Copycat Applebee's French Onion Soup Recipe (2024)

This simple copycat recipe tastes as close to the exact Applebee's French onion soup recipe as you can get!

By: AllFreeCopycatRecipes.com Test Kitchen

6 Comments

Copycat Applebee's French Onion Soup Recipe (1)

Copycat Applebees French Onion Soup

By: AllFreeCopycatRecipes.com Test Kitchen

Love that French onion soup you get at restaurants like Applebee's? Now you can make your very own French onion soup with this Copycat Applebee's French Onion Soup Recipe. Copycat restaurant recipes are perfect for weeknight dinners and more. Serve up a smile with this warm and comforting meal. It's the perfect starter to pair with an entree of chicken or steak, like Applebee's bourbon street steak, but it also works great a la carte.

To make French onion soup the way they do at Applebee's, you'll need the right balance of cheeses and soft, sautéd onions that add those extra layers of caramelized flavor and texture.You can create a restaurant-quality meal but still keep the comfort of home with this Copycat Applebee’s French Onion Soup recipe. Plus, because you make this recipe at home, you don't have to worry about the price tag that comes with eating out for dinner, and you have more control over what goes into your soup, like the amount of sodium and the number of calories.

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Serves10

Cooking Time1 hr

Copycat Applebee's French Onion Soup Recipe (2)

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 1/2 pounds mild onions, peeled, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, very finely minced
  • 8 cups beef stock
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 5 hamburger buns
  • 10 thin slices of Provolone cheese
  • 10 teaspoons Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

  2. In a large heavy bottom soup pot, heat the oil and sauté the onions over medium low heat, stirring only a few times, until they begin to brown, about 15 minutes (see note). Add the garlic and stir for 1 minute until very fragrant. Raise the heat, add the beef stock, water, salt, and pepper and bring soup to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 45 minutes.

  3. While soup is cooking, slice the “crown” top off each of the hamburger buns, giving you 10 rounds of approximately the same size. Place on a cookie sheet and bake 20 minutes.

  4. Remove and change oven temperature to broil.

  5. When the soup is cooked, taste and adjust seasonings as desired. (see note)

  6. Ladle soup into individual soup bowls, top each with a crouton, then witha slice of Provolone and a sprinkle of Parmesan. Broil about 5 minutes until cheese is melted and beginning to become a golden brown.Sprinkle each with a bit more Parmesan and serve immediately.

Notes

  • To increase the sweet onion flavor, you may extend the cooking time to 25 minutes or longer, but keep an eye on the pot so that the onions get a lovely gold caramel color and do not burn and get bitter. Stir only occasionally so that they brown evenly.
  • If you wish your soup to have a deep rich beef-y flavor, using the best beef broth possible is the key. You can also add a few drops of Worcestershire sauce and or soy sauce - you will not taste these ingredients but they will add a deep “meaty” flavor to the soup.

This recipe will give you the coziest and most filling soup ever, and the easy cheesy homemade croutons complement the savory broth perfectly. It's just the thing to warm up you and your family on a chilly afternoon!

Up next:

Copycat Applebee's Smothered Steak Skillet
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Edmund K

Aug 31, 2017

Onion soup is one of my favorites, though I could probably eat quite happily the cheesy, bready top all by itself. This is a good version of French Onion soup, and I was pleased to note that the writer recommends adding a bit of Worcestershire sauce to the soup while cooking. I've always done this and it adds just a subtle bit to the taste of the soup. I've not tried using soy sauce, but I think it might make it a bit saltier than I'd like.

Copycat Applebee's French Onion Soup Recipe (8)

asoley 3922608

Feb 22, 2017

I love French onion soup - it's one of my favorites - but I might cut back on the cheese a bit, since I find too much cheese overwhelming.

Copycat Applebee's French Onion Soup Recipe (9)

caitlinmm

Oct 29, 2015

Not my favorite version of French onion soup, but the cheesy crouton was genius! I bet it would taste good with any soup.

Copycat Applebee's French Onion Soup Recipe (10)

CreativityGoddess

Oct 28, 2015

Didn't have the full, rich flavor that I love in restaurant French onion soups, but this was really good for a homemade version!

Copycat Applebee's French Onion Soup Recipe (11)

ErinJ

Oct 28, 2015

I LOVED the cheesy "crouton", it's full of flavor and perfect for dipping in soup!

Copycat Applebee's French Onion Soup Recipe (12)

amatlin

Oct 28, 2015

This was a great soup for a cool day. I especially loved the large, cheesy "crouton"!

Copycat Applebee's French Onion Soup Recipe (13)

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Copycat Applebee's French Onion Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does Applebee's have good French Onion Soup? ›

Applebees French Onion Soup is a classic French Onion soup, so flavorful and so perfect for when you want a light meal.

