Simple and Flavorful French Onion Soup (Without Wine)

Here’s how to make a flavorful french onion soup without the wine. This soup is a comforting savory dish for a cozy night. You probably already have these ingredients on hand. 

What is french onion soup?

French onion soup is a delicious combination of soft caramelized onions, savory beef broth and flavorful herbs. It is topped with french crusty bread and melted gooey cheese. You won’t even miss the white or red wine in the broth. The broth has a delicious depth of flavor that is oh so addicting. Even non-onion lovers will love this classic 18th century french staple.

This easy french onion soup recipe doesn’t have a ton of complicated ingredients. A lot of these ingredients you may even have on hand.  It is also great for when you are craving something savory and meaty but don’t have any meat on hand.

I decided to make this classic french onion soup recipe after I received a delivery grocery order with two bags of onions instead of two single onions. Oops! When I went to go make the soup I realized I was out of white wine, so I decided to substitute it for additional beef stock. It tasted great and I didn’t even miss the wine!

What to serve with french onion soup?

I like to serve this soup by itself. With the bread and cheese on top it really is a meal in a bowl! On nights where I am a bit hungrier I like to serve with cheese and ham paninis. Inspired by a Croque Monsieur. If I have mushrooms on hand I will saute those to put in the soup. I have also added chopped up potatoes to the broth while its cooking for an hour. Its a really flexible dish!

What’s the difference between beef broth and beef stock?

Beef broth is created when you cook beef bones with meat on them in water. Beef stock is when you cook just the cleaned off bones without meat in water. Commonly, broth is seasoned and stock is unseasoned. Broth is great because you don’t need to add a ton of flavor to it. I use broth and stock interchangeably and use whatever I have in my pantry. For this recipe I use beef stock.

What kind of cheese to use?

I prefer gruyere for this classic soup because its salty, tangy and chewy when melted. In France, they typically use comte cheese. It is pretty similar to gruyere. Gruyere is typically easier to find in the United States. Parmesan or provolone would also work great. A mix of cheeses would also work too. Any cheese you like that melts well would work. Its hard to mess up cheese!

What type of onions work best?

You can’t go wrong with what type of onion you choose! It really just depends on your preference. Onions are wonderful when cooked in butter or olive oil. This recipe calls for yellow onions, but could easily be swapped. Red onions have a sharp flavor with a bite. White onions have a more distinct and strong onion flavor. Yellow onions are milder and sweeter in flavor than red and white onions. They also have a natural sweetness. This is why I typically choose a yellow onion for french onion soup.

How to store french onion soup?

You can store french onion soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you still have leftovers by then, stick it in the freezer! To reheat, put the soup in a sauce pan on medium heat. Simmer the soup until it is warmed up to your liking. Don’t forget the bread and melty cheese!

Notes:

Soup Bowls: You don’t need to go out and buy fancy french onion soup bowls. Instead, you could toast the bread slices (with the cheese on top) on a baking sheet in the oven. Once it’s toasted you can put the toasted bread and cheese on top of the hot soup. Check your soup bowls to see if they are oven safe. You may be surprised to know that they can go in the oven.

Herbs: You can also add in fresh thyme to this soup. I find that the flavors of fresh rosemary and sage add the best depth of flavor. I also grow these so it is easy for me to access. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different herbs. There are so many ways to flavor this soup. You can also add in dried herbs if that is what is easiest for you. You don’t need as much when you use dried herbs so it’s not a 1:1 swap with the fresh herbs.

Garlic: Garlic is another great flavor addition to this soup. If you have it on hand, you can grate it and add it in at the same time you add in the flour. This will give it some time to toast up quickly and produce a wonderful aroma.

Instructions to make French Onion Soup Without Wine

1. Chop the onions into slices, about 1/2-1/4 inch width (make sure they aren’t too thin or you will have stringy onions when cooked).
2. In a dutch oven or large pot, combine the butter and the onions over medium heat.
3. Stir occasionally until the onions have browned, about 1 hour. Stir them every 15 minutes.
4. Gradually add 1/2 cup beef stock to the pot. Pour 1/4 cup at a time and stir until onions have caramelized and the stock is soaked up each time. Scrape the brown bits off of the bottom of the pot with your wooden spoon. This will add flavor!
5. Add in 3 tablespoons of flour and cook on low for 3 minutes.
6. Add in beef stock, rosemary, sage, bay leaves and Worcestershire sauce to the dutch oven.
7. Simmer for 1 hour on low.
8. While the soup is simmering, cut the french bread into 1 inch slices. Grate the gruyere.
9. To serve, ladle soup in oven safe bowls. Top with a slice of french bread, enough to cover the bowl. Then, sprinkle on gruyere cheese.
10. Next, turn the oven on to broil and put the bowls of soup on a baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is browned and bubbling. Keep an eye on it to make sure it won’t burn!

Ingredients

• 6 yellow onions
• 6 tablespoons of butter
• 3 tablespoons of flour
• 6 cups beef stock
• 2 sprigs of rosemary
• 2 sage leaves
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 french baguette (enough for 6 people)
• 2 cups of gruyere

Products I used

• Juliska bowl – https://www.amazon.com/Berry-Thread-Round-Cereal-Juliska/dp/B001AV69QC/ref=asc_df_B001AV69QC/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=193979224727&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17688674495493407097&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9023225&hvtargid=pla-310811778930&psc=1
• JSH tea towel – https://jshhomeessentials.com/collections/table-linens