Provençal-Style French Onion Soup with Gruyère
Slow-simmered onions in rich beef broth, crowned with a golden cheese crust, capturing the soul of French home cooking. This french-inspired soups ready in about 85 minutes pairs Yellow onions, Butter, Beef broth for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 6, 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
- 6 cups Yellow onions
- 3 tbsp Butter
- 4 cups Beef broth
- 1 sprig Thyme
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
- 8 Baguette slices
- 1/2 cup Gruyère cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large Dutch oven, melt 3 tbsp butter over medium heat; add 6 cups thinly sliced yellow onions and cook for 30-35 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until deeply golden and caramelized.
- Step 2: Add 4 cups beef broth, 1 sprig thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper, then bring to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes to meld flavors.
- Step 3: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C); place 8 baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast for 5 minutes until crisp.
- Step 4: Ladle the soup into oven-safe bowls, top each with 1/2 cup grated Gruyère cheese, then place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Provençal-Style French Onion Soup with Gruyère take to make?
Total time is about 85 minutes (20 min prep + 65 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 Provençal-Style 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 yellow onions from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Provençal-Style 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 Provençal-Style French Onion Soup with Gruyère for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). 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 Provençal-Style 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
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★★
Made with what I had on hand and it still came out great.
- ★★★★☆
Tasty recipe. I'd add a bit more seasoning next time.
