Description
Pioneer Woman’s Crockpot French Onion Soup is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring slow-cooked caramelized onions in a rich beef broth, topped with toasted baguette slices and melted Gruyère cheese. This recipe utilizes the convenience of a crockpot to develop deep, savory flavors with minimal hands-on time, making it perfect for a cozy meal on chilly days.
Ingredients
Scale
Onion Base
- 5 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Additional Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 8 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
- 1 bay leaf
Toppings
- 1 baguette, sliced and toasted
- 2 cups shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: In a skillet, melt the butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onions, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened and have turned a rich caramel color, about 20 to 25 minutes. This step develops the signature deep flavor of the soup.
- Prepare Crockpot Mixture: Transfer the caramelized onions from the skillet into the crockpot. Stir in the minced garlic and all-purpose flour thoroughly to combine. The flour acts as a thickening agent for the soup.
- Add Broth and Herbs: Pour in the beef broth and dry white wine (if using). Add the sprigs of fresh thyme or dried thyme and the bay leaf to the crockpot. Stir lightly to mix all ingredients together.
- Slow Cook the Soup: Cover the crockpot with its lid and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. This slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld deeply and the soup to develop a rich taste.
- Remove Herbs and Prepare for Serving: Carefully remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf from the soup. Preheat your oven’s broiler to high.
- Assemble the Bowls: Ladle the hot soup into oven-safe bowls. Top each bowl with toasted baguette slices and generously sprinkle shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese over the top.
- Broil the Soup: Place the bowls on a baking sheet and broil in the oven until the cheese melts, bubbles, and begins to brown slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Serve: Serve the French onion soup hot and enjoy the combination of caramelized onions, savory broth, crispy baguette, and melted cheese.
Notes
- Caramelizing onions slowly is key to developing the sweet and rich flavor of the soup.
- If you don’t have fresh thyme, dried thyme is a good substitute.
- Using a dry white wine enhances the depth of flavor but can be omitted if preferred.
- To save time, you can toast the baguette slices ahead of time.
- Make sure to use oven-safe bowls that can handle broiling heat to avoid accidents.
- The soup can be made a day ahead; flavors often improve after resting overnight in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (slow cooker)
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: French
Keywords: French Onion Soup, Crockpot Soup, Slow Cooker Recipe, Caramelized Onions, Comfort Food, Pioneer Woman Recipe, Beef Broth Soup
