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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!

overhead photo of Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup

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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.

prep photo of caramelized onions

OK, the simple(ish) details.

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.

prep photo of Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup before adding the cheese

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.

side angled photo Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup

Finish it up.

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!

side angled photo of Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup

Looking for other warming fall/winter soups? Here are my favorites: 

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!

Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup.

Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup | halfbakedharvest.com
3.89 from 1454 votes
6
calories 630kcal
Prep15 minutes
Cook45 minutes
Total1 hour
Everything you love about a warming, cheesy bowl of French onion soup…but better!
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Instructions 

  • 1. Melt together the butter, onions, and honey in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until softened, about 10 minutes. At this point, you want to slowly add 3/4 cup of the wine, 1/4 cup at a time, until the wine cooks into the onions. Continue to cook another 10-15 minutes until you've used the 3/4 cup of wine and the onions are deeply caramelized.
    2. Add the garlic, mushrooms, thyme, and sage. Season with salt and pepper, cook another 3-4 minutes. Add the remaining 1/2 cup wine, the broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high and return the soup to a simmer, simmer 10 minutes, then stir in the cream and cook another 5-10 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and discard. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
    3. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet and toast for 10-15 minutes, until very dry. Switch the oven to broil.
    4. Ladle the soup into oven safe bowls. Add a slice of bread to each, and top evenly with cheese. Place each soup bowl on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven, broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Top with