can upload: image, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop file here

Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made this soup exactly by the recipe. It was awesome! The flavor of the sherry comes through, and the Gruyรจre cheese was the perfect topping. Will definitely make this again, perhaps for company.ย 

  2. 5 stars
    I made this soup exactly by the recipe. It was awesome! The flavor of the sherry comes through, and the Gruyรจre cheese was the perfect topping. Will definitely make this again, perhaps for company.ย 

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad that it was awesome and that you will definitely make this again!