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Lazy French Onion Soup
Emily

Lazy French Onion Soup

This Lazy French Onion Soup delivers all the rich, caramelized flavors of the classic dish with a simplified approach. A cozy, cheesy comfort food perfect for chilly evenings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 6 bowls
Course: Soup
Cuisine: French
Calories: 410
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 8 cups beef broth (or vegetable broth)
  • 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 French baguette, sliced into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 cups grated Gruyère cheese (or Swiss cheese)

Equipment

  • large pot or Dutch oven
  • wooden spoon
  • Baking sheet
  • Oven
  • oven-safe soup bowls

Method
 

  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Once melted, add onions and stir to coat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 30-40 minutes, stirring often, until golden brown and caramelized.
  2. Add white and scrape the pot to deglaze. Simmer for 5 minutes until reduced slightly.
  3. Pour in beef broth, add thyme and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes to blend flavors.
  4. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes until golden. Alternatively, broil briefly until crisp.
  5. Remove bay leaves. Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls. Top each with a toasted baguette slice and Gruyère cheese.
  6. Place bowls on a baking sheet and broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
  7. Carefully remove bowls, let cool slightly, and serve hot.

Notes

Use vegetable broth for a lighter vegetarian version. Try Swiss or provolone cheese if Gruyère isn’t available. To save time, caramelize onions in advance and refrigerate for up to 3 days before making the soup.