Slow Cooker Beefy French Onion Soup | An Onion Soup Recipe With Beef (2024)

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Slow Cooker Beefy French Onion Soup is the most amazing onion soup recipe! Shredded beef and cheese in a homemade beef stock, this is total comfort food.

Slow Cooker Beefy French Onion Soup | An Onion Soup Recipe With Beef (1)

The Best French Onion Soup Recipe

If that weren’t enough to get you to make this Slow Cooker Beefy French Onion Soup, I’ll give you the story behind it too.

We were just on a family vacation in St. John. Just in November but it already seems so long ago…the fact that we woke up to 6 degrees here in Jersey today isn’t helping at all. One night though we made our way through town and ate dinner at a restaurantcalled Extra Virgin Bistro. It was a really nice, open air restaurant that served upscale Italian food.

First glance at the menu I knew we were in the right place, but the one thing I knew I had to order was the French Onion Soup. Because it had shredded short ribs in it (why? because they must follow the way I think in that everything is better with meat) and it was ridiculously good.

So, you know we had to come home and try our best to make it again – and we totally nailed it.

How Do You Make Slow Cooker Beefy French Onion Soup?

I’m going to tell you right off the bat, this is a two day recipe. It’s not a quick one but it is still an easy one. Also I can promise you that it’s SO worth every minute that it takes to make.

We use our slow cooker for lots of soup recipes like this Turkey Leg Split Pea Soup. That one doesn’t take two days so check it out if you’re shorter on time…

Making the stock in the slow cooker is the first step of the process. Everything goes in the pot and it cooks for 8 hours on low.

We had a large prime rib for one of our holiday dinners so we actually used the ribs cut off from that to make this soup, but seeing as you probably won’t have those laying around – short ribs are the way to go.

As you can see we like our soup beefy, just like our popular Beefy Tomato Soup recipe…lots of beef.

Slow Cooker Beefy French Onion Soup | An Onion Soup Recipe With Beef (2)

You can remove the ribs at this point, strain the broth into a stock pot and shred the beef from the bones into a bowl.

Put the stock pot in the fridge to chill overnight and separate the fat from the broth. This step is really important, short ribs are fatty so if you don’t do this part you’ll end up with really greasy soup.

When you’re ready to make the rest of the soup, carefully peel the layer of fat off the top of the stock and set the pot over medium heat to simmer. While that’s simmering away, you can make the caramelized onions. This is another way that we use our Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions recipe too!

When the onions are done you can add them to the stock that’s been simmering, along with the shredded beef.

Grab a few oven safe bowls and put them on a sheet pan. Fill the bowls with the soup and top with a piece of toasted baguette and all the cheese you want.

Slow Cooker Beefy French Onion Soup | An Onion Soup Recipe With Beef (3)

Under the broiler it goes for a few minutes until the cheese melts and starts to brown…then this onion soup is ready.

This Slow Cooker Beefy French Onion Soup recipe is worth the wait. Hopefully you have enough for the next day, too because the leftovers are even better!

Slow Cooker Beefy French Onion Soup | An Onion Soup Recipe With Beef (4)

Looking For More Soup Recipes?

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    Slow Cooker Beefy French Onion Soup | An Onion Soup Recipe With Beef (5)

    Slow Cooker Beefy French Onion Soup

    ★★★★★5 from 2 reviews
    • Author: Dan
    • Prep Time: 45 minutes
    • Cook Time: 8 hours 45 minutes
    • Total Time: 9 hours 30 minutes
    • Yield: 8 1x

    Print Recipe

    This slow cooker french onion soup is so rich and hearty, the homemade beef stock is so worth making!

    Scale

    Ingredients

    For the Stock

    • 3 lbs. short ribs, seasoned with salt and pepper
    • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
    • 2 sprigs fresh tarragon
    • 1 teaspoon peppercorns
    • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 5 carrots, peeled and cut into large pieces
    • 2 medium onions, peeled and quartered
    • 5 celery stalks, cut into large pieces
    • 10 cups water

    For the Caramelized Onions

    • 6 medium to large onions, peeled, cut in half and sliced
    • 2 tablespoon butter plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1/4 cup marsala wine

