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This Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup is the best bowl of cozy french onion soup. It has everything you love about a warming, cheesy bowl of French onion soup…only better. There’s a touch of cream to make every spoonful rich and creamy. Slowly caramelized onions in wine with fresh herbs deliver the most delicious flavor. Then add that classic cheesy bread topping, and you’ll have the perfect bowl of soup. Great for both fall and winter days!
You guys, this creamy French onion and mushroom soup!
This isn’t your average bowl of French onion soup. Not that French onion soup could ever be average, it’s always delicious, but this bowl is a step up. It took me a while to get this one figured out, but once I did, I knew it was special. It’s funny, my process for developing recipes can be all over the place. Sometimes I have a solid idea in my head. One that already really excites me and I don’t think twice about creating the recipe.
Other times I have an idea that I like, but don’t love. Often times it’s these recipes that take me a little longer to get just right. That was kind of the case with this French onion soup. I wanted to make a French onion soup with mushrooms and lots of herbs. Of course, that would have been delicious, but I needed something to really make me excited.
After many texts back and forth with my sister-in-law, who has really become one of my best sources to help me think even more outside the box, we landed on this soup. A creamy french onion and mushroom with double the amount of herbs. With a few simple tweaks to the recipe, I was finally excited…so excited. It’s hard to make a classic recipe like french onion soup any better, but this recipe might just do it.
If you’ve ever made french onion soup, you know two things. One, it’s really pretty straight forward and there’s nothing too complicated. Two, the onions take a second (or two) to really caramelize down. It can take a little more time than the usual thirty-minute start to finish dinner, but it’s worth the wait.
And I don’t know, something about caramelizing onions on the stove is very relaxing and cozy. However, I am weird…I’m probably the only one that feels that way.
Anyway, I’ve made a lot of French onion soup over the years. Sometimes I’ve taken shortcuts with the onions, but with this soup, I wanted to deeply caramelize them to ensure they make for the most flavorful French onion soup.
So, start with sweet yellow onions, butter, a touch of honey, and dry white wine.
The butter is used for obvious reasons…fat, flavor, and deliciousness. The honey helps to cook and caramelize the onions faster. I always find these ingredients to be key when trying to achieve perfectly caramelized onions. Now, the wine…use a dry white wine, which is pretty traditional in most French onion soups. You’ll cook about half of the wine into the onions. Not only does this help the onions to caramelize quickly and evenly, it also infuses the onions with incredibly rich flavor.
It’s delish.
If you prefer not to cook with wine, I recommend using about half a cup of apple cider or apple juice to caramelize the onions. For the remaining amount of wine (another half cup), use chicken or vegetable broth.
Once the onions have been caramelized, toss in the herbs and those mushrooms. The mushrooms add such a rich flavor, they help to highlight the caramelized onions and herbs.
Now add the broth. You can use vegetable broth to make this vegetarian, or use chicken broth…either one works really well. Simmer the soup for ten or so minutes, then add the cream. The cream is the key to this soup. It’s not heavy, but it adds a rich creaminess that really makes this soup just a touch better, a touch more indulgent, and truly just delightful.
Once the soup has simmered for a bit, transfer it to small oven-safe ramekins. These are the mini Staub cocottes I sometimes like to use. But I adore these mini pumpkin cocottes as well, so cute. Top with crusty french bread, and a layer of cheese. Then place under the broiler to melt. Watch closely, the broiler works fast.
If you don’t have any oven-safe bowls, simply melt the cheese onto the bread, then add the cheesy bread to the soup.
Then simply pull these out of the oven and experience the bubbling cheese and the deliciousness of a truly good bowl of French onion soup. And guys, that’s it. This soup is truly one of those roll your eyes back, crave-worthy, fall/winter comfort foods.
It’s going to make the best Sunday night dinner, but will be equally great for the upcoming holidays and for low-key entertaining. I already have plans to make this on both Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s a soup that everyone loves!
Looking for other warming fall/winter soups? Here are my favorites:Â
Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup
Creamy Wild Rice Chicken Soup with Roasted Mushrooms
Cream of Mushroom Soup with Garlic Herb Breadcrumbs
Lastly, if you make this Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
I specifically looked for a French Onion and Mushroom Soup. This recipe cropped up. We loved it. I will be making again.
Hey David,
Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it! Happy Monday! xT
Sadly I found this one to be dud, while I do love many of the Half Baked Harvest recipes. I decided to have faith and try the recipe as written, but have confirmed that the onions need to be properly caramelized in oil, on their own, for a good 45 minutes, without wine or honey. -The onions generate enough sweetness on their own and the wine should be added only after you get a deep brown color. Cooking the mushrooms only a few minutes before adding the broth is also a mistake – they’re spongey in the end product.
Hi Lea,
Thanks so much for trying this recipe and your feedback, so very sorry to hear it was not enjoyed! xx
Can this soup be frozen after making?
Hi Liz! I haven’t ever frozen this soup before but that should work well! xT
Well, this isn’t Canada but we are having freezing temps in Texas so I made this too!! Lovely- we really liked having the mushrooms in it!!
Thank you so much Liz! Stay cozy out there! xT
Snow storm here in Canada today. Had all the ingredients except no wine in, so I used a couple of splashes of vermouth. Made to recipe with dried herbs, topped with a toasted Costco cheese bun a nippy Scottish cheddar. Made my day!
Thank so much for trying out this soup! Glad you enjoyed this recipe! xT
I loved this soup so much! I’ve been a follower of yours for years and truely love all your recipes. I own all the books and they are well used! Thank you!
Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try! So glad you enjoyed it! xT
Can I use beef broth instead I’d chicken broth?
Hey Ashlan! I haven’t ever tried that personally but that should work just fine! 🙂 xT
So favorable ~ loved this recipe. I took the time to caramelize the onions and used some shallots to substitute some onions as I had some leftover from Thanksgiving dinner. My husband would have preferred beef broth but I used a high quality chicken bone broth, loved it!
Thank you so so much Sandra! xT