French Onion Mushroom Soup Recipe

Cozy French Onion Mushroom Soup Recipe to Warm Your Soul

Savory French onion mushroom soup combines earthy flavors that dance across your palate like a culinary symphony.

Caramelized onions bring deep, golden sweetness to this comforting dish.

rich broth mingles with meaty mushrooms, creating layers of complex taste.

Hearty ingredients whisper promises of warmth and satisfaction in every spoonful.

Cheese melts into golden ribbons, adding creamy indulgence to each serving.

classic techniques meet rustic ingredients, promising a soul-warming experience.

Cozy up and let this soup transport you to a moment of pure culinary bliss.

French Onion Mushroom Soup That Comforts From the First Spoon

  • Time-Saving Technique: Prepare this gourmet dish in under 30 minutes, transforming simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
  • Flavor Explosion: Combine rich caramelized onions, earthy mushrooms, and crispy bacon for a depth of taste that transforms an ordinary soup into an extraordinary culinary experience.
  • Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Ideal for cozy family dinners, dinner parties, or a comforting solo meal that impresses with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

French Onion Mushroom Soup (Rich & Savory) Ingredients

Main Ingredients:

Soup Base:
  • Onions: Sweet base that caramelizes to create deep flavor, yellow or white varieties work best.
  • Mushrooms: Earthy companion that adds rich umami texture, fresh button or cremini recommended.
  • Butter: Essential for sautéing and developing rich golden color, unsalted preferred.
White Wine and Broth:
  • White Wine: Adds depth and acidity, dry varieties like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio ideal.
  • Chicken Broth, Beef Broth: Provides layered meaty flavor foundation, low-sodium options suggested.
Finishing Ingredients:
  • Heavy Cream: Creates luxurious smooth consistency, room temperature helps prevent curdling.
  • Bacon or Pancetta: Crispy salty topping that adds smoky crunch, thick-cut varieties recommended.
Aromatics and Seasonings:
  • Garlic: Provides aromatic depth, fresh cloves preferred over pre-minced.
  • Fresh Thyme: Herbaceous undertone that complements soup's richness, stems can be removed after cooking.
  • Salt, Black Pepper: Essential for balancing and enhancing overall flavor profile, freshly ground recommended.

French Onion Mushroom Soup Homemade Prep

Step 1: Caramelize Onions

Melt butter in a large skillet or soup pot.

Gently lower the heat and cook onions slowly, stirring frequently until they transform into a rich, golden-brown caramel color.

This process takes patience and develops deep, sweet flavor.

Step 2: Add Mushroom Magic

  • Sliced mushrooms
  • Caramelized onions

Introduce mushrooms to the pan and cook until they become tender and release their earthy aroma.

The mushrooms will blend beautifully with the caramelized onions.

Step 3: Infuse with Garlic

Sprinkle minced garlic into the pan and cook for one minute.

The garlic will provide a fragrant base that elevates the soup’s complexity.

Step 4: Deglaze with Wine

Pour white wine into the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.

Allow the wine to simmer and reduce, concentrating its flavors.

Step 5: Build the Broth

  • Chicken broth
  • Beef broth
  • Fresh thyme sprigs

Combine both broths and thyme in the pot.

Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, allowing the herbs to infuse their essence into the liquid.

Step 6: Crisp the Bacon

While the soup simmers, cook bacon or pancetta until perfectly crisp.

This will create a delightful crunchy garnish.

Step 7: Blend to Creamy Perfection

Transfer most of the soup to a blender, keeping some chunky vegetables aside.

Puree until smooth and velvety, then return to the pot.

Step 8: Final Touches

Stir in heavy cream and season with salt and pepper.

The cream will add luxurious richness to the soup.

Step 9: Serve and Garnish

Ladle the soup into bowls and top with crispy bacon crumbles.

Serve hot and enjoy the layers of flavor in every spoonful.

Soup Cooking Advice For French Onion Mushroom Blend

  • Choose Vidalia or Spanish onions for naturally sweeter, more mellow flavor that caramelizes beautifully without harsh bite.
  • Keep heat low and slow, stirring frequently to prevent burning and develop rich, deep golden-brown color without scorching.
  • Combine chicken and beef broths for layered, more sophisticated taste profile that adds depth and complexity to the soup.
  • Reserve some chunky mushrooms and onions before pureeing to maintain textural interest and rustic soup character.
  • Pan-fry bacon or pancetta until ultra-crisp for delightful crunch and smoky flavor contrast against creamy soup base.

Store French Onion Mushroom Soup Well

  • Store leftover soup in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, ensuring it cools completely before sealing.
  • Transfer cooled soup to freezer-safe containers, leaving some space for expansion, and freeze up to 2 months for later enjoyment.
  • Warm soup over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching and maintain creamy consistency. Add a splash of broth if too thick.
  • Heat in short 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly and prevent hot spots.