    Soup Topping

    • 4 cups gruyere cheese, shredded
    • 1 french baguette, sliced and lightly toasted (you’ll need 2 pieces for each bowl of soup)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the seasoned ribs on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil and roast for 45 minutes, turning once half way through cooking.
    2. Once the ribs are roasted, place them into a slow cooker along with the rest of the ingredients for the stock and set on low heat for 8 hours.
    3. Remove the bones from the stock and place into a bowl to cool.
    4. Shred the meat from the bones, discarding any fat and set aside.
    5. Carefully pour the stock through a strainer into a large pot. You can throw the out the vegetables used in the stock.
    6. Once the stock has cooled, cover and place in the refrigerator overnight.
    7. When you’re ready to make the soup, remove the layer of fat from the stock and discard.
    8. Place the pot over medium heat (uncovered so the stock reduces) and bring to a boil. Turn down and let simmer while you make the onions (about 30 minutes).
    9. Add the butter and olive oil to a large skillet along with the sliced onions over medium-low heat.
    10. Add the salt and thyme and stir to combine.
    11. Let the onions cook, stirring often, for at least 30 minutes until the onions are brown and caramelized. The time it takes to caramelize will depend on the size of the skillet you are using, but they should be completely soft and brown in color when they are done. After the 30 minutes are up and the onions are caramelized, add the marsala wine and cook another 5 minutes.
    12. Now add the onions to the simmering stock along with the beef you removed from the bones.
    13. Stir and let simmer for another 15 minutes, then test for seasonings.
    14. Preheat the broiler.
    15. Fill each oven proof bowl with onion soup, then top with one or two pieces of toasted bread.
    16. Cover the bowl with cheese then repeat with the remaining soup bowls.
    17. Place the bowls on a sheet pan under the broiler for 3-4 minutes until the cheese melts and starts to get toasty on top.
    18. Remove from the oven and serve piping hot!

    Recipe Notes

    You’ll need oven safe bowls or soup crocks for this recipe!

    • Category: soup
    • Method: slow cooker/stove top
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: french onion soup, onion soup, soup recipe, slow cooker soup, slow cooker onion soup, beef recipes, short ribs, gruyere cheese

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    Slow Cooker Beefy French Onion Soup | An Onion Soup Recipe With Beef (2024)

    FAQs

    What kind of meat goes with French onion soup? ›

    Steak bites, seasoned and cooked to perfection, offer a hearty and flavorful complement to French Onion Soup. The richness of the steak pairs wonderfully with the depth of the soup, making for a satisfying and indulgent meal. These bite-sized pieces are easy to eat and add a luxurious touch to your dining experience.

    Does French onion soup contain beef? ›

    3. Broth/stock - French Onion Soup can be made with chicken or beef broth. It is more commonly made with beef stock, from what I have observed. Use a good quality beef stock.

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

    A few sprigs of thyme and a bay leaf elevate the soup even more, but I take it a step further, adding a splash of fish sauce for complexity and depth—don't worry, it won't taste fishy—and a hit of cider vinegar to balance some of that oniony sweetness.

    What is the difference between onion soup and French 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.

    What is the etiquette for eating French onion soup? ›

    With such a soup, a knife is your friend, not your enemy. Using both the soup spoon and the knife, push the baked cheese against the rim of the cup or bowl and cut it gently with the knife. Once you've broken the cheese barrier, you can use the knife again to nudge bits of cheese onto the spoon.

    What do you call a soup with meat in it? ›

    The dish we call stew may start the same way as a soup, and can include many of the same ingredients used in soup (meat, fish, vegetables, whatever). Stews are cooked by simmering or slow boiling, known as stewing.

    What kind of beef is used in soup? ›

    The best cut of meat for beef soup is either a chuck roast, chuck shoulder, chuck-eye roast or top chuck – with chuck roast being my personal favorite. These are the most tender cuts.

    Do people in France eat French onion soup? ›

    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…

    What ethnicity is French onion soup? ›

    The classic French onion soup gets its name from its country of origin: France. After making its debut in the 18th century, it has become a national treasure. During ancient times (and still today), onions were cheap and easy to grow, and hence, readily available.

    Should you caramelize onions for French onion soup? ›

    The key to good French onion soup is to cook the onions so long that they threaten to melt into a viscous, dark brown paste, à la Marmite. As has already been extensively reported in Slate, there are no shortcuts when you're caramelizing onions; it always takes at least an hour, usually longer.

    Why does my French onion soup taste burnt? ›

    If the heat is too high, the onions will burn. If you don't stir often at beginning and almost constantly toward the end, the onions will burn. If one little bit burns the whole batch needs to be tossed. Otherwise the soup ends up tasting like burnt onion.

    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.

    Why did Panera change their French onion soup? ›

    Panera Bread is working to regain customers' loyalty in 2020 with the reintroduction of its fan-favorite French Onion Soup. 2019 was a year of food news for Panera, not all of it positive. First, it removed the French Onion Soup, a staple on the menu for over 20 years, to make room for seasonal menu items in June.

    Does it matter how you cut onions for French onion soup? ›

    For French onion soup, it is best to slice the onions into thin, even slices. This will allow them to cook evenly and caramelize properly. You can achieve this by cutting the onion in half, placing the flat side down, and slicing it widthwise into thin slices.

    Why is my French onion soup too 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.

    Is French onion soup good for you? ›

    Well, you'll be pleased to know that french onion soup is, in fact, a highly nutritious choice. Onions, as part of the Allium family, contain Quercetin which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and should not be overlooked as a vegetable when considering your daily 7-a-day.

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