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French Onion Soup In The Slow Cooker

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Rich, delicious tasting French Onion Soup in the Slow Cooker uses beef bones for a meaty base and delivers true French Onion Soup flavor in your crockpot.

French Onion Soup served in a white bowl

This is the second recipe for French Onion Soup I’ve posted for you. I have another  French Onion Soup recipe that is made in your oven and is true to form French Onion Soup. But I’ve also been wanting to make French Onion Soup in the slow cooker. I was challenged to make sure this version didn’t become a watery, soggy onion broth with washed out flavor. So I set to work and the results could not have been more rewarding.

French Onion Soup in the slow cooker calls for a bit of prep work, but it’s well worth the effort. I even have a foolproof no-tears way to slice up those 6 onions you’ll need for the recipe.

Starting with some standard French Onion Soup ingredients, we have several onions, beef and chicken broth plus dry sherry or white wine (non-alcoholic cooking varieties work perfectly fine). But to boost the depth of flavor, we’re going to experiment by adding apple butter, soy sauce and 2 pounds of beef bones.

ingredients for French onion soup ready to be chopped and added to the slow cooker

 

Let’s get started with slicing up all those onions. Why do we cry when cutting into an onion? Well, here’s a tiny bit of science about that. When you cut into an onion, you break cells in the onion that release gases that waft up into your eyes and when mixed with the tears in your eyes, these gases produce sulfuric acid. This interaction stimulates your eyes to release more tears to wash away the irritant. If you are a contact lens wearer, you won’t have the tearing up problem since your lenses prevent the gases from getting into your eyes. If you don’t have contacts to protect you, I have a guaranteed, easy solution for you. Just don a pair of swim goggles before diving into your bunch of onions, forgive the pun. (You can actually buy Onion Goggles, but really, why?) Presto, no-tears onion slicing. Put your onions in the slow cooker and drizzle melted butter and salt and pepper over them.

sliced onions in a bowl

 

Next, let’s get those bones and other aromatic flavors into the mix. Beef bones are going to make your French Onion Soup rich and super flavorful. The bones can be found in most freezer meat sections in your local supermarket, or ask for some from behind the meat counter. The bones need to be cooked through in your microwave before being added to the slow cooker.
collage of beef bones before and after boiling

 

Once the beef bones are browned, you’re going to whisk apple butter, soy sauce, sherry or wine, thyme and a tiny bit of brown sugar together. Now, pour this mixture over the onions, nestle the beef bones in and cover to slow cook for about 8 hours.

collage of onions before and after caramelizing in a pan

Eight hours later and your kitchen smells mouth-watering amazing. Remove and discard the bones, and pour in heated chicken broth and beef broth. While the soup is warming in the slow cooker, toast some baguette slices and melt Gruyère and/or mozzarella cheese on the toast. The cheese baguette slices will soak up some of the broth for the ultimate French Onion Soup experience. Easy from your own kitchen, special for your own family.

close up of French Onion Soup with caramelized onions and cheese baguette

 

This version is just a touch sweeter than my oven version, and even though my other recipe is titled the “best” French Onion Soup recipe, this one is the best you will make in your slow cooker or Crockpot.

French Onion Soup served in a white bowl with cheese baguettes

 

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5 from 2 votes

French Onion Soup in your Slow Cooker

To make quick work of this recipe in the morning, you may cut the onions and brown the beef bones the night before.
Course Soup
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings 6 -8
Calories 582
Author Good Dinner Mom

Ingredients 

  • 2 pounds beef bones
  • 6 yellow onions, halved and sliced ¼ inch thick (Do NOT use sweet onions)
  • 4 Tablespoons ½ stick butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme, or 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
  • 2 ½ Tablespoons cornstarch
  • ⅔ cup apple butter, Do not add more than this or your soup may be too sweet
  • ¾ cup dry sherry or white wine, non-alcoholic cooking version works fine
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 32 oz. low-sodium chicken broth
  • 32 oz. beef broth
  • 1 loaf French baguette, cut into ½-inch slices
  • 2 ½ cups shredded Gruyere cheese, or mozzarella

