French Onion Soup with Bacon

Name: French Onion Soup with Bacon
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 4 slices bacon, chopped; 1 cup unsalted butter; 3 yellow onions, sliced; 3 red onions, sliced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 2 bay leaves; 1 tsp dried thyme; 1 cup dry white wine; 1 tbsp beef bouillon powder; 1/3 cup all-purpose flour; 4 cups chicken broth; 4-5 cups water; salt, to taste; 8 slices baguette, toasted; 8 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced

This French onion soup combines deeply caramelized onions with smoky bacon and a crispy mozzarella-topped bread crust, delivering rich umami flavor in every bowl.

🌍French 🏷️French onion soup 🏷️Soup 🏷️Bacon 🏷️Caramelized onion Cheesy

🏷️

🏷️Comfort food

-0:00

TikTok

Total

1h 45m

Servings

4

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$28–$46

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

-0:00

TikTok

Ingredients

4 slices bacon, chopped
1 cup unsalted butter
3 yellow onions, sliced
3 red onions, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried thyme
1 cup dry white wine
1 tbsp beef bouillon powder
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups chicken broth
4-5 cups water
salt, to taste
8 slices baguette, toasted
8 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced

15 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving the rendered fat in the pot.
2
Add the butter to the pot and allow it to melt.
3
Add the sliced yellow and red onions to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until deeply caramelized. This process requires patience and can take 45-60 minutes.
4
Once the onions are deeply browned and sweet, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
5
Stir in the bay leaves and dried thyme.
6
Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon.
7
Stir in the beef bouillon powder, followed by the all-purpose flour, and cook for 1-2 minutes to form a thick paste.
8
Gradually add the chicken broth and water, stirring constantly to combine.
9
Season with salt to taste. Bring the soup to a simmer and let it cook for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to meld.
10
Preheat your broiler. Ladle the hot soup into individual oven-safe bowls.
11
Top each bowl with toasted baguette slices and slices of mozzarella cheese.
12
Place the bowls on a baking sheet and broil on high until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned.
13
Carefully remove from the oven, garnish with the reserved crispy bacon, and serve immediately.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Use medium-low heat for caramelizing onions—high heat browns them too fast and creates bitter flavors rather than sweet caramelization.
Stir the onions every 5-10 minutes during cooking to ensure even browning and prevent sticking or burning on the bottom.
Toast bread slices on a separate baking sheet before adding to soup bowls to prevent sogginess and ensure a crispy texture.
Broil the cheese-topped bowls just until bubbly and lightly browned—watch carefully as mozzarella can brown quickly once it melts.

Substitutions

Unsalted butter → olive oil (use 3/4 cup; flavors will be slightly lighter)
Dry white wine → dry vermouth or chicken broth (maintains depth without alcohol)
Beef bouillon powder → beef broth or stock (use 4 cups broth in place of water, reduce other liquid)
Mozzarella → Gruyère or Swiss cheese (melts more uniformly and offers deeper flavor)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled soup in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat. Prepare bread and cheese topping fresh before serving.

Equipment

large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven · broiler-safe soup bowls or crock · baking sheet for toasting bread

Common Questions

How long does it take to caramelize the onions?

Caramelizing onions typically takes 45-60 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring frequently. This slow process develops the deep brown color and sweet, complex flavor essential to authentic French onion soup.

Can I make this soup ahead of time?

Yes. Prepare the soup base up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate. Reheat gently on the stove before serving, then assemble with toasted bread and cheese and broil to finish.

What type of onions work best?

Yellow onions are traditional, but this recipe uses both yellow and red onions for depth. Yellow onions caramelize beautifully; red onions add a subtle sweetness and color.

Can I substitute the mozzarella cheese?

Gruyère is the classic choice and melts more evenly than mozzarella. Swiss, Emmental, or a mozzarella-Gruyère blend also work well.

How do I prevent a soggy bread topping?

Toast the bread slices until golden and crisp before topping with cheese and broiling. This ensures the bread remains firm rather than absorbing too much broth.