Name: Easy French Onion Soup with Gruyère Cheese Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 20 min
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 6 tablespoons (90g) unsalted butter, plus more for bread; 3 pounds (1.4kg) yellow or mixed onions, sliced 1/8 inch thick; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1/2 cup (120ml) dry sherry (such as Amontillado); 2 quarts (1.8L) homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock; 2 sprigs thyme; 1 bay leaf; 1 teaspoon (5ml) Asian fish sauce (optional); 1 teaspoon (5ml) cider vinegar; 8 bowl-size slices rustic bread, toasted until crisp; 1 medium clove garlic; 1 pound (450g) Gruyère cheese, grated; Freshly minced chives, for garnish

If you’ve been craving a cozy, soul-soothing bowl of soup, let me introduce you to my Easy French Onion Soup with Gruyère Cheese Recipe. This classic French comfort dish is exactly what you want on a chilly day — those deeply caramelized onions, the savory broth, and that ooey-gooey melted Gruyère cheese on toasted rustic bread. I absolutely love how this turns out every single time, and I promise, once you try it, you’ll find yourself making it again and again. Stick with me, and I’ll walk you through every step so you can nail it perfectly at home.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Rich, Deep Flavor: Slowly caramelized onions develop incredible sweetness and complexity that transform this soup.
Melty Gruyère Cheese: The cheesy, browned crust on top is my family’s absolute favorite part — it’s pure comfort in every bite.
Simple Ingredients, Gourmet Results: You don’t need fancy tools or complicated steps to impress with this classic.
Crowd-Pleaser: Whether it’s weeknight dinner or a special occasion, everyone goes crazy for this soup.

The image shows a round white bowl filled with a layered dish, topped with melted light yellow cheese scattered with small bright green chopped herbs. The bowl sits on a white plate with a wavy edge, both placed on a white marbled surface. Behind the bowl, there is a blurred piece of fabric with red stripes and a metal spoon resting nearby, slightly out of focus. The cheese layer is smooth and slightly browned in places, covering a thick base beneath it. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - French Onion Soup with Gruyère Cheese, easy French onion soup, homemade French onion soup, caramelized onion soup, cheesy French onion soup

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe beautifully balances sweet caramelized onions with a rich broth and nutty Gruyère cheese. When choosing your onions, try to slice them thin and even for the best caramelization. A good-quality rustic bread and a flavorful Gruyère make all the difference.

Flat lay of yellow onions sliced thinly, a small white ceramic bowl of unsalted butter, two whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white ceramic bowl of dry sherry, a small white ceramic bowl of low-sodium chicken stock, two fresh sprigs of thyme, one fresh bay leaf, a small white ceramic bowl of Asian fish sauce, a small white ceramic bowl of cider vinegar, four slices of rustic toasted bread, one medium garlic clove, a small pile of grated Gruyère cheese, and a few sprigs of freshly minced chives, all arranged in perfect symmetry on a simple white ceramic surface, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - French Onion Soup with Gruyère Cheese, easy French onion soup, homemade French onion soup, caramelized onion soup, cheesy French onion soup

Yellow or mixed onions: I like using a combination for extra flavor depth and the perfect sweetness once caramelized.
Unsalted butter: Helps caramelize onions gently without overpowering them with saltiness.
Dry sherry: Adds a subtle acidity and a lovely complexity that lifts the soup’s richness.
Low-sodium chicken stock: Using low-sodium gives you control over seasoning without making the soup too salty.
Fresh thyme and bay leaf: Classic aromatics that infuse the broth with herbal notes.
Asian fish sauce (optional): A secret ingredient I learned that boosts umami without tasting fishy at all.
Cider vinegar: Just a touch to brighten the flavors and balance sweetness.
Rustic bread: Toasted and buttered, it holds up well under all that melty cheese and soup.
Garlic: Used to rub the toast for subtle extra flavor.
Gruyère cheese: The star of the show on top – go for high-quality, freshly grated cheese if you can.
Fresh chives: For a pop of color and fresh herb flavor at the end.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

This Easy French Onion Soup with Gruyère Cheese Recipe is a great canvas for your own tweaks. I often switch things up depending on what’s in season or to suit special diets, and I encourage you to make it your own too!

Vegan Variation: I’ve successfully swapped butter for olive oil and used vegetable broth instead of chicken stock to cater to vegan friends – still amazing.
White Wine Swap: When I’m out of sherry, dry white wine works beautifully to add that bright acidity.
Herb Twists: Sometimes I’ve added a sprig of rosemary or tarragon for a different herbal character.
Cheese Alternatives: If you can’t find Gruyère, Emmental or Comté are wonderful alternatives, though for me, Gruyère holds a special place.

How to Make Easy French Onion Soup with Gruyère Cheese Recipe

Step 1: Caramelize Your Onions Slowly and Patiently

This is where the magic happens! Melt unsalted butter in a large heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat until it foams. Add your thinly sliced onions and cook them for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften. This is just the beginning — lower the heat to medium-low and cook the onions for an additional 1 to 2 hours, stirring frequently. You want them to turn a deep golden brown and taste sweet, but watch them carefully so they don’t burn. If you see browned bits sticking to the pan, add a tablespoon of water and scrape them up; that adds fantastic flavor to your soup. Season the onions lightly with salt and pepper as you go to build layers of flavor.

