Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

This Slow Cooker French Onion Soup is full of caramelized onions and beefy rich broth that simmers away while you do everything or nothing.  Top with toasted baguette and gruyere cheese and you have the most delicious light dinner or appetizer!

We love frenchie food around here!   There are several fabulous restaurants in the Seattle area that we frequent and good French Onion Soup is the start to every perfect frenchie meal!

Why cook this soup in the Slow Cooker opposed to stove top?  Time.  Time for those delicious onions you carmalized to infuse the broth and it’s ready when you are!

What are the best kind of onions to use in French Onion Soup –

• Good old cheap and cheerful yellow onions – Just the way Julia Childs did it in Mastering the Art of French Cooking.   If it”s good enough for her, it’s good enough for me!  But if you prefer sweet onions you can certainly use them just omit sugar from the recipe.  I find them on the mild side and like this soup with big flavored onions.

How to cut onions with no tears!     I am one of those people that have a very very strong aversion to onion vapor. It can literally ruin my day.  I tried everything from holding my breath to using a table top fan to blow away the vapors!

I finally solved the problem with Onion Goggles.  You can see them in the picture below.  I swear by them!  It’s quite the look,  but I’ll take the relief over looks any day!

The picture above is 8 cups of onions.  It sounds and looks like so much but it reduces down to the picture below.

Pour those beautiful onions into the slow cooker along with your beef broth, sugar and spices and you are almost done!

What kind of broth do I use for French Onion Soup –

• Julia would brown beef bones and simmer them for hours along with carrots, onions etc.  But we are not Julia and as much as I love her I simply don’t have the time or desire to do this.  We buy beef broth, low sodium, at our local grocers.  Once the onions infuse the broth it becomes rich and flavorful!

Now that your broth has simmered away and your house smells like a French cafe.  Line a baking sheet with sliced baguettes and toast under the broiler until brown on both sides.  We keep these crunchy so they soften up in the soup.

Ladle your onion soup into sturdy bowls that can take a bit of broiler heat.  Top with toasted baguette slices and a big handful of gruyere cheese.

Broil for a minute or two until brown and bubbly.

Serve this delicious soup with additional bread and a simple salad.  A light meal or perfect starter!

More Slow Cooker recipes:

Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon – another classic from Julia Childs Mastering the Art of French Cooking only we developed it for the slow cooker.

Easy and Tender Slow Cooker Pot Roast – a classic dinner everyone loves!

Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce – a delicious blend of beef and tomatoes simmered for hours for an authentic Italian flavor!

Bon Appetit’!

Clink

Kathi

 What do you think about this recipe?Have questions?Comment below!Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, and connect with us on Instagram and  tag your @Laughingspatula recipes with #laughingspatula,while you’re at it…We love to see your pics! 

Hey and check out our new YouTube Channel!

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Delicious and comforting French Onion Soup thatis simmered for hours allowing the onions to fully infuse the beef broth for a deep flavored soup!

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours hours

Total Time: 6 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Author: Kathi & Rachel

Equipment

• Slow Cooker

Ingredients

• 8 cups yellow onion, thinly sliced (about 3 pounds or 6 large onions)
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar omit if using sweet onions
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 cups beef broth we prefer low sodium
• 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup dry sherry or dry white wine
• 6 sprigs fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 8 slices french bread, toasted additional bread to serve on the side if desired
• 1 cup grated gruyere cheese

Instructions

• Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and sugar.
• Cook and stir for about 20 minutes until onions are light in color and fully caramelized.
• Add caramelized onions to slow cooker along with beef broth, garlic, sherry, thyme and bay leaves.
• Cook on low for 5-6 hous and up to 8 hours. Taste for salt. May need to add several pinches if using lower sodium broth
• Remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs and discard.
• Toast sliced baguette under broiler turning once until browned.
• Ladle soup into hearty bowls. Top with a slice of bread and handful of grated cheese covering the entire top of the soup.
• Place soup bowls on large sheet pan (for ease of handling) and broil until top is golden brown and bubbly.
• Serve with additional bread and a simple salad as a light meal or appetizer.

Notes

• If using sweet onions, omit sugar
• To cook on stove top:  Follow all directions only add to large soup pot and simmer for an hour or two.  
• Substitute swiss cheese in a pinch
• Taste for salt especially if using lower sodium broth

Nutrition

Calories: 396kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 484mg | Potassium: 378mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 331IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 244mg | Iron: 3mg

This post  may contain affiliate links, which means I might receive a very small commission, at no additional cost to you,  should you chose to purchase that linked item.  I only link to items I know and trust.   Clink!