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.”
My eyes felt like they were going to sting looking at those onion pictures! Hahha.
I do love me some bread & cheese. Aw , yum.
A Terrific idea! I usually do mine on the stove top, but I really like this option! Thanks!
This is awesome. Like you, I’ve been thinking about how I so despised onions as a kid, but love carmelized onions now. I’ve also been thinking about french onion soup. a lot. I don’t have the little bowls and I am a very, very, busy Mom so I love this idea of making it in the crock pot! I’m going to put the ingredients on my list for tomorrow now. Thanks!!!
I’m cooking this right now! The onions are caramelizing. I’m also one of those who would order the stuff and eat around the onions. I remember my dad used to order it at the family’s favorite restaurant, every Friday. He always let me eat half the cheese off the top. My only problem is that every restaurant I’ve ordered it from since, it seems to be too salty, or too…something. To the point where, 3/4 of the way through, the flavor became, for lack of a better word, annoying. I like that you call for low-sodium broth, and i’m seriously hoping that this comes out tasting like what my dad used to always get. I’m excited! (i’m making this for their anniversary, by the way)
Awesome!! Please keep me posted on the result. :)
Just finished it. It was delicious! I don’t have bowls that go into the broiler, so I ended up using a creme brulee torch to melt/brown the cheese. That seemed to work okay, but I’m thinking it’ll be better (and easier–as my thumbs can attest) with the broiler. I’ll get bowls for next time!
I ended up salting mine just a little to counteract the sweet, but it was perfect that way! My dad, an avid souper, always taught me never to add much salt to soup–to always let each person salt to their own taste, so it was great! Thank you!
Oh! I ended up using a Lager. Is there a specific beer you’d suggest?
The hubbs and I just finished a couple bowls, and let me just say: “YUM!” I, too, am not a huge fan of onions, but this recipe is so good and so easy to make. Totally worth the tears (from the onions of course). Thanks!
So glad you liked it Mary!
Such a great way to do French Onion soup! I love it but it can be so high maintenance, such a good idea to use a crocpot!
oh my gosh I’m making this asap!
Interesting that you used beer, most French Onion Soup recipes I’ve seen use wine. I use to not like FSO either after a bad experience, and now I order it practically every time we go out :)
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TO DIE FOR!!! That’s all I have to say! I’m putting this on the menu for next week….
Yum.
Mandi
Made this yesterday and it was fantastic! Served it today to friends that came over to watch football and they loved it too! This will be my go to French Onion Soup recipe now! Thanks!
Is there a way I can make this without a crockpot? I don’t own one… Also I’m under 21 so I’m thinking of substituting ginger ale for the beer, what do you think? This recipe just looked soo much better than others I’ve seen..
Yep – I would saute the onions until caramelized in the butter – about 30 minutes or so over low heat. Then add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil, then simmer for about 2 hours. The ginger ale sounds like it would be pretty good, and you could also just use broth too. Let me know how it goes. :)
I am eating it right now and I love it!! I used some oregano and basil since I didn’t have thyme, used the ginger ale and did it all over the stove, and baked a fresh homemade baguette for it. Thanks :)
Use a non-alcohol beer available from your grocer.
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Mmm…I need more crock pot recipes…this looks amazing!!
Girl I have an AMAZING chicken one coming later this week. So, so, so good!
I’m making these right now! I tasted them about 2 hours in and was worried I didn’t let the onions carmelize enough, but I trusted your “a bit carmely and brown on the edges” description. They’ve been in there close to 6 hours now, and what a difference! I can’t wait until dinner.
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so…umm that was delicious! I live in Alaska and its 48 right now so its perfect dinner, even my bigger little guy ate it at 21 months. we used provolone bc I couldn’t remember what cheese it was once I got to the store, but still turned out yummy! i could eat the bread dipped in the soup all day. even my hubby who hates cheese ate the crap out of everything!
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Sign me up for this! I literally have a day off today, which never happens, and I am not allowing myself to do anything…but THIS! Plus, it’s a rainy day. Perfect.
Holy mother this is good! I am eating it as I type. I made it on the stove because I wanted it right.this.minute. I did as Jess suggested to another review and I caramelized the onions on the stove and then added the garlic and flour for a few minutes. I then put everything into a pot to simmer for 1.5 hours. Yea this is ridiculously good. I’ve never made a recipe off this site I didn’t love! Thank you!!!