Instructions

  • Slice 6 onions and place into slow cooker. Drizzle 4 Tablespoon butter, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon brown sugar and ¼ teaspoon thyme over onions and toss.
  • Arrange beef bones on paper towel-lined plate and microwave until well browned, about 8 minutes.
  • Whisk 2 ½ Tablespoons cornstarch, ⅔ cup apple butter, ¾ cup sherry and ¼ cup soy sauce together in bowl until smooth, then stir into slow cooker. Nestle microwaved bones into onions. Cover and cook on high setting until onions are softened and deep golden brown, about 8 hours.
  • Discard beef bones. Bring 32 ounces chicken broth and 32 ounces beef broth to boil in covered saucepan over high heat, then stir into slow cooker. Add more salt and pepper to taste, if needed. Let soup sit until heated through and while you prepare the baguettes.
  • Just before serving, position oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Lay bread on baking sheet and broil until golden on both sides. Sprinkle cheese over one side of bread and continue to broil until melted and bubbly. Ladle soup into serving bowls and top with broiled cheese bread.
Nutrition Facts
French Onion Soup in your Slow Cooker
Amount Per Serving
Calories 582 Calories from Fat 252
% Daily Value*
Fat 28g43%
Saturated Fat 16g100%
Trans Fat 0.3g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 8g
Cholesterol 81mg27%
Sodium 2257mg98%
Potassium 547mg16%
Carbohydrates 51g17%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 19g21%
Protein 28g56%
Vitamin A 770IU15%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 654mg65%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Revised from The Slow Cooker Revolution.

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  • Best French Onion Soup Recipe
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Published on March 29, 2014

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Kris coombs says

    March 16, 2022 at 6:59 AM

    5 stars
    All I have to say is OMG! I used Gruyere, and instead of French baguette I used a roasted garlic and asiago bread from a local bakery; delish! This will be in my monthly rotation of recipes. Thanks GDM, you nailed it again!

    Reply
  2. courtney j says

    March 16, 2022 at 6:55 AM

    5 stars
    It was awesome! I love making soup in my crock pot and french onion is the best!

    Reply
  3. Vilpoix Annie says

    January 25, 2015 at 5:15 AM

    que ce sois une soupe à l’oignon, c’est certain, mais que ce soit une soupe à l’oignon Française, là, je ne suis pas du tout d’accord, il ni a pas de viande dans la soupe à l’oignon Française, vous avez ajouter un nombres incroyable de’ ingrédients qui ni ont rien à faire
    La recette Française est très simple et très gouteuse
    Soupe à l’oignon gratinée

    Quantité 4 Personnes
    Préparation 15 min
    Cuisson 1 h 5 min

    Ingrédients
    pour Soupe à l’oignon gratinée

    10 oignons
    30 g de beurre
    1 c. à soupe de farine
    1 l de bouillon de volaille
    1 bouquet garni
    1 baguette
    5 c. à soupe de gruyère râpé
    muscade
    sel, poivre

    Préparation

    1
    Emincez les oignons, faites-les cuire lentement dans du beurre pendant 30 min. Remuez fréquemment.
    2
    Saupoudrez de farine.
    3
    Ajoutez le bouillon, le bouquet garni, faites cuire à nouveau à faible ébullition pendant 20 min, salez, poivrez, ajoutez une pointe de noix de muscade, remuez.
    4
    Préchauffez le four th.5 (150°C).
    5
    Coupez la baguette en rondelles, passez-les au four sur les deux faces 10 min.
    6
    Enlevez le bouquet garni, remplissez des bols de soupe, répartissez les tranches de pain, recouvrez de gruyère râpé.
    7
    Laissez gratiner au four 5 min de plus.
    Voilà et c’est tout

    Reply
About Sally - Good Dinner Mom.

About Good Dinner Mom

My name is Sally and I love to be in the kitchen. Making fresh, unique dishes is my way of showing love for family and friends and I hope that here you’ll find recipes of both healthy and indulgent dishes that will inspire you to cook more at home while sharing some love of your own. more about me

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