Easy Michael Symon French Onion Soup Recipe: Rich & Cozy Comfort

French onion soup transforms ordinary ingredients into a luxurious culinary experience that captivates taste buds with its rich, complex flavors.

Deeply caramelized onions create a robust foundation for this classic comfort dish, melding sweet and savory notes.

Professional chefs like Michael symon understand the delicate art of slowly coaxing incredible depth from simple ingredients.

Each spoonful promises a harmonious blend of tender onions swimming in a velvety broth, topped with crisp bread and melted cheese.

The magic happens through patient cooking techniques that develop intense, layered flavors.

Skilled cooks know this recipe requires careful attention and time to unlock its true potential.

You’ll fall in love with this soul-warming preparation that turns everyday ingredients into something extraordinary: prepare to be amazed.

Elevate Your Soup Game with Michael Symon’s French Onion Soup Tips

• Stir Consistently: Prevent burning by moving onions around the pot frequently during caramelization.
• Choose Heavy Cookware: Select a thick-bottomed stockpot to distribute heat evenly and avoid scorching ingredients.
• Toast Flour Properly: Cook flour mixture for at least 60 seconds to eliminate raw flavor and enhance soup's thickness.
• Maintain Moderate Temperature: Keep heat at medium-high to develop deep, rich caramelized onion flavor without rapid burning.
• Control Moisture Levels: Use wooden spoon to scrape brown bits from pot bottom, ensuring maximum flavor development without creating bitter burnt spots.

How to Keep Michael Symon’s French Onion Soup Fresh

Fridge Storage: Seal the soup in a heavy-duty glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Remove any cheese-topped croutons before refrigerating to prevent soggy bread and maintain crisp texture. Cool the soup completely before storing to prevent bacterial growth and preserve its rich flavor profile.

Freezer Storage: Pour the soup into freezer-safe plastic containers, leaving about an inch of space at the top for expansion. Avoid adding cheese or bread before freezing to prevent texture breakdown. Label containers with the date and contents, ensuring maximum storage time of 3 months for optimal taste and quality.

Reheating Strategy: Thaw frozen soup overnight in the refrigerator for best results. Warm gently in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. For frozen soup, use low heat and stir frequently, adding a splash of broth if the consistency seems too thick.

Tasty Twists on Michael Symon’s French Onion Soup

• Smoky Bacon Infusion: Crisp up chopped bacon before caramelizing onions, then use bacon fat instead of butter for an extra layer of rich, savory flavor. Sprinkle crispy bacon bits on top before serving for added crunch.
• Mushroom Enhancement: Add sliced cremini or porcini mushrooms during the onion caramelization process to introduce an earthy depth and additional umami to the soup. Incorporate a splash of truffle oil when serving for gourmet complexity.
• Vegetarian Adaptation: Replace beef stock with robust vegetable stock and add roasted portobello mushrooms for a meaty texture. Swap Worcestershire sauce with soy sauce or liquid aminos to maintain a deep, savory profile.
• Spicy Spanish Remix: Incorporate smoked paprika and chorizo during cooking to give the soup a Spanish-inspired kick. Top with manchego cheese instead of traditional gruyère for a regional twist that adds bold, tangy notes.

A Rich and Savory Delight with Michael Symon’s French Onion Soup

French onion soup showcases Michael Symon’s culinary mastery, blending rich caramelized onions with complex flavor profiles.

Classic techniques merge seamlessly with contemporary cooking wisdom in this remarkable recipe.

Comfort meets sophistication through carefully layered ingredients and precise preparation methods.

Hearty broth intertwines with deeply caramelized onions, creating a soul-warming experience for passionate home chefs.

Cheese-topped baguette croutons add luxurious texture and depth to each spoonful of this extraordinary soup.

Savor this masterpiece, share its deliciousness with fellow epicureans, comment on your cooking adventure, and spread the love for Michael Symon’s incredible French onion soup creation.

Why Michael Symon’s French Onion Soup is the Ultimate Comfort Bowl

• Savor Slow-Cooked Caramelized Onions: The recipe transforms ordinary onions into a rich, deep golden-brown treasure through patient 30-minute cooking, creating an incredible depth of flavor that's both sweet and complex.
• Master Delicious French Comfort: This classic French onion soup delivers restaurant-quality comfort food right in your kitchen, combining hearty broth, perfectly caramelized onions, crispy toasted bread, and melted cheese for an ultimate warm and satisfying meal.
• Elevate Simple Ingredients: Using basic pantry staples like butter, onions, stock, and wine, the recipe demonstrates how careful technique can transform humble ingredients into an extraordinary, sophisticated dish that looks and tastes gourmet with minimal professional cooking skills required.
• Create Textural Breakfast: The soup offers a delightful contrast between silky smooth broth, tender caramelized onions, crunchy toasted baguette, and gooey melted cheese, providing a multi-dimensional eating experience that keeps every bite interesting and delicious.

