Crockpot French Onion Soup.
You know… like 9 hours.
But! At least this time you won’t have to cover your entire kitchen in flour, spend four days digging dough out from under your nails, scrub melted burned butter off the bottom of your oven and give the entire recipe you made to someone else because you can’t be trusted around it.
This time you can just throw it in a big pot and forget about it.
And drink beer while you’re at it. Winning!
I can’t believe there was a time in my life that I didn’t think I liked onions. I don’t even know how it is possible for someone who loves food to not like onions because they add a ridiculous amount of delicious flavor in so many different ways to so many different dishes.
And even though I used to think I didn’t care for them?
I still ordered french onion soup anyway. I’m sure you know why. The cheeeeese. And the bread. I distinctly remember sitting at a restaurant a few years ago and the server bringing one of our dining neighbors a piping bowl of soup with golden cheese just literally pouring down the sides.
All I could think was…
sign
me
up
for
that!
For years after, I ordered french onion soup… and only ate the bread and cheese. I’d dig my spoon down in half way, grabbing a bite of toasted bread, a spoonful of broth, and strands upon strands of gruyere or gouda. I’d always finish everything in the bowl, except for the big pile of caramelized onions on the bottom.
I liked that set up. I liked it a lot.
Then, as I’ve detailed before – much like his Diet Mountain Dew habit, my husband developed an addiction to caramelized onions and asked for them on everything. Even weirdo things like pasta and eggs. I seriously think I made them nearly every day for three months. I first tried them on a burger, slathered in cheese and ketchup of course. Then we moved on to steak, and once I even put them in a salad… that sort of tasted good. Just don’t try it hungover.
Caramely onions? I could do this.
After all, if there was any vegetable for me to learn to love, it had to be the one filled with sugar that softened and sweetened easily and almost tasted candy-like at times, right? Right on.
So hopefully by this point I don’t have to do any convincing and we can let this cheese do the talking.
And if you stillll don’t like onions? Make this anyway and just eat the bread and cheese and broth like I did circa 1999. Totally worth it.
Crockpot French Onion Soup
[adapted from Tyler Florence]
makes a giant pot, about 8-10 servings
4 medium sweet onions, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (I used my favorite Fustinis!)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour
8 ounces of beer
64 ounces of low-sodium beef stock
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
french bread
gruyere cheese, sliced
Set your crock pot on high, then add onions, garlic, brown sugar, butter, salt and balsamic and mix until combined. Cover and let cook for 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are a bit caramely and brown on the edges. Add in flour, then stir thoroughly and let sit for 5 minutes. Add in beer, beef stock, thyme, and pepper, then turn heat down to low, cover and cook for 6-8 hours.
Before serving, cut french bread or baguette into slices. Fill soup bowls to the top, then cover with slice of bread and a slice of cheese. Set under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Be careful when serving as bowls will be hot!
Note: I used a very low-sodium beef stock, so depending on the stock you use, add additional salt for flavor if desired.
I want to live inside that bowl.
331 Comments on “Crockpot French Onion Soup.”
Look at that amazing cheese! Love!
You can’t live in that bowl – I’ve already moved in!
Oh man, that looks good and topping it with bread, a total dream! I ordered my dough hook and it should be coming in tomorrow. Thanks for telling me to get it! I can’t wait to make bread! Bread, oh man, I love bread. This could be very dangerous for me.
Awesome! You need it. :)
I am not a food blogger, but I will attest that the dough hook is a necessity! I use it for pasta dough–amazing! I can’t believe the teacher in the pasta class I took told us it was unnecessary and we should just use a fork.
Huh, I never thought of making pasta! I bet that would be so good! I can’t believe your teacher said to use a fork. I should get the pasta attachment to my mixture, I bet that would be easy pasta making!
Wow… I can’t imagine a fork!
Pasta is really easy! It’s a little time-consuming, but not too bad. And I just took one class–I’m not Italian, nor did I grow up making it or learn from my little old grandmother. Butternut squash ravioli…smoked chicken (courtesy of husband) and cheese ravioli…oh, I need to make some soon!
Slow + beer = WINNING! :)
You’re a good wife. Caramelized onions are hard work! I rarely make them because I end up burning them and I have no patience.
I can do a nine hour recipes – and I can even modify this to make it work for me! yahoo!
