We Tested 4 Famous French Onion Soup Recipes and Found a Clear Winner (2024)

We Tested 4 Famous French Onion Soup Recipes and Found a Clear Winner (1)

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Jesse Szewczyk

Jesse SzewczykContributor

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updated Sep 30, 2022

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French onion soup is the ultimate comfort food. Onions get slowly cooked until sweet and caramelized, then simmered in rich broth until they’re practically falling apart.

To finish it off, toasted bread is added to give it that lovable crisp-gone-soggy texture and a generous amount of Gruyère cheese is melted on top. It’s warm, hearty, and ultra savory. It’s one of my all-time favorite soups, and I would happily eat it at every meal.

But not all French onion soups are created equal. Some versions are almost entirely broth-based and skimp on the onions, while others are basically just a bowl of caramelized onions with hardly enough broth to pass as soup.

Even more shocking is the variation in toppings. I always assumed French onion soup had to be topped with sliced bread and melted Gruyère (after all, it’s what I was taught in culinary school), but after a bit of research I realized that’s not the case at all!

To see which French onion soup variation is the absolute best, I made four popular recipes and tasted them side-by-side. At the end of the day, I found a new go-to recipe and learned a few clever tricks along the way. My kitchen will smell like onions for months, and it was well worth it.

How I Chose My Four French Onion Soup Contenders

Because there proved to be so much variation in the toppings, I looked for recipes that were fairly traditional when it came to the soup itself.

The first recipe I settled on was from Julia Child. Her version is a very classic interpretation of French onion soup, down to the melty Gruyère and toasted bread.

The second recipe I picked was from Ina Garten. Her recipe is pretty standard but swaps out the Gruyère for shredded Parmesan and ditches the toasted bread altogether. It seemed like a bold choice, but Ina’s recipes are always a hit, so I was confident it would taste delicious even without the cheese and bread.

The third recipe I landed on was from Alton Brown. His recipe uses unfiltered apple cider to make the broth, and I was curious to see if it would make the soup too sweet. I’ve seen apple brandy used to make French onion soup, but never apple juice.

The last recipe I picked was from Serious Eats. It’s made with several different types of onions instead of just yellow, and gets finished with a dash of fish sauce to amp up the savoriness. I was curious to see if the fish sauce would make the soup taste fishy, or if it was one of those clever ingredients that adds a rich depth of flavor without knowing it’s there.

How I Tested the Soups

Each recipe was tested on the same day and compared in a side-by-side taste test. I followed each recipe exactly as written and tried to keep all outside variables to a minimum. I garnished each with their suggested toppings and didn’t take any liberties. I wanted it to be a fair test.

I also grabbed a few friends to taste them to see what they thought. At the end of the day we all shared the same opinions and the results quickly became clear. The winner has become my new go-to French onion soup recipe.

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Meet Our 4 French Onion Soup Contenders

1. The Underwhelming (and Way Too Sweet) Classic: Julia Child’s French Onion Soup

This was the recipe I was most looking forward to, but it turned out to be my least favorite. The soup was way too sweet. The caramelized onions are cooked with sugar, which made their sweetness overwhelming and took away from the soup’s savoriness.

The soup was also made without a single herb or spice, so it lacked the subtle background flavors that made some of the other contenders’ soups taste better. The classic topping of toasted bread and Gruyère cheese was nice, but it wasn’t enough to salvage the soup.

This recipe wasn’t bad, but it was definitely not my favorite. If you want to make it at home, I suggest ditching the sugar and increasing the amount of salt to help balance the sweetness. No disrespect to Julia Child, but I will not be making this soup again.

Overall rating: 5/10

Read more: Why I Won’t Be Making Julia Child’s Classic French Onion Soup Again

2. The Untraditional (and Unsatisfying) Take on the Classic: Ina Garten’s French Onion Soup

Ina’s take on French onion soup ditches the bread and Gruyère cheese in favor of shredded Parmesan. The simple garnish sadly wasn’t very satisfying and left me wanting more. The soup lacked the heartiness you get from the beloved bread-and-melted-cheese combo, and instead was just a bowl of onion soup with shredded cheese on top.

The soup base itself was delicious, and using half beef broth and half veal stock gave it a nice richness, but the overall presentation felt lackluster and unfinished. If Ina had finished the soup with the traditional bread and cheese topping, this could have been a winner.

My suggestion? Make Ina’s soup base, ditch the Parmesan, and garnish it was toasted bread and melted Gruyère cheese instead. You’ll thank me later.

Overall rating: 7/10

Read more: Ina Garten’s French Onion Soup Recipe Has One Fatal Flaw

3. The Safe, No-Frills Recipe: Alton Brown’s French Onion Soup

Brown’s soup is a classic, no-frills French onion soup recipe. It’s rich, super savory, and satisfying. He uses a bouquet garni (a fancy word for a bunch of herbs tied together with string) to add a pleasant herby flavor to the broth that makes the soup taste complex. He was also the only contender to use beef consommé (a clear, concentrated type of beef broth), which made the soup taste richer and more unctuous.

The only thing I didn’t love about this recipe was the unfiltered apple cider. Brown cuts his broth with 10 ounces of cider, making the soup taste a tad too sweet for my liking. The apple flavor was surprisingly strong and added an additional layer of flavor that I’m not sure I liked. If I were to make this recipe again I would omit the cider altogether and add additional broth consomme in its place.

Overall rating: 8/10

Read more: The Tiny Problem with Alton Brown’s French Onion Soup Recipe

4. The Clear Winner: Serious Eats’ French Onion Soup (Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée)

This recipe was the unanimous winner. It was everything I wanted French onion soup to taste like and more. It had the rich, ultra-savory flavor I associate with a good French onion soup and was topped with the winning combination of melted Gruyère cheese and toasted bread.

