Easy Bone Broth French Onion Soup is made with bone broth beef protein powder, lots of onions, garlic and herbs, and topped with everything bagel seasoned croutons and gruyère cheese.
*This post features gifted product from Organika. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Crumb Top Baking!
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Happy first week of Fall! As you can tell, I'm bringing some more cozy, comfort food to you today and this time it's in the form of cheesy, garlicky French Onion Soup.
I was planning to share my recipe for grain-free pumpkin waffles today, but the weather has quickly turned cold around here (we're talking hat and mitts to go out for an evening walk), so I'm craving all the warm and hearty meals these days. Pumpkin treats will just have to wait a little while longer!
This French Onion Soup recipe was actually my husband's idea. When I recently won some collagen powders and bone broths from Organika, my husband suggested using the bone broth to make French onion soup. And quite surprisingly, he has been eating it too! Okay, he doesn't eat the onions, but he's all over the broth, croutons and cheese. So I consider that a win!
While I'm using Organika's bone broth beef protein powder in this French Onion Soup recipe, they also have a ginger beef flavour and a few different chicken bone broth powders too. I'm looking forward to trying all of those in various recipes soon.
What is bone broth?
Bone broth is rich in vitamins and minerals and is created by slow boiling animal bones, such as chicken, cow, turkey and so on. Boiling the bones slowly allows the collagen and gelatin to extract into the broth, and both are important proteins for connective tissues and for maintaining healthy bones. For more information on the benefits of bone broth, I found this article interesting.
If you don't have time to make your own bone broth, that's where bone broth protein powder can be convenient. You just dissolve the powder in hot water, and it becomes an easy to use bone broth! Organika's beef bone broth is sourced from grass-fed cows and is simmered for 24-48 hours to extract the maximum amount of nutrients.
Key recipe tips
- Believe me when I tell you that you need to sauté the onions for an hour to reach maximum flavour. I really wanted to make this a quick stove top recipe, but caramelizing the onions takes time and adds so much flavour. So no shortcuts here folks. The recipe is easy, but not quick!
- Similarly, the soup should simmer for at least 40 minutes after the broth and herbs are added to allow time for the flavours to blend.
- If you don't have powdered bone broth, you can use store-bought beef broth, or veggie broth for a vegetarian version. I would opt for the no-salt added broth as this allows greater control over the amount of salt added to your soup.
- I added everything bagel seasoned croutons to this soup, which I highly recommend.
- Be sure to top your croutons or bread with finely grated gruyère cheese as it will melt more uniformly, and seep into the soup, creating a slightly thicker and cheesy texture.
If you make this recipe, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments below!
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📖 Recipe
Easy Bone Broth French Onion Soup
Ingredients
For the everything bagel seasoned croutons:
- 3 thick slices multi-grain bread, stale and cut into large cubes
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon everything bagel spice
For the French onion soup:
- 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 6 medium-sized onions, peeled and sliced lengthwise
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and pressed
- 2 tablespoon coconut sugar
- ½ cup bone broth beef protein powder, see note
- 6 cups hot water
- 8 sprigs of thyme, fresh
- 5 bay leaves, fresh
- 2 teaspoon parsley, dried
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Toppings:
- everything bagel seasoned croutons
- 1 cup finely grated gruyère cheese
Instructions
To make the croutons:
- Pre-heat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium-sized bowl, add the cubed bread and drizzle with oil. Sprinkle on the nutritional yeast and everything bagel spice. Mix with your hands until the cubes are well coated. Don't over-mix as the bread may start to crumble.
- Spread the croutons out in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, flipping the croutons after 10 minutes. They should be browned and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and let cool on baking sheet. Store in an airtight container on the counter.
To make the soup:
- Add the oil to a large pot (I like to use my cast iron pot) and heat on low for a few minutes. Add the onions and garlic. Cover and let cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure the onions and garlic cook evenly and do not burn.
- After 30 minutes, stir in the coconut sugar and let cook for another 30 minutes. Stir more frequently to prevent burning. You will know the onions are ready when they have softened, browned and caramelized.
- In a large bowl, combine the bone broth powder with the hot water and whisk together until the powder is dissolved. Add the broth to the pot of onions. Add in the thyme, bay leaves, parsley and salt. Stir and let simmer for 40 minutes. Once cooked, carefully remove the sprigs of thyme and bay leaves.
- Pre-heat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange 4-6 oven safe bowls on the sheet. Spoon the soup into the bowls, top with croutons or toasted bread, and grated gruyère cheese. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the soup is bubbling.
Notes
- If you don't have powdered bone broth, just use 6 cups of no-salt added beef broth instead of the ½ cup of bone broth powder and 6 cups of hot water. You can also use veggie broth for a vegetarian option.