What You Need for Michael Symon’s French Onion Soup

• Butter: Provides a rich, smooth base for caramelizing onions and adding deep flavor.
• Onions: The star ingredient that creates the soup's signature sweet and complex taste, best when thinly sliced.
• Garlic: Adds a robust, aromatic depth to the soup's overall flavor profile.
• Flour: Helps thicken the soup and create a smooth texture.

• Wine: Deglazes the pan and adds a subtle acidic complexity to the soup's base.
• Stock: Creates the liquid foundation of the soup, providing rich and hearty flavor.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a tangy, umami depth to enhance the soup's overall taste.

• Bay Leaf: Provides a subtle herbal background note to the soup.
• Thyme: Contributes an earthy, aromatic element to the overall flavor.
• Salt and Pepper: Allows for personal seasoning to balance and enhance the soup's taste.

• Baguette: Creates crispy, flavorful croutons to top the soup.
• Cheese: Melts beautifully to create a golden, bubbling topping that adds richness and texture.

Creating the Perfect French Onion Soup by Michael Symon

Step 1: Prepare Caramelized Onions

• Every 3-5 minutes initially
• More frequently towards the end to prevent burning
• Aim for a deep golden brown color

Step 2: Add Aromatic Flavor

Stir in minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant. Sprinkle of flour and cook for 1 additional minute.

Step 3: Build Soup Base

• White wine
• Beef stock
• Worcestershire sauce

Use a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the pot bottom.

Step 4: Simmer Soup

Add bay leaf and fresh thyme. Bring to a bubble, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Step 5: Prepare Bread Croutons

Preheat oven to 400°F.

• Slice baguette into 1-inch thick pieces
• Arrange on baking sheet in single layer
• Bake 6-8 minutes until golden and crispy

Step 6: Cheese Topping Preparation

Set oven to broil. Place oven-safe bowls on thick baking sheet.

• Hot soup
• 1 baguette slice
• Generous handful of grated Gruyère cheese

Step 7: Final Broiling

• Cheese melts completely
• Develops golden bubbling surface

Watch carefully to prevent burning

Step 8: Serve Immediately

Remove from oven and serve piping hot.

Michael Symon French Onion Soup Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Hearty French onion soup by Michael Symon delivers classic comfort with caramelized onions and rich beef broth. Crusty bread and melted Gruyère cheese crown this elegant dish, inviting you to savor each deeply flavorful spoonful.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 4 pounds yellow onions, peeled and thinly sliced (approximately 5–6 large onions)
• 6 cups beef stock (or vegetable stock)
• ½ cup dry white wine

Flavor Enhancers:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)

Seasoning and Topping:

• fine sea salt, to taste
• freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
• grated or sliced cheese (such as Gruyere, Asiago, Swiss, Gouda or Mozzarella)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium-high heat (350°F/175°C), preparing for caramelization.
2. Add sliced onions and cook slowly, stirring every 3 to 5 minutes to prevent burning, allowing them to develop a deep golden-brown color over approximately 30 minutes.
3. Incorporate minced garlic and sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant, releasing its aromatic essence.
4. Sprinkle flour over the onion mixture and stir continuously for 1 minute to create a roux, which will help thicken the soup.
5. Deglaze the pot with wine, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any caramelized bits from the bottom, enhancing the soup’s depth of flavor.
6. Pour in beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, and fresh thyme, stirring to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
7. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and simmer for 10-15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and develop.
8. Remove bay leaf and thyme sprigs, discarding them to prevent any woody texture in the soup.
9. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
10. Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C) for bread preparation.
11. Slice baguette into 1-inch thick pieces and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet.
12. Toast bread for 6-8 minutes until edges turn golden and crisp, creating crunchy croutons.
13. Position oven-safe bowls on a sturdy baking sheet for final preparation.
14. Ladle hot soup into each bowl, filling approximately 3/4 full.
15. Top each serving with a toasted baguette slice and generously sprinkle grated cheese over the surface.
16. Broil 6 inches from heat source for 2-4 minutes, watching carefully until cheese melts and becomes bubbly and slightly golden.
17. Monitor closely to prevent burning, ensuring perfect caramelization.
18. Remove from oven immediately and serve piping hot, allowing guests to enjoy the soup’s rich, comforting flavors.

Notes

• Take time to slowly cook onions over medium heat, allowing their natural sugars to develop a rich, sweet flavor.
• Stir frequently to ensure even caramelization and prevent burning, creating a golden-brown base for your dish.
• Select a heavy-bottomed stockpot to distribute heat evenly and prevent onions from sticking or scorching.
• Toast the flour briefly to eliminate its raw taste and help create a smooth, thickened texture for the recipe.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 246 kcal
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 9 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg