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Longing for a bowl of rich, savory, and cheesy French Onion Soup but don’t want to make a large pot? You’ve come to the right place! This single serving French Onion Soup recipe is the ultimate comfort food, capturing the essence of a Parisian bistro experience in one cozy bowl. It’s simple, satisfying, and perfect for anyone cooking for one or two people.
French Onion Soup can be a hearty meal on its own. For added variety, consider pairing it with a fresh Italian Chopped Salad, a single serving Crustless Quiche Lorraine, or an extra slice of homemade French Bread.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This French Onion Soup Recipe
- What Is French Onion Soup?
- Ingredients
- The Art Of Caramelizing Onions For French Onion Soup
- How To Make French Onion Soup
- Expert Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Single Serving Soup Recipes You’ll Love
- Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
- French Onion Soup For One Recipe
Why You’ll Love This French Onion Soup Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Made with just one onion and everyday pantry items, this recipe is as uncomplicated as it is delicious.
- Comforting: The gooey cheese and hearty broth make this a perfect comfort food.
- Restaurant-Quality: Savor the richness and complexity in every spoonful, comparable to a high-end restaurant serving.
- Recipe can be doubled: This small batch soup recipe yields one large bowl of soup but if you’d like to make a second bowl, just double the ingredient amounts.
What Is French Onion Soup?
Originating from France, as the name suggests, French Onion Soup is a soul-warming dish featuring caramelized onions in a robust broth, topped with toasted bread and melted cheese.
Ingredients
For the best results in your single serve French Onion Soup, pay close attention to the ingredients you select. Here’s what you need:
- Butter: It adds a layer of seasoning while sautéing the onions.
- Onion: Choose one small yellow onion and slice it thinly for the perfect caramelization. Yellow onions are naturally sweet, making them ideal for this dish.
- Garlic: A single clove delivers a subtle yet impactful aroma and flavor.
- Seasonings: Opt for dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. These classic seasonings enhance the soup’s overall profile.
- Red wine: Ideal for deglazing the pan and adding depth of flavor. If you’d rather skip the alcohol, using broth is a perfectly fine alternative.
- Flour: All-purpose flour is my go-to for thickening the soup. If you’re following a gluten-free diet, a gluten-free blend works just as well.
- Broth: While beef broth is traditional in French Onion Soup, quality store-bought options can be elusive. To avoid a metallic aftertaste, I use chicken broth for a consistently delicious outcome.
- French bread and cheese: Gruyere is the cheese of choice for authenticity. But don’t worry if you don’t have it on hand; Gouda, Swiss, Fontina, or Mozzarella make great substitutes.
If you have any ingredients leftover from this French Onion Soup recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder
For this soup recipe, I use a 2-quart saucepan. For best results use a pot of similar size.
RELATED: Single Serving Comfort Food Recipes
The Art Of Caramelizing Onions For French Onion Soup
Caramelizing onions is the cornerstone of creating a luscious French Onion Soup. This process magically turns raw onion slices into sweet, sumptuous morsels that act as the dish’s flavorful foundation.
For this single serving recipe, you’ll need just one small onion, although the size isn’t a deal-breaker. Whether small or medium, you can’t really go wrong—the more onion goodness, the better the soup will be.
Start by slicing your onion into thin strips. Place these into a saucepan with melted salted butter and let the caramelization begin. During slow cooking, the onions release their natural sugars, giving them a delectable sweetness that elevates any dish they’re a part of. In terms of timing, aim for 25 minutes to achieve that perfect caramelized texture for this soup.
How To Make French Onion Soup
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Melt the butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper and cook until the onions are very soft and caramelized, about 25 minutes.
- Add the wine, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the wine has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so that the flour doesn’t burn.
- Stir in the chicken broth and bring the soup back to a simmer, cook for 10 minutes.
- Taste and add additional salt, if necessary.
Prepping The Perfect Bread For Your French Onion Soup
Looking to elevate your French Onion Soup game? The bread matters—here’s how to prep the perfect slice that’ll complement your soup without stealing the spotlight.
While the soup is simmering, prepare the bread.
- Heat the broiler. Place the slice of French bread on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the Gruyere cheese over the top and broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3-4 minutes.
- Place the bread in a soup bowl and pour the soup over the top.
Expert Tips
- Gruyere Cheese: For that quintessential French Onion Soup flavor, you can’t go wrong with Gruyere. Its meltability and rich, smooth texture make it the top choice. For other cheese options, check out our Ingredient Notes.
- Choosing the Right Broth: Traditional recipes call for beef broth, but a high-quality store-bought version is often elusive. Many tend to have a metallic tang. To guarantee a satisfying soup, opt for chicken broth instead.
RELATED: The Best Soup Recipes For One
Frequently Asked Questions
Yellow, white, or red onions can all be used in making French Onion Soup. However, I lean towards sweet yellow onions for their balanced flavor profile.
