Bon Appétit French Onion Soup with Gruyère
A deeply savory classic made with caramelized onions and melted Gruyère cheese, perfect for chilly evenings. This french-inspired soups ready in about 85 minutes pairs large, thinly sliced Yellow onions, Unsalted butter, All-purpose flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 large, thinly sliced Yellow onions
- 3 tbsp Unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp All-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup Dry white wine
- 4 cups Beef broth
- 2 Fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1 cup, finely grated Gruyère cheese
- 4 slices, toasted Baguette slices
Instructions
- Step 1: Melt 2 tbsp butter in a heavy pot over medium-low heat. Add 4 large thinly sliced yellow onions and cook for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until deeply golden and caramelized — do not brown the onions.
- Step 2: Stir in 1 tbsp all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute, then deglaze with 1/2 cup dry white wine, scraping up browned bits until reduced by half.
- Step 3: Add 4 cups beef broth, 2 fresh thyme sprigs, and 1 bay leaf. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes on low heat, then remove thyme and bay leaf.
- Step 4: Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls, top each with 1/4 cup grated Gruyère cheese, and place under a preheated broiler for 2-3 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden. Serve immediately with toasted baguette slices.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Bon Appétit French Onion Soup with Gruyère take to make?
Total time is about 85 minutes (25 min prep + 60 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Bon Appétit French Onion Soup with Gruyère?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep unsalted butter from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Bon Appétit French Onion Soup with Gruyère?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Bon Appétit French Onion Soup with Gruyère for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Bon Appétit French Onion Soup with Gruyère?
French soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★☆
My family liked it. I personally would prefer more depth of flavor.
- ★★☆☆☆
The proportions seem off. Way too much of some ingredients.
- ★★☆☆☆
Followed exactly and it was underwhelming. Maybe my expectations were too high.