I love french onion soup! This is incredible! :-) Mmmm! Oh, and I’ll live inside that bowl too. ;-)
Oh I love French onion soup, and I love my slow cooker! Bookmarking this one!
Such pretty pictures! Love the overheads and the bubbles in the cheese, mmm…this would make Scott go ga-ga. I should make it for him :)
Ohhhh wow. Must try!!!!
I looooove French Onion Soup! And I am loving that last photo up there. Nicely done! :)
Perfect timing – I had plans to make French onion soup tomorrow!! This looks perfectly cheesy and gooey!
I am totally getting a crockpot this fall! Onions are so underrated, and like you said, the caramelized kind? Heaven. I want some now!
You don’t have one?! Wow – yes you need one! :)
My favoritist soup EVER!!! So making this sunday and making a loaf of butter and herb bread. Bread overload perhaps? Eh who cares LOVE THIS!!
One of my favorite soups and I’d never tried it unil last year- and I LOVE onions!!! My onion hating fiance touts this as his favorite soup, too… makes no sense! But it’s delish!
Ha! Must be Tyler Florence day, I posted an adaptation of one of his recipes too! And as great minds think alike, your recipe and mine could totally go together and we could live in peace and harmony munching on yumminess and dreaming of Chef CutiePie! :)
ahhhh that shot of the crispy cheese totally got me! I’m trying to lighten up on dairy a bit but this seriously didn’t help me haha. I have to say, I ordered french onion soup in France at a tiny cafe and nothing will ever compare. But… the Panera french onion soup in a bread bowl? Yeah that’s not too shabby either.
yes, i’ll take it. seriously, when will soup weather ever get here? it was almost 90 yesterday! in colorado! i think i died….
Well, apparently I will be busy in my kitchen next week because your Grown Up Pumpkin milkshakes were already on my list and now you post this? My most favorite soup of all because I love bread, cheese, and onions…. and it uses my crock-pot. Win-Win!
i LOVE french onion soup… and a crockpot version? yes please. Nothing like having dinner ready when you get home from work… :)
I just realized that I like onions like, 3 days ago. I’ve always told people I hated them, but when I found myself picking caramelly onions out of the stir fry specifically TO eat them, I knew I’d been lying to myself. French onion soup is my faaaaaavourite soup, hands down.
Crazy how it hits you right?! I still can’t really do raw onions, unless in salsa or something.
Oh no, I can’t do raw onions either. The only time I like them is if they’re in a McDonalds cheeseburger. Not that I have an addiction to those or anything…
This recipe is definitely winning. I have to do it without the cheese because of the whole dairy issue (darn it). I just love the crockpot this time of year!
It is NOT fair to be drooling this early in the morning!!
Okay, I’m thinking I could make this Saturday while we go out of town for about 7-8 hours! Then voila dinner…she is done! I might add a little Asiago to the inside of my bowl before adding the bread and gruyere. Dizzy with antici…
…pation.
Sounds like a plan to me. :)
yummy! French onion soup is one of my all time favorites!
Yum! I love French onion soup! Sadly, I was eating it for a long time not knowing it was made with beef stock. :( Now I make it with veggie broth instead.
Love the picture of the cheese dripping down the side.
I can just smell that soup now…
I just ordered a new crock pot to replace the one I burned to all hell, and this is definitely going on the list of things to make with it!
This is great. I should have tried beer when I made this last month. I didn’t have wine and I live in a dry county so I was out of luck. This soup is so good!
This looks good! Wonderful pictures a always!
Thank you!
I agree onions used to be sooo gross…if it had onions in it I wasn’t touching it with a ten foot pole. Now I love them. Just last night I made Curtis Stone’s red onion marmalade to put on burgers – I did a bout a 50/50 ratio of burger to onion.
French onion soup is the best – I’ve made the Cook’s Illustrated version before, but will definitely have to try this crock pot one. :)
I need that, it sounds so good!
I have never had french onion soup…scary I know.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? No way!
Do you have any cook time and temperature suggestions for cooking this in a Dutch oven in the oven? Maybe like 300 degrees for the same amount of time?? Thanks.
I definitely don’t think you would need to cook it for that long – maybe only 2-3 hours? If I wasn’t making it in a crock pot and if I was going to be home all day, I would definitely just make it on the stove top. Same ingredients, caramelize the onions, add the flour and let it cook for a few minutes, add the beer and let it cook off for about 5 minutes, add the stock and then bring to a boil and let simmer for about 1 hour.