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This sounds great! I want to make this, but have 1 question: What type of beer did you use? Can i use whatever I have in my fridge? (Coors light)
I used an amber ale, but I think that coors light would probably be fine! I don’t think it’s going to be “bad.”
I used a Bud Light because my mom left one in the fridge when she came to visit. I hate Bud Light, but my soup still tasted great. I didn’t taste the beer in it at all. 8)
I made this today. I agree that the longer the onions have to carmelize, the better the results. I used a oatmeal stout (we are dark beer lovers here) and it tasted delicious. I would suggest that readers not waste this great recipe by using any sort of light beer, you need a beer that stands up to the onions and garlic. Thanks for a wonderful dinner :)
Good to know – thanks Kim!
I am going to make this tomorrow….football and French onion soup! How could things get better than that?
making this for tonight… SO excited!! My mouth is already watering! Alright – off to slice some onions! :)
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So is there a way that we could make this without beer? What would be the alternate ingredient?
I think you could just use more broth, and I also think someone tried it with ginger ale and enjoyed it. You can also use wine, but I wasn’t sure if you wanted to do alcohol at all.
It’s a-cookin’ as we speak. As we type. As we drool. Whatever. French onion soup for breakfast? Yes!
Thanks for the recipe – I just want to take a moment and say thanks for your blog, as well. I love the recipes and the write-ups. A growing percentage of my recipe album includes your creations. I love that a total stranger from across the nation has a place in my recipe album (and stomach!). Thanks for being inspired to create beautiful food!
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If I could make a suggestion, put the thyme in a tea bag. Once done take the bag out and throw away, otherwise you will end up like me and have tons of thyme floating around in it. My only change to the recipe, since my family doesn’t mind thyme, but doesn’t want it floating in their soup.
If you use stale bread and cut it up like croutons, they will soak up the broth better and are much easier to get out of the bowl.
Yummm… my son & I LOVE french onion soup (husband & daughter – not so much). I bought all the ingredients to make this in the next couple of days – can’t wait! Would love to know where you got the awesome bowls. They are so pretty and perfect! I believe I NEED them!
This is one of my favourite soups and using a crock-pot would certainly cut down on the effort required to make it!
If you bowls don’t go under the broiler- put the bread slices onto a foil lined cookie sheet and add the cheese- put that under the broiler til the cheese bubbles- then float the cheese toasts in bowls of onion soup and enjoy ………(make an extra cheese toast for the cook)
great idea, thanks!!! i was thinking i needed to bite the bullet and buy some bowls, but this idea is even better.
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Oh my, my, my! This looks delicious! I love your photos and narratives. Can’t wait to try it!
I have been wanting to make French Onion Soup for a long time, but haven’t had the time. This was such an easy recipe! The results were so yummy. Even my 2 year old loved it:) I will definitely make this again. thanks!
this was not that great, im sad boo. now i have a whole crockpot of mediocre soup. i thought there was way to much thyme. and just didnt taste rich like french onion soup does.
II agree not what I exlected thyme floating everywhere n my onions werent carmeluzed completly I don’t think not sure if that will change the dull flavor
I made this recipe yesterday and it didn’t turn out as wonderful as I had hoped and I’m a HUGE french onion soup fan! I used coors light as my beer and I think that was a way wrong move, haha! Next time I think I will carmelize my onions longer, omit the beer and substitute with chicken broth and some worchestire sauce and LOTS more salt!! Altogether a very easy recipe, but just needs some tweaks for my taste buds.
P.S. I got these wonderful french onion soup bowls from Sur la Table for $3.96 each! Love them!
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My wife and I love French onion soup. I am cooking a batch right now. I can’t wait until tonight.
This is food porn! Thank you!
I just came across this recipe and i cant wait to make it friday! only… i dont have an hour to spare in the morning before work to caramelize the onions (in the pot or on the stove). What do you think i can do the night before?
I think you could caramelize the onions on the stovetop the night before, keep them in the fridge and then add them to the crockpot with everything else.
I just made this last night and I was disappointed. The onions didn’t carmelize. Maybe it’s my crock pot, I’m gonna try again but first carmelize my onions on the stove.
Just made an adapted version of your recipe and Tyler’s recipe tonight! Thanks so much for the awesome idea to put it in a slow cooker I never would have tried that but it made life so much easier! I’ll show you on your FB wall soon!
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