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French Onion Soup Inspired Cheesy Onion Boil
🛒 Quick Ingredients
📋 Complete Ingredients List
💡 Pro tip: Tap items to check them off as you prep!
- 6 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 8 cups beef broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian version)
- 1 cup dry white wine (optional)
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 slices crusty French bread
- 2 cups gruyere cheese, grated
- 1 cup Swiss cheese, grated
🍳 Quick Cooking Steps
Place sliced onions, butter, and olive oil in the crockpot
Set crockpot to HIGH and cook onions for 1 hour with lid slightly ajar to release moisture
Add garlic, salt, and pepper, then stir well
Pour in beef broth, wine, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and thyme
Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours until onions are deeply caramelized
Remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs
Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls
Top each bowl with a slice of crusty bread
Layer with combined gruyere and Swiss cheese
Place under broiler for 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly
Serve immediately while cheese is hot and stretchy
🔧 Kitchen Tools & Equipment
📋 Complete Tools List
- 6-quart crockpot
- Sharp chef's knife
- Large cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cheese grater
- Ladle
- Oven-safe soup bowls (for final broiling)
- Broiler pan
⚡ Quick Cooking Tips
Use a combination of different onion varieties for complex flavor
Add a splash of cognac for authentic French flavor
Try different cheese combinations like fontina or raclette
Make it vegetarian with mushroom or vegetable broth
Add roasted garlic for extra depth
Top with crispy fried onions for added texture
Use sourdough bread for tangier flavor
📊 Nutrition Facts
🔥 Time to Burn Calories
Walking 60min, Running 30min, Cycling 45min
📦 Storage & Meal Prep
🥶 Storage Instructions
- Store soup base without bread and cheese in airtight containers
- Refrigerate for up to 5 days
- Keep grated cheese separate in sealed bag
🔥 Reheating Tips
- Reheat soup portion in microwave or stovetop until hot
- Add fresh bread and cheese before broiling
- Avoid reheating with bread and cheese already added
⏰ Make Ahead Tips
- Slice onions up to 24 hours in advance
- Prepare soup base and store separately from toppings
- Grate cheese ahead and store in airtight container
❄️ Freezing Guide
- Freeze soup base without bread and cheese for up to 3 months
- Thaw overnight in refrigerator
- Add fresh toppings when reheating and serving
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- Serve with a crisp green salad with light vinaigrette
- Pair with a glass of dry white wine
- Add a side of garlic butter green beans
- Serve extra crusty bread on the side
- Garnish with fresh thyme leaves
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Not slicing onions thinly enough for proper caramelization
- Adding all liquid at the beginning, which prevents proper caramelization
- Using wrong cheese varieties that don't melt well
- Overcrowding the crockpot with too many onions
- Not allowing proper venting during initial onion cooking phase
🎨 Recipe Variations
- Italian Style: Use fontina cheese and add herbs like oregano and basil
- Beer Version: Replace wine with dark beer for rich flavor
- Low-Carb: Skip bread and use portobello mushroom caps as base for cheese
- Deluxe Version: Add caramelized shallots and leeks to onion mixture
- Rustic Style: Use crusty whole grain bread and smoked gouda
❓ Quick Cooking Q&A
They should be deep golden brown and very soft, almost jam-like in consistency.
Yes, but yellow onions provide the best flavor for traditional French onion soup.
No, you can omit it and replace with additional broth, but it adds depth to the flavor.
Yes, prepare the soup base ahead and add bread and cheese just before serving.
Ensure you're using good melting cheeses and your broiler is fully preheated.
Yes, freeze the soup base without bread and cheese for up to 3 months.
Stir occasionally and ensure there's enough liquid in the crockpot.
A crusty French bread or baguette works best as it holds up well in the soup.
Yes, use dairy-free cheese alternatives and vegan butter.
Broil for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly with some brown spots.