If you find yourself with extra wine after cooking (it happens), you have a couple of options. For those who don’t drink wine regularly, try freezing it in ice cube trays. Next time you need a splash for a recipe, simply pop out a wine cube.
Not a fan of cooking with wine? No worries! While wine adds depth, it’s not essential. Feel free to use dry vermouth, brandy, or even just extra broth to deglaze the pan, as noted in the recipe steps.
You can store the soup sans the cheesy bread in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply bring it to a boil on the stovetop. The cheesy bread should be prepared fresh for the best experience.
More Single Serving Soup Recipes You’ll Love
Looking for more comforting, easy-to-make single serving soup recipes? Check out these culinary gems perfect for anyone cooking for one.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you would like additional information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried this small batch French onion soup or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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French Onion Soup For One
Watch How To Make This
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 small yellow onion , halved lengthwise, then thinly sliced
- 1 clove garlic , chopped
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- ¼ cup red wine
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 thick slice French bread
- ¼ cup shredded Gruyere cheese
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper and cook until the onions are very soft and caramelized, about 25 minutes.
- Add the wine, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the wine has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so that the flour doesn’t burn.
- Stir in the chicken broth and bring the soup back to a simmer, cook for 10 minutes.
- Taste and add additional salt, if necessary.
- Heat the broiler. Place the slice of French bread on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the Gruyere cheese over the top and broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3-4 minutes.
- Place the bread in a soup bowl and pour the soup over the top.
Notes
- Gruyere Cheese: For that quintessential French Onion Soup flavor, you can’t go wrong with Gruyere. Its meltability and rich, smooth texture make it the top choice. For other cheese options, check out our Ingredient Notes.
- Choosing the Right Broth: Traditional recipes call for beef broth, but a high-quality store-bought version is often elusive. Many tend to have a metallic tang. To guarantee a satisfying soup, opt for chicken broth instead.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
This is delicious and so easy. I’ve been experimenting. My husband and I have enjoyed all the variations.
The first time I made it, I used chicken broth and left out the wine. Terrific flavor!! This is my favorite so far.
The next time I used Better than Boullion beef flavor and no wine. Also very good. My husband liked this one.
Tonight I made it with the beef flavor and wine. Also, very good. Husband liked this, too.
Next time, I want to make it with chicken broth and wine, the way the original recipe is written.
This is a winner, no matter what. Easily doubled and makes plenty for two with leftovers.
This is fabulous! The recipe takes right steps and time to develop flavors and it really shows in the final dish. I subbed mushroom broth for the chicken broth for a vegetarian version and cut back on salt elsewhere, since it was not a reduced sodium broth. Super delicious!
This recipe is very similar to a regular-serving sized recipe I’ve been using and love. I substituted beef broth and thought it was delicious. It made enough for 2 servings: one for lunch today and the rest tomorrow. It’s the perfect size. Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the soup recipe, Barbara. Thank you.
Had some delicious beef broth left over from a family Sunday roast beef dinner and made your recipe. SO SO satisfying and delicious with just a simple salad. Leftovers made gourmet. Thanks again Joanie
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you, Cherie.
I don’t drink any alcohol, is it ok to leave out the red wine or is there something I use in its place?
Use 1/4 cup of broth instead of the wine.
Another win! I made this as part of my Christmas dinner and was so happy with the result. I actually sauteed my onions for about 1.5 hours, but mostly because I was using a stainless steel pan for the first time and was afraid of burning them! (I didn’t!!!) And I use a beef broth concentrate made by Savory Choice that comes in little packets that make 1 cup per packet. So handy and (I think) very tasty. Thanks again Joanie for sizing all these meals for singles. This was delicious!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup, Beth. Thank you so much for your feedback.
I was a little skeptical about this recipe, but I love this soup so much I decided to give it a try. Wow! I used to enjoy this soup in a national chain restaurant, but have not been able to go during the pandemic. This soup is perfect for me. I found that using the crust of a regular sandwich bread held up just fine. Thanks Joanie!
I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup, Mary. Thank you so much for your feedback.
It was so good I used a cheap box wine but it still was so delicious. It was for one but there was enough for my husband also which loves it also thank you!!
I’m so glad you both enjoyed the soup. Thank you for your feedback.
I made this today with madeira for the wine (all i had) and better than buillion organic beef stock. omg. it was delicious! I doubled it cause even tho i am one person I knew I would want another serving in the next two days. Thank you so much for your work here, it is changing the way I cook and eat!!
Thank you, Kassie. I’m so happy you are enjoying the recipes!
QCan your one-serving recipes be doubled for two? I need to include my husband. Most of the recipes on Pinterest are for at least four people, and we arenโt that good at eating leftovers. A two-serving meal would be perfect.
Hi Jean,
Most of the recipes on our site can be doubled with great success.
Joanie