French Onion Soup Without Wine
French onion soup without wine is just as delicious as traditional French onion soup, but without alcohol, making it perfect for the whole family to enjoy. Topped with slices of bread and melted cheese, this soup is the perfect winter recipe.
Why you will love my recipe for French onion soup without wine
- This soup has all the flavors of traditional French onion soup, but it is alcohol-free, making this recipe family-friendly. I love making this soup for my family on a chilly day, so I don't want to add alcohol of any kind, like you would for a traditional French onion soup recipe.
- Caramelized onions with a savory broth create the perfect flavor balance. It does take a little patience, but trust me, the sweetness of slowly caramelizing the onions is worth it!
- It has grilled cheese. What's not to love?
Ingredient notes
Onions: White or yellow onions are ideal for this soup as they provide sweetness and contribute to the soup's characteristic yellow-brown color.
Beef broth: French onion soup is always made with beef broth. In fact, that is what makes this dish different from other onion soup recipes.
Bread: Thick slices of baguette topped with melted cheese are the best choice for this soup, but any type of bread with a hard crust can also be used.
Cheese: To make a classic French onion soup, you will need Gruyère cheese. This French cheese pairs perfectly with the sweet onions and melts beautifully. You can use any type of melty cheese, like Emmental or Gouda, if you don't like Gruyère.
Flour: To thicken the soup, we add flour. You don't need fancy flour since regular all-purpose flour works perfectly.
Seasonings: Besides salt and pepper, you don't need much seasoning. You can add a little thyme if you want, but you definitely don't have to.
Vinegar: Some people find French onion soup a little too sweet. If you're one of them, please add a tablespoon of white wine vinegar; it will make a huge difference.
How to make French onion soup without wine
To make French onion soup without wine, you start by cutting the onions into ¼ inch thick slices. For me, this is the perfect thickness. It doesn't take hours to cook, and they're not so small that they burn easily.
Melt the butter in a large pot and add the onions. Let them caramelize slowly on medium heat for the best flavor. Always use a heavy-bottomed pan when you caramelize the onions to make sure they cook evenly. Don't set the heat too high because the onions will burn. If the bottom gets too dark, add a few tablespoons of water to prevent them from burning.
I like to add a tablespoon or two of vinegar or water to deglaze the bottom of the pan. A lot of caramelized bits stick to the pan, and you want all the flavor in your soup. Make sure to thoroughly scrape the bottom of the pan to get all the bits in the soup. Once your onions have a deep, golden-brown color, they are ready for the next step.
Next, we add the flour. Give it a quick stir and cook for 1-2 minutes before adding the stock. You want to lose the raw flavor of the flour, so don't skip this step. Make sure that everything is combined, and bring the soup to a boil. Let the soup simmer for about 30 minutes, and season with salt and pepper.
Once the soup is done, you can divide the soup between your oven-safe bowls and cut the baguette into 1-inch thick slices. Place two slices of bread in each bowl and cover the bread with heated Gruyère cheese.
Place the bowls in the center of the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and starts to bubble.
What to serve with French onion soup?
I like to serve my alcohol free French onion soup, with some extra baguette, but I've asked my friends for more suggestions, and this is what they came up with:
- Salads! Easy, light salads like my spinach and feta cheese salad or beetroot salad are great options to add some extra veggies to your lunch.
- If you're looking for bread to serve with your soup but don't want to serve it with more baguette, dinner rolls, or toast are also delicious.
- For dinner, pair it with baked potatoes and veggies like green beans, honey-glazed carrots, or broccoli.
What is your favorite side for French onion soup?
My tips for this recipe
- Give the onions time to caramelize. Caramelizing onions takes time, but it's worth the effort. Slow browning makes them soft and sweet, which is essential for the best alcohol-free French onion soup.
- Use white onions. Some types of onions can be really sweet, and while some love that, I prefer a more savory soup.
- Don't skip the grilled cheese! The slices of baguette topped with perfectly melted cheese make French onion soup the amazing classic we all love.
Frequently asked questions
I always add extra beef stock and a tablespoon of white wine vinegar.
If your onion soup lacks flavor, it's almost always because you didn't properly caramelize your onions. You want to give them time to brown and caramelize slowly to release the best flavor. The dark bits on the bottom also help, so make sure to scrape them off the bottom while cooking.
You can, but I haven't tried this myself.
Storage and reheating
French onion soup without wine can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Be sure to place it in an airtight container and allow it to cool completely before putting it in the fridge.
This soup is also suitable for freezing. Divide the soup into freezer bags or containers and store the bread separately. When frozen, the soup lasts for up to six months, while the bread can be stored for three months. When you're ready to enjoy the soup, simply take it out of the freezer and warm it on the stove or in the microwave.
More of my favorite soup recipes
French Onion Soup Without Wine
Ingredients
- 6 large onions peeled and thinly sliced
- 8 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup Gruyere cheese grated
- 1 baguette cut into slices
Instructions
- Melt the butter and add the onions and a pinch of salt.
- Cook the onions until they are softened and caramelized. This takes about 40 minutes.
- Add the broth, and be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan!
- Let the onion soup simmer for half an hour.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Meanwhile, sprinkle some cheese over the bread slices and put them under the grill until the cheese is melted.
- Ladle the soup into a bowl and add two slices of bread to each bowl.
I just Loooooove me some french onion soup. It has such a rich deep flavor. Can't wait to try this!