Step 2: Deglaze and Build Your Broth

Once your onions are perfectly caramelized, pour in the dry sherry to deglaze the pan, scraping up all those delicious browned bits. Let it simmer for about 3 minutes to cook off the alcohol, leaving behind a rich aroma. Then add your chicken stock along with fresh thyme sprigs and a bay leaf, increasing the heat to bring the broth to a simmer. Reduce the heat and let it cook gently for 20 minutes to meld the flavors. Don’t forget to stir occasionally, so nothing sticks to the bottom. Finish by adding the optional fish sauce and cider vinegar, then season with salt and pepper. Remove and discard the herbs — the broth should taste deeply savory and balanced.

Step 3: Prepare the Toasts and Cheese Topping

While your broth simmers, butter slices of rustic bread and toast them until they are crisp. I like to rub a medium garlic clove over the warm toasts — this little trick adds a subtle garlicky kick that’s irresistible. When ready to assemble, ladle a bit of the broth into ovenproof bowls and layer half the toasts on top. Sprinkle generously with grated Gruyère, then ladle on more soup and onions to nearly fill the bowls. Add the remaining toasts, pushing them gently to submerge, and crown everything with the rest of the cheese.

Step 4: Broil Until Golden and Bubbling

Place your bowls on a rimmed baking sheet and set under a preheated broiler on the top rack. Watch closely and broil until the cheese melts fully and turns golden brown in spots — this usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes depending on your broiler. The bubbling, browned cheese forms that classic crust that everyone loves. Garnish with freshly minced chives for a pop of color and freshness, and serve immediately while it’s wonderfully hot.

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Pro Tips for Making Easy French Onion Soup with Gruyère Cheese Recipe

Low and Slow Caramelization: Patience is key here — rushing will give you bitter onions instead of sweet richness.
Use a Heavy-Bottomed Pan: This prevents hot spots that can burn your onions during the long cooking process.
Fresh Gruyère Matters: Pre-grated cheese sometimes doesn’t melt the same; I always grate it fresh for the best texture.
Broil Close But Not Too Close: Keep an eye on the cheese under the broiler so it browns beautifully without burning.

How to Serve Easy French Onion Soup with Gruyère Cheese Recipe

A close-up image of a white ceramic bowl filled with French onion soup. The top layer is melted light golden cheese with a slightly browned, bubbly texture, garnished with small green herbs. A spoon held by a woman's hand scoops up a portion, showing gooey, stringy cheese stretching from the bowl. Below the cheese, you can see soft caramelized onions and dark brown toasted bread pieces. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface with a red and white cloth blurred in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - French Onion Soup with Gruyère Cheese, easy French onion soup, homemade French onion soup, caramelized onion soup, cheesy French onion soup

Garnishes

I always finish this soup with a scattering of freshly minced chives — they add such a lovely fresh pop and a subtle mild onion flavor that complements the caramelized onions beautifully. Sometimes, I’ll sprinkle a tiny bit of cracked black pepper on top before serving for a little extra kick.

Side Dishes

This soup is satisfying on its own, but if you want to round out the meal, I love pairing it with a simple green salad tossed in a lemon vinaigrette — the acidity cuts through the richness perfectly. A crusty baguette on the side is great for dipping and soaking up every last bit of broth and cheese.

Creative Ways to Present

For dinner parties, I sometimes serve the soup in mini cocottes or individual cast iron skillets — it feels extra special and rustic. Adding a few drops of truffle oil right before serving also creates an elegant twist that guests rave about. Plus, you can make the soup ahead, then reheat and broil just before serving to impress with minimal last-minute work.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover soup keeps nicely in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I prefer to keep the broth and onions separate from the bread and cheese if I have leftovers — this stops the bread from getting soggy and the cheese from losing its texture.

Freezing

I’ve frozen the caramelized onion broth alone several times and found it freezes well for up to 2 months. Just thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat gently on the stove. I wouldn’t recommend freezing the bread and cheese assembled with the soup, as texture will suffer.

Reheating

When reheating, I warm the broth and onions slowly on the stove to preserve the flavors, then toast fresh bread, grate fresh Gruyère, and broil it all together right before serving. This way, you get the fresh, melty cheese crust every time, just like when it’s freshly made.

FAQs

Can I make Easy French Onion Soup with Gruyère Cheese Recipe vegetarian?

Absolutely! Swap the chicken stock for a rich vegetable stock and use olive oil instead of butter to caramelize the onions. The flavor will still be deeply satisfying and delicious.
Is there a shortcut to caramelizing onions?

While slow caramelization brings the best flavor, you can speed things up slightly by adding a pinch of baking soda to the onions—it helps break down the sugars faster. However, it can slightly affect the texture, so I usually stick to low and slow for truly rich onions.
What can I use if I don’t have Gruyère cheese?

Emmental, Comté, or even a good quality Swiss cheese will work well as substitutes. Just go for something that melts beautifully and has nutty flavor.
How do I prevent the cheese from burning under the broiler?

Keep the bowls a good 5-6 inches away from the broiler heating element and watch them carefully—cheese can go from brown to burnt quickly. Rotate the baking sheet as needed to brown evenly.

Final Thoughts

There’s something truly special about a warm bowl of Easy French Onion Soup with Gruyère Cheese Recipe — it’s the food equivalent of a cozy hug on a cold day. I love how simple ingredients come together to create something elegant yet comforting. If you’re looking to impress yourself and your loved ones with a recipe that’s approachable but impressive, this is it. Trust me, your kitchen (and your taste buds) will thank you. So get your onions slicing and your Gruyère ready — let’s make some magic happen!