- Instead of the homemade everything bagel seasoned croutons, you can use store-bought croutons or toasted bread, just make sure they are large croutons or thick cut toast.
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Nutrition Facts per Serving
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is an estimate only and will vary depending on the substitutions made and the brands used.
Did you make this recipe or have any questions?
I love reading your comments and addressing your questions, so please leave your comments and ratings or questions below!
Kelly | Foodtasia says
I didn't even know bone broth powder was a thing! That is very helpful to make a quick bone broth - saves hours! I love the everything bagel spiced croutons - a new twist of flavor on an old favorite!
Leanne says
The bone broth powder is a huge time saver! And the croutons are the only ones I make these days. The everything bagel seasoning is so addictive! Have a great week Kelly!
Dana says
This looks soooo delicious!!! I love bone broth and make it quite often. I've never had bone broth in powder form, that sounds really cool! And I don't have a big fridge/freezer space so I only make small portions of broth. This powder would really come in handy then! I'm So excited for comfort meals and soup season as well. We just got some cooler weather the past few days too, and I wore mitts last night. A little too early for that around here haha
What a delicious looking soup, I have always loved onion soup but can't have it anymore as onions are one of the high fodmap foods that give me mega digestion issues. I'd almost cheat with this because it looks like the best french onion soup ever!! Hope you had a great weekend, girlie!! xo
Leanne says
Thanks Dana! The powdered bone broth is super convenient, especially if you don't have a lot of fridge or freezer space. Sorry you can't enjoy the onions, but you could totally take a page out of my hubby's book and enjoy a bowl of broth with cheese and croutons! 😉 Have a lovely week!
Haylie says
That photo of the caramelized onions is amazing! YUM! So much flavor in this soup. Love the cheesiness and the crunchy croutons! Perfect Fall food. Great recipe, Leanne!
Leanne says
Thanks so much Haylie! I was surprised the onions photographed so well. They don't always look appealing when they are caramelized. But so tasty!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
We just ordered French onion soup at a restaurant the other day, and yours looks even better than the one we got! Plus you get the benefit from the bone broth. I'm definitely trying this one soon my friend! Happy weekend!
Leanne says
Thanks Katherine! So nice of you to say! Hope you get to make it soon! Have a great week!
sheenam | thetwincookingproject.net says
This looks so hearty and delicious!!!
Leanne says
Thank you Sheenam!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
I just want to grab a spoon and reach into my screen and grab a bowl Leanne! This looks fantastic!
Leanne says
Thanks Mary Ann! Wouldn't it be great if we could do that?! Haha!
[email protected] says
Coaxing the flavor out of onions does take love and care but is 100% worth it!
Leanne says
Absolutely agree Patrick!
Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
This soup is perfect for Fall! I love how you used bone broth to really flavor this soup 🙂 I'll take a bowl (or two...or three)!!
Leanne says
Haha! Thanks Kelly! Seconds and thirds all around! Love a hearty soup for fall!
marcie says
There's nothing like french onion soup and I love that you used bone broth to intensify the flavor! I'm waiting for cooler weather next week so I can really dive in and enjoy soup more. This looks so inviting!
Leanne says
Thanks so much Marcie! I hope you get some cooler weather soon so you can fully enjoy soup season!!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
This soup sounds so cozy and delicious! I'm a huge French onion soup lover--mostly because of the cheese :). I'm going to have to try this ASAP because we're expecting storms over the weekend. Just give me a bowl of this and some good movies and I'm set. Happy almost-Friday!
Leanne says
Thanks Kelsie! I hope the weather wasn't too bad over the weekend. I agree, the cheese is a delicious part of French onion soup. Probably why my hubby eats it!!
Neha says
I absolutely agree that getting flavor out of those onions takes time, but totally worth it! I can already smell this soup, divine!!
Leanne says
Thanks Neha! Yes, I think it was totally worth it too!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
One of the very first recipes I shared was a french onion soup with bone marrow toast. I love french onion soup because it has such a rich, savoury flavour and then, of course, there's bread and cheese. I totally agree with ya....it does take time to develop that flavour, but oh so worth it. Your hubby had a great idea using the bone broth in this one. Genius....now if you could only get him to eat those onions 😉 Anyway, extra for you, hey??
Leanne says
Haha! Yes, the hubby did have a great idea. He gets to enjoy a bowl of broth and lots of bread and cheese, and I eat a bowl of onions!;) I'll have to check out the first recipe you shared. You can never have too many soup recipes for the colder fall and winter season!
Terry says
This looks amazing ....I don’t eat the onions either! Haha.
Pictures are incredible as usual.
Leanne says
Haha! Thanks Terry! The onions are the best part! 😉