French Onion Soup
This recipe simplifies classic French Onion Soup using a slow cooker for an easy, hands-off cooking process. Thinly sliced onions simmer in a broth and consommé mixture, finished with a traditional topping of French bread and broiled Gruyere cheese.
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker
- 1 Sharp Knife For slicing onions and bread
- 1 Cutting Board
- 8 Oven-Safe Serving Bowls Traditional use for broiling
- 1 Broiler/Oven
Ingredients
Main
- 5 small onions thinly sliced
- 2 cans 14 ounces low sodium beef broth (recommended: Swanson's)
- 2 cans 10 ounces beef consomme (recommended: Campbell's)
- 1 packet onion soup mix recommended: Lipton's
- 8 slices French bread about 1 inch thick
- 1 cup shredded Gruyere
Instructions
- Combine onions, broth, consomme, and soup mix in a slow cooker. Cook on HIGH setting for 4 hours, or LOW setting for 8 hours.
- Ladle soup into serving bowls. Top with a slice of French bread. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons cheese over each bread slice. Put soup bowls under broiler until cheese is melted. Alternatively, place the bread on a baking sheet and top with cheese; broil until cheese has melted, about 30 to 40 seconds, and set on top just before serving.
Notes
While this recipe uses a slow cooker and convenience ingredients, you can elevate the flavor significantly. Take the time to caramelize the onions properly in a separate pan before adding them to the slow cooker; this develops deep, rich sweetness. Use high-quality beef broth and consommé, or better yet, homemade beef stock, for a more authentic and complex base. When broiling, keep a close eye on the cheese as it can burn quickly. Ensure the bowls are oven-safe if broiling directly over the soup.