This caramelized Gluten Free Easy French Onion Soup recipe is going to bring back memories for you! It is that good. I am going to show you how to slowly cook your onions so that they caramelize, adding a whole new layer of flavor to this comforting soup recipe.
Follow along, and keep reading because I include an easy video to show you how to make this classic soup recipe. If you love soup as much as we do, check out all of my delicious gluten free soup recipes!
(*This post is sponsored by Milton's Craft Bakers in honor of May being Celiac Awareness Month. All crunch and joyous opinions are my own.)
Do you miss French Onion Soup? Onion soup recipe itself is really easy to adapt to be gluten free...what has been missed is that crispy baguette that floats on top of the soup under all of the melty cheese!
Well, I found the perfect solution! Milton's Gluten Free Crackers!!
You may ask how crackers make this soup so good. Milton's Gluten Free Crispy Sea Salt Crackers are the perfect substitute for the crispy crouton in traditional French onion soup recipes."
Milton's gluten free crackers come in several varieties including:
- Sea Salt
- Cheddar Cheese
- Everything
- Multi-Grain
Milton's certified Gluten Free crackers are so tasty, they make munching a happy experience regardless of dietary restriction or palette preference. Plus, they’re Non-GMO, Project Verified, and they do not contain wheat, nuts, or conventional fillers – so they’re better for both you and the environment.
If you have been following my blog for awhile, you know I LOVE brands who give back through charitable giving. I was a non-profit fundraiser for many years and when companies are there to help, everyone wins!!
Milton’s also supports community causes like Celiac-related hospital advocacy, autism support groups and children’s charities, that promote health for our families and communities.
Now let's talk about this soup. It is crazy good and the men in the house absolutely devoured it! And yes, you should also know my "picky one" would only eat the melted cheese. This is forever my challenge...getting her to try (and like) new foods!
French onion soup is a meat broth-based soup with that famous crouton and melty cheese on top. As the name implies, it is from France, and it is usually served as a starter.
There are many variations, and my gluten free version of French onion soup is so easy to make for yourself!
What is the best onion to use for this soup?
My favorite onion to use is a large sweet onion. Some stores have Hawaiian sweet onions. Their mellow sweetness adds to the caramelized flavor of this soup. You can also use red onion, which adds a deeper onion flavor.
Yellow onions are just okay...they give off an initial bitter taste, which my son didn't like as much.
How to caramelize onions:
The first step is to melt a stick of butter in a pan.
Add the onions and sauté 5 minutes until the onions become soft.
Add coconut sugar and spices. I normally wouldn't add sugar to a soup recipe, but the sugar helps the onions caramelize. Cover and allow the onions to cook for 20 minutes, or until they are caramelized like the next picture.
Add the caramelized onions to a soup pot.
Pour in the beef broth. Add two bay leaves and thyme. Cover and allow to simmer for one hour.
Use a ladle to fill bowls with the gluten free French onion soup.
This is my favorite part. Grab a bag of Milton's Gluten Free Sea Salt Crackers. Take about 4 or 5 crackers and place them on top of the onion soup.
Top with a thick slice of gruyere cheese. Place the soup bowls in a baking dish and place under a broiler until the cheese gets all melty.
Enjoy :-).
More Delicious Gluten Free Soup Recipes to Try:
- This Instant Pot Vegetable Soup with Chicken makes a great lunch to take in a thermos.
- If you love soup, this Cream of Tomato Soup is wonderful.
- My Grandma's Chicken Soup From Scratch is perfect for cold and flu season.
- Everyone will love this creamy Gluten Free Fish Chowder recipe.
Gluten Free French Onion Soup
Ingredients
- 4 cups sliced onions
- ½ cup butter
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 cups water
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 2 teaspoons coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ cup white wine
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup gruyere cheese
Instructions
- In a pan, add a stick of butter. Allow it to melt a little then add the sliced onions to the pan. Cover.
- Cook the onions on medium heat for 5 minutes until they soften.
- Add garlic, coconut sugar, salt, and pepper to the onions. Stir it in and cover the pan. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes until the onions are caramelized.
- Pour the onions into a soup pot. Add broth, wine, water, thyme, and bay leaves. Cover the pot and simmer on low for an hour.
- When the soup is done, use a ladle to pour into bowls.
- Top each bowl with several Milton's Gluten Free Sea Salt Crackers and then the Gruyere cheese.
- Place bowls in a baking dish and put under the broiler until the cheese is melted.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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This post was updated from an older June 2015 post with more details and easier-to-follow directions.
Iryna
I'm a sucker for French Onion Soup. And it's nice to have options for those who don't eat gluten. Your soup looks super comforting! I wouldn't mind having it for dinner tomorrow.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you like it Iryna 🙂
Shashi at SavorySpin
What a fantastic way to make a gluten free French Onion Soup! And, this looks amazing too!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much Sashi, hope you get to give it a try 🙂
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
I absolutely love French onion soup! I'm not gluten-free, but I don't love the mushy bread that's often at the bottom of a bowl of this soup - a cracker is such a perfect alternative! Great idea!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you like this Ashley 🙂
Allison - Celebrating Sweets
What a delicious and comforting meal. I wouldn't even miss the bread!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much Allison, I love how the crackers work so well in this soup!
Sharon
All I can think of when I see these photos is ccchhhheeeesssseee!! Oh so good. A big bowl of comfort right there.
Sandi Gaertner
LOL, that is my favorite too!