The recipe recommended using a combination of yellow onions, sweet onions, red onions, and shallots to make the soup, and the combination of the four made the soup taste more complex. The recipe uses chicken stock, which I was nervous would make the soup pale and flavorless, but it turned out to be delicious.

The one thing that made this soup stand out was its clever use of fish sauce. The recipe called for adding one teaspoon, which amped up the savoriness and took this soup to a whole new level. I absolutely loved this recipe and will be using it as my new go-to French onion soup moving forward.

Overall rating: 9/10

Read more: The Unconventional Ingredient That Makes Serious Eats’ French Onion Soup So Good

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We Tested 4 Famous French Onion Soup Recipes and Found a Clear Winner (2024)

FAQs

Is French onion soup broth a clear liquid? ›

Introduction: French Onion Soup

Unlike many chain restaurants' (and I have tried many chain restaurants' French Onion Soup), this soup base is a delicate clear liquid.

Who was the first person to make French onion soup? ›

It is said that it was invented by none other than King Louis XV late one night at his hunting lodge when he was very hungry. When he only found onions, butter, and champagne in the pantry, he decided to use the three ingredients to make the French onion soup for the very first time.

Why do you put baking soda in French onion soup? ›

The caramelized onions for this soup cook more quickly due to a pinch of baking soda but still have that deep, slow-cooked flavor. Topping the soup with hot, cheesy toasts prepared while the soup simmers, eliminates the need to bake the soup in specialty French onion soup bowls.

How do you deepen the flavor of French onion soup? ›

My personal go-tos include worcestershire sauce, fish sauce, and brandy. Each deepens the flavor of french onion soup. Balsamic vinegar and soy sauce are other great options.

What clear soups can you have during a colonoscopy? ›

You can still have smooth soups with no bits (e.g. tomato, vegetable Bouillon), jelly, ice cream, Ambrosia custard, Complan drinks, Bovril and Oxo drinks, and water, clear juices, fizzy drinks, coffee and tea.

Can I have French onion soup before colonoscopy? ›

Broth from French onion soup may contain ingredients that are not recommended during the preparation period before a colonoscopy.

What's the difference between French onion soup and onion soup? ›

What is the Difference Between Onion Soup and French Onion Soup? French onion soup is always made with beef stock. Other onion soups can be made with chicken, vegetable, or beef stock. Additionally, French onion soup typically contains wine or sherry, which isn't typical or necessary in other onion soups.

Why do French people eat onion soup? ›

The Onion Soup, a traditional and warming dish

It has even become a trendy dish that tourists are eager to try to experience French gastronomy. However, onion soup is in fact not part of French people's daily meals. It was originally meant to be eaten after a family reunion in the middle of the night to cure hangovers

Why is French onion soup so good? ›

French onion soup is the ultimate comfort food. Onions get slowly cooked until sweet and caramelized, then simmered in rich broth until they're practically falling apart. To finish it off, toasted bread is added to give it that lovable crisp-gone-soggy texture and a generous amount of Gruyère cheese is melted on top.

Why does my French onion soup taste burnt? ›

Yes, over high heat, onions can brown on the surface very quickly, especially in a pan that's not crowded. But the goal of caramelizing onions isn't just to brown the surface; it's to transform the onions so that they're soft and sweet to the core. Try to rush it and all you'll end up doing is burning them.

How do you thicken French onion soup? ›

If you want to thicken your French onion soup, you can add a bit of flour. Combine a couple of tablespoons of flour with a teaspoon of salt and whisk in about a quarter cup of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, until thickened.

Why is my French onion soup sour? ›

It might be because of the stock or that you used onions that has sour flavor such as white onions.

Why does my French onion soup taste sweet? ›

Onions are very sweet, especially when they're cooked down, and that is the main purpose of onion soup. The sweetness can be balanced by adding some dry wine or vinegar. Taste as you go and don't overdo it. A little salt will balance it too, but don't forget that the grated cheese you will top it with is salty.

What is a good substitute for cheese in French onion soup? ›

Key Ingredients & Substitutions

Cheese: To me, there is no better cheese in a French onion soup than Gruyere! However, shredded Swiss or provolone also works very well. Just be sure to find something that is easily shredded or grated, as that's what will give you that amazing gooey, melty cheese we all love.

How do you make soup taste richer? ›

Add acidic ingredients.

Foods that have a great deal of acidity, like lemon juice, vinegar, white wine, and tomato puree, can help liven up the flavor of bland-tasting bone and other broths. "The acidity of these ingredients works to complement and enhance the broth's flavors, not mask it.

Is broth considered a clear soup? ›

Liquids that you can see through at room temperature (about 78-72 degrees Fahrenheit) are considered clear liquids. This includes clear juices, broths, hard candy, ices and gelatin. The table below will help you with your choices. Clear fruit juices without pulp such as apple juice, grape juice, cranberry juice.

What soups are considered clear liquid? ›

Soups you can eat on a clear liquid diet include meat or vegetable broths and bouillon that does not have any solid foods, creams, or thickeners in them.

What soups are considered clear soup? ›

Broth and Bouillon

Broth, or bouillon, is a common clear soup. Broths come in a variety of flavours, including chicken, turkey, beef, vegetable and mushroom. Bouillon can also come in a powdered form, and stock cubes are a famous example of a powdered broth or bouillon base.

What is the best soup broth before a colonoscopy? ›

Clear soup, beef broth, chicken broth, bone broth, bouillon.

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