This post may contain affiliate links.
Behold a cult classic for soup lovers – Healthy French Onion Soup. It’s has deeply savory caramelized onions in every bite and big flavor from wine, balsamic and other fresh ingredients. Topped with toasty baguette and melted cheese, this is a 10/10 winner. I crave this meal at least once a month.
A Few Reasons You Will Love French Onion Soup
- It’s a bit healthier than others. Made with fresh ingredients and lighter in calories, it’s a great savory soup.
- Easy to make. The caramelized onions take awhile to cook and do require some attention but everything else is SO easy.
- Great for entertaining. This Healthy French onion soup makes for a great appetizer and impresses all my guests. Also try my Black Bean Soup!
Ingredients Needed
All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card towards the bottom of this post.
- Olive Oil. Starting with a high quality olive oil is kep for caramelizing the onions.
- Onions. Yellow onions are best in my opinion. When they are cooked low and slow and properly caramelized, they give a deep, rich, and sweet base. They also hold up well to the long cooking time required for caramelization.
- Seasonings/Herbs. Salt, pepper and fresh thyme season this delicious dish.
- Garlic. This adds a nice savory aromatic flavor.
- All Purpose Flour. This thickens up the soup. Use gluten free flour if needed.
- Broth. Use Chicken or veggie broth for the base of the soup. Low sodium is always recommend.
- Balsamic Vinegar. This is a must! It adds a little more sweetness.
- Worcestershire Sauce. The best little touch of salty/savory flavor.
- Wine. I use red or white depending on which aI have on had. the red will offer a deeper flavor and color to the soup.
Healthy French Onion Soup Toppings
- Thinly Sliced Baguette. This is a classic for topping the soup and some peoples favorite part.
- Parmesan & Cheddar. I use a combination of the two for extra flavor and texture.
- Extra Fresh Thyme Sprigs.
Steps To Make This Recipe
Ready to cook dinner? Let me walk you through the recipe. For your convenience, there is a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.
- Step One. Slice the onions thinly, try to keep them all the same size. Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions. (photo 1).
- Step Two. Reduce the heat to low and cook for about 40 minutes, stirring every few minutes, or until the onions are very soft.
- Step Three. Increase the heat to medium/high and cook 15 to 20 more minutes, stirring often, until golden brown, careful not to burn the onions (photo 2). Add the vinegar, Worcestershire, thyme, and garlic and stir. Sprinkle the flour on the onions. (photo 3).
- Step Four. Stir in the wine. Add the chicken or veggie broth and simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes (photo 4). Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450º
- Step Five. Ladle the soup into oven safe ramekins or bowls and top each with a toasted baguette slices and shredded cheese and parmesan. Place the bowls in the oven for about 5-8 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
What To Serve With French Onion Soup
Okay this soup is so filling and delicious on it’s own with it’s melty cheese and toasted baguette but I have a few favorite recipes I love to serve with this meal. Honey Garlic Lemon Chicken, Sheet Pan Chicken make a great main dish for this one! Also my Crispy Onion Baked Pork Chops pair well if you are a high onion lover.
Healthy French Onion Soup Tips
- Make sure the onions are thinly sliced and even in width so they cook evenly.
- Pack your patience with the caramelization of the onions, it takes a bit but the big flavor is SO worth it.
- Use a wide, heavy-bottomed pot (like a Dutch oven) to ensure even cooking and prevent steaming.
- If the onions or the fond (browned bits on the bottom, burning a bit) start to stick and look like they might burn, add a few tablespoons of water or a splash of your liquid (wine/broth) to scrape up the bits and deglaze the pan slightly. This builds flavor without adding bitterness.
- Rub the baguette with Garlic. For an extra layer of flavor, lightly rub the toasted baguette slices with a cut raw garlic clove just before topping with cheese.
- If you don’t have onion safe bowls or want EXTRA crispy baguette: Preheat the oven to 450°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the baguette slices, topped with cheeses, on the baking sheet and bake until the slices are toasted extra and the cheese is melted, 8 to 10 minutes. THEN top the soup with the baguette.
Other Soups To Try
Healthy French Onion Soup
Behold a cult classic for soup lovers – Healthy French Onion Soup. It's has deeply savory caramelized onions in every bite and big flavor from wine, balsamic and other fresh ingredients. Topped with toasty baguette and melted cheese, this is a 10/10 winner. I crave this meal at least once a month.
Equipment
- 5-6 qt soup pot
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp olive oil
- 4 large yellow onions, halved and sliced thinly
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 1½ Tbsp Worcestershire, or low sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves , plus some sprigs for garnish!
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
- ½ cup red or dry white wine , optional, use water in place if needed
- 6 cups low sodium veggie or chicken broth
Soup Toppings (Optional)
- 8-10 slices baguette
- ¾ cup Gruyere or cheddar
- ¼ cup parmesan
Instructions
- Slice the onions thinly, try to keep them all the same size. Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions, salt, and several grinds of pepper and toss to combine.
- Reduce the heat to low and cook for about 40 minutes, stirring every few minutes, or until the onions are very soft.
- Increase the heat to medium/high and cook 15 to 20 more minutes, stirring often, until golden brown, careful not to burn the onions. Add the vinegar, Worcestershire, thyme, and garlic and stir. Sprinkle the flour on the onions, stir, and cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the wine and cook 2 minutes, or until evaporated (this also burns of the alcohol!) Add the chicken or veggie broth and simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450º. If you prefer a thinner soup, just add a little water to the broth to help thin it out.
Notes
Healthy French Onion Soup Tips
- Make sure the onions are thinly sliced and even in width so they cook evenly.
- Pack your patience with the caramelization of the onions, it takes a bit but the big flavor is SO worth it.
- Use a wide, heavy-bottomed pot (like a Dutch oven) to ensure even cooking and prevent steaming.
- If the onions or the fond (browned bits on the bottom, burning a bit) start to stick and look like they might burn, add a few tablespoons of water or a splash of your liquid (wine/broth) to scrape up the bits and deglaze the pan slightly. This builds flavor without adding bitterness.
- Rub the baguette with Garlic. For an extra layer of flavor, lightly rub the toasted baguette slices with a cut raw garlic clove just before topping with cheese.
- If you don’t have onion safe bowls or want EXTRA crispy baguette: Preheat the oven to 450°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the baguette slices, topped with cheeses, on the baking sheet and bake until the slices are toasted extra and the cheese is melted, 8 to 10 minutes. THEN top the soup with the baguette.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can freeze these for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 cup | Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 582mg | Potassium: 654mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 353IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 291mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!
I hope you enjoy this one! My husband and i love it!