So, Matt also used to “hate” onions and I just found that unacceptable because I think they are from Heaven. It literally made me angry when he would claim not to like them – my blood pressure is rising just thinking of it! Irrational, I know, and everyone is allegedly entitled to their opinion, but I’m convinced people that don’t “like” them just don’t know what they’re talking about. Can you tell this is a close subject to me? I’m very protetective of my onions, apparently. Oh, so anyway, he eats onions now – because they’re literally in everything I make. And if you thought I’d leave out my favorite ingredient for him, you would be wrong. That’s how I roll :smile:
As weird as it may sound I am not a big fan of cheese, until two years ago I didn’t like it at all, now I get into it step by step, I like my cheese only on pizza, and I am crazy about feta on everything. I already love onions and crusty bread, and this bowl of soup looks incredible and delicious, maybe I can gove a try to the melted cheese on top :)
I totally understand what you mean because I am not a big fan of bread. People look at me like I have a third eye.
this is perfect. i was looking for something like this for my appetizer for thanxgiving dinner that i am throwing on Saturday.
im so making this.
do you think i can make it the day before? it should hold up pretty well, right? ill just do the cheese part right before serving.
Yep I think it will be fine. Had another bowl for lunch the next day and it was just as delicious!
I love French Onion – this version looks just perfect! Caramelized onions are a God send.
I am so with you on the cheese & bread circa 1999. Now I devour the entire thing because I can’t really think of anything more delicious. Bookmarking for soup weather! (it’s humid like Hades on the east coast today!)
Love French Onion soup! I love the crockpot idea too : )
I love onions. Just not cooked onions. But that cheese on top completely sold me. I’m in. I’m in big.
So you only love raw onions?! Not sure I’ve ever head that one before!
Haha I know – it’s so weird! I have yet to really figure it out myself. Let’s just focus on my love of cheese because I feel like that’s more normal ;)
I LOVE french onion soup, and have made it a few times, always delicious. I never thought of making it in the crock pot, definitely will have to try it this way! Can’t wait to try it!
I have been wanting little soup ramekin/pot things (what is the technical term for those!?) forever for the sole purpose of making french onion soup. Honestly, is there anything better than that cheese + bread on top? I don’t think so.
I don’t know what they are called, but I got mine at Sur La Table for pretty cheap!
I too, want to live inside that bowl. French onion soup has been a favorite since childhood, and I believe my crock pot now has a new self-worth!
What can I substitute for the beer? Thanks!
You could sub some wine, or if you don’t want any alcohol in it just use extra broth instead. :)
Thanks! I don’t drink any alcohol and have never tried cooking with it so I don’t know if the alcoholic properties cook off and your just left with flavor.. So I always go on the safe side and don’t cook with it at all.
I don’t drink alcohol either and I was given a fantistic cheese fondue recipe that called for wine. When given the recipe I was told to substitute sparkling apple cider for the wine. I think it really works in the recipe. I wonder if you could do the same for the soup? I guess it would be work a try!
Ahhhh…….comfort food for Fall and upcoming (blah) Winter. Looks so warm and cheesy….
I LOVE ONIONS. This soup is would totally get made this weekend if I had a crockpot.. Darn it!
Looks like something I’d burn my mouth on a million times over. I can never wait to taste! Also, I made your roasted red pepper pasta last night. I roasted the garlic and added 4 (might have been five?) cloves. Very very yummy. Thank you!
That sounds so good – I am so glad you liked it!
This looks delicious, I am going to have to try it. I love onions. Onions seem to go with anything, and I mean anything. Thanks for this great recipe!
My mouth is watering and even my five-month-old, who is sitting on my lap, is drooling. Gimme that cheeeeeeeese!
Love, love, love French onion soup! Totally worth every second of those 9 hours.
Yum! Just out of curiosity, what size crock pot did you use? 4qt or 6qt? (I have a 6qt, and want to make sure I can adjust if necessary and don’t dry them out!)
Yep I have a giant one too – 6 qt. It seems so huge sometimes!
Sounds awesome I can’t wait to try it!! I look at a lot of different food blogs/websites/etc everyday and I have to say yours is definitely one of my favorites!
Thank you so much Megan!