French onion soup is a special and warming dish that is very simple to make in the slow cooker. Get gourmet results with little prep time and effort!
French onion soup is one of those special dishes that people tend to order in restaurants but not bother to make at home. After trying this simple recipe though, it will be surprising just how little work goes into creating such a delicious bowl!
The two basic ingredients for the soup are onions, of course, and beef broth. Feel free to use canned or homemade broth, or substitue an equal amount of prepared beef bullion from a liquid or powdered mix. The onion flavour is absorbed into the broth as the soup simmers all day in the slow cooker, resulting in a delectable base for the soup. The really special part of the dish, however, is the bread and cheese topping.
The Topping
Anyone who's ever eaten French Onion Soup knows that the crusty French bread covered in smooth and gooey cheese is the star of the show. This topping is easily replicated at home with only a few simple ingredients.
Good quality French bread floats on top of the bowl, smothered in a combination of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses that have melted and browned and are very hard to resist! There are a few ways to achieve this masterpiece.
Slice the bread about 3/4 of an inch thick, and toast it lightly in the toaster or the oven. Spoon the finished soup into bowls, and float a slice of the toasted bread on top. Cover the bread with shredded mozzarella and freshly grated Parmesan cheeses.
The cheeses will melt on their own if the soup is allowed to sit for several minutes before serving. For very busy dinner hosts, this is the easiest way to finish it off. Placing a lid or other cover on top of the bowls will speed up this process.
For those who prefer to brown the cheese, make sure that the soup is in oven-safe bowls. Then place the prepared soup (with topping) bowls on a baking sheet and broil for a minute or two to brown and melt the cheeses. Or use a kitchen blowtorch to finish off the topping. Use these with care, and following all safety precautions that come with the instruction booklets!
Slow Cooker French Onion Soup Recipe
Makes 10 servings
Ingredients:
- 6 large cooking onions, coarsely chopped into small pieces
- 1/2 cup butter
- 8 cups beef broth (if using canned broth, do not dilute with water)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 bay leaves
- sliced French bread
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Put it All Together:
- In a large skillet, stir-fry the onions in butter until just translucent. Transfer contents of skillet into slow cooker. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaves.
- Cook on high for one hour. Turn slow cooker down to low and continue cooking for 6-8 hours.
- Remove bay leaves. Spoon soup into bowls and top each one with a slice of French bread. Divide cheeses between bowls, covering each slice of bread. Allow cheeses to melt before serving.