Soup Snacks for Onion Mushroom Bowl

  • Flavor Companions: Wine-Soup Synergy
  • Pair the rich French onion mushroom soup with a medium-bodied Pinot Noir, which complements the earthy mushroom and caramelized onion flavors with its subtle fruit and light tannin profile.
  • Crispy Protein Crunch: Bacon Sidekick
  • Serve alongside crispy sourdough crostini topped with melted gruyère cheese, enhancing the soup's creamy texture and providing a delightful crunch that mirrors the bacon garnish.
  • Temperature Contrast: Chilled Salad Companion
  • Create a light arugula salad with shaved parmesan and a tangy lemon vinaigrette to cut through the soup's richness, offering a refreshing counterpoint to the warm, hearty dish.
  • Herbal Harmony: Thyme-Infused Beverage
  • Complement the soup's thyme notes with a warm herbal tea like chamomile or a thyme-infused sparkling water, which echoes the soup's aromatic herbs and cleanses the palate.

French Onion Mushroom Soup Ways to Enjoy

  • Vegetarian Soup Swap: Replace chicken and beef broth with rich vegetable broth, swap bacon for crispy roasted mushroom chips or toasted pumpkin seeds for added crunch and protein.
  • Gluten-Free Friendly: Ensure all broth and wine are certified gluten-free, skip traditional croutons and instead top with gluten-free crispy onions or herb-seasoned almond slices.
  • Dairy-Free Alternative: Use coconut cream instead of traditional cream, substitute butter with olive oil, and garnish with dairy-free bacon alternatives like tempeh or coconut bacon bits.
  • Low-Carb Version: Reduce onion quantity, add extra mushrooms for volume, use cauliflower cream as a replacement for dairy cream, and skip wine to lower carbohydrate content.

FAQs

  • What type of wine works best for this soup?

A dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio creates the perfect flavor balance, adding depth without overpowering the delicate mushroom and onion notes.

  • Can I make this soup vegetarian?

Yes, simply replace chicken and beef broths with vegetable broth and skip the bacon. Use olive oil instead of butter to maintain the rich flavor profile.

  • Is this soup gluten-free?

The base recipe is naturally gluten-free. Just ensure your broths are certified gluten-free and avoid adding any wheat-based thickeners.

  • How can I enhance the soup's umami flavor?

Add a tablespoon of miso paste or a splash of soy sauce during the simmering stage to boost the savory, deep mushroom taste. These ingredients intensify the soup’s complex flavor without changing its fundamental character.

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French Onion Mushroom Soup Recipe

French Onion Mushroom Soup Recipe


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4.9 from 31 reviews

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Hearty French onion mushroom soup blends earthy mushrooms with caramelized onions, creating a luxurious depth of flavor. Warm spoons of creamy broth topped with melted gruyère cheese invite immediate comfort and culinary satisfaction.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 3 cups sliced onions
  • 1 pound (454 grams) cremini mushrooms
  • 4 cups (946 milliliters) low sodium beef broth
  • 2 cups (473 milliliters) low sodium chicken broth

Protein and Fat Components:

  • 4 slices bacon or 1/4 pound (113 grams) pancetta
  • 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) butter
  • 3/4 cup (177 milliliters) heavy whipping cream

Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:

  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1/4 cup (59 milliliters) white wine (chardonnay is great in soups)
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Gently melt butter in a spacious skillet, introducing sliced onions and reducing heat to transform them into a luxurious caramel-hued delicacy through patient, attentive stirring.
  2. Integrate sliced mushrooms with caramelized onions, allowing them to soften and release their rich, earthy essence.
  3. Introduce minced garlic, infusing the mixture with aromatic depth for approximately one minute.
  4. Elevate the flavor profile by deglazing the pan with white wine, letting the liquid reduce and concentrate its essence.
  5. Pour chicken and beef broths into the skillet, accompanied by fresh thyme sprigs, then cover and allow the mixture to gently simmer for ten minutes.
  6. Simultaneously crisp bacon or pancetta in a separate pan until achieving a perfect golden-brown texture.
  7. Carefully transfer the soup mixture to a blender, reserving a portion of chunky onions and mushrooms, and puree until achieving a velvety, smooth consistency.
  8. Return the pureed soup to the original pot, reuniting it with the reserved chunky components, and bring to a gentle simmer.
  9. Finish the soup by swirling in heavy cream, seasoning with salt and pepper, and crowning the dish with crispy crumbled bacon or pancetta before serving.

Notes

  • Caramelize onions slowly on low heat to develop deep, rich flavor without burning, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
  • Slice mushrooms uniformly for even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup.
  • Use a combination of chicken and beef broth to create a more complex, layered taste profile that enhances the overall depth of the dish.
  • For a vegetarian version, substitute vegetable broth and replace bacon with crispy roasted mushroom bits or toasted nuts as a crunchy topping.
  • Prep Time: 30minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Snacks
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 300
  • Sugar: 4g
  • Sodium: 600mg
  • Fat: 22g
  • Saturated Fat: 12g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 15g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 10g
  • Cholesterol: 80mg
Katherine Pierce

Katherine Pierce

Recipe Curator & Food Educator

Expertise

  • Curating diverse recipe collections
  • Educating on global culinary traditions
  • Developing informative food content

Education

Boston University Metropolitan College
Certificate Program in the Culinary Arts
Focus: French and international cuisine techniques, Hands-on culinary training with industry professionals, Food industry insights and operations


Katherine grew up believing every dish has a story. She studied the art of food at Boston University and explored the history behind it. She loves pulling easy recipes from every corner of the world and putting them at your fingertips.
When Katherine’s not writing or testing new flavors, she’s teaching cooking classes, baking colorful mooncakes, or dreaming up new ways to mix old favorites with new twists.

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