What broth is French Onion Soup made of? ›

What Is French Onion Soup? French onion soup, or soupe à l'oignon gratinée, is a classic French dish made with caramelized onions and beef stock or broth. The soup is topped with bread and cheese, then gratinéed to rich, gooey perfection. It's traditionally served in a ramekin or a ceramic crock with a handle.

Why does French Onion Soup taste so good? ›

French onion soup is the ultimate comfort food. Onions get slowly cooked until sweet and caramelized, then simmered in rich broth until they're practically falling apart. To finish it off, toasted bread is added to give it that lovable crisp-gone-soggy texture and a generous amount of Gruyère cheese is melted on top.

What is French Onion Soup mix made of? ›

The cast of charecters are simple, and hopefully ones you already have in your spice rack: Dry onion flakes, beef bullion granules or paste, onion powder, parsley, celery seed, paprika, black pepper.

What is the difference between onion soup and French onion soup? ›

What is the Difference Between Onion Soup and French Onion Soup? French onion soup is always made with beef stock. Other onion soups can be made with chicken, vegetable, or beef stock. Additionally, French onion soup typically contains wine or sherry, which isn't typical or necessary in other onion soups.

Why is my French onion soup bland? ›

To improve the blandness of your French onion soup: add more seasoning, caramelize onions longer than usual, use high-quality beef broth, simmer for extended time and include melted cheese with crouton as toppings for added richness.

How do you deepen the flavor of French onion soup? ›

A few sprigs of thyme and a bay leaf elevate the soup even more, but I take it a step further, adding a splash of fish sauce for complexity and depth—don't worry, it won't taste fishy—and a hit of cider vinegar to balance some of that oniony sweetness.

What is the best wine to use for French onion soup? ›

Pair beef broth with white wine (and skip the flour)

We've also seen recipes that call for red wine, white wine, or no wine at all. Our taste tests revealed the combination of an all-beef broth with white wine as the clear winner, as used in this Gourmet French Onion Soup.

What cheese can I use instead of gruyère in French onion soup? ›

Other Swiss types of cheese like Raclette cheese or Appenzeller Cheese or Dutch cheeses like Edam cheese or Gouda or Jarlsberg cheese from Norway or American Swiss cheese can all be substituted.

What's the best kind of bread to use for French onion soup? ›

Bread: I use toasted slices of French baguette rubbed with a bit of fresh garlic to make them extra delicious before adding them to my soup. It's the best! Cheese: The best cheese for French onion soup is Gruyère. It melts beautifully and tastes earthy and nutty, which works nicely with the savory soup base.

Why is French onion soup so expensive? ›

First, French onion soup calls for a ton of onions. While onions aren't expensive, there's a lot of labor involved in halving, peeling, and slicing 10, 12, 50, or one billion onions (I don't know how much soup you make).

Do people in France eat French onion soup? ›

It has even become a trendy dish that tourists are eager to try to experience French gastronomy. However, onion soup is in fact not part of French people's daily meals. It was originally meant to be eaten after a family reunion in the middle of the night to cure hangovers…

Is French onion soup good or bad for you? ›

Well, you'll be pleased to know that french onion soup is, in fact, a highly nutritious choice.

What ethnicity is French onion soup? ›

French onion soup
Alternative namesSoupe à l'oignon
CourseStarter (entrée)
Place of originFrance
Serving temperatureHot
Main ingredientsOnions, beef or chicken stock or water, croutons, grated cheese
2 more rows

Should you thicken French onion soup? ›

Caramelised onions aside, the rest of the soup is effortless. Get all the tasty brown stuff off the bottom of the pot by deglazing it with a touch of wine. A touch of flour to thicken the soup every so slightly, a LOT of broth, and an optional sprig of thyme and bay leaves.

How many calories in a bowl of French onion soup at Applebee's? ›

Applebee's French Onion Soup (1 Serving) contains 26g total carbs, 24g net carbs, 22g fat, 16g protein, and 360 calories.

What type of bowl is best for French onion soup? ›

French onion soup is traditionally served in lionhead bowls, which are deep but not very wide porcelain bowls. Here are four reasons why these bowls are perfect: Plenty of soup. Even as the bread on top starts to soak up some of the soup, there's still plenty left underneath.

How do you eat French onion soup in public? ›

With such a soup, a knife is your friend, not your enemy. Using both the soup spoon and the knife, push the baked cheese against the rim of the cup or bowl and cut it gently with the knife. Once you've broken the cheese barrier, you can use the knife again to nudge bits of cheese onto the spoon.

What to order with French onion soup? ›

A Caesar salad is a great starter to pair with French Onion Soup. Its crisp romaine lettuce, creamy dressing, and crunchy croutons offer a refreshing contrast to the rich soup. The tangy flavors of the Caesar dressing complement the savory notes of the soup, making it a balanced and flavorful addition to your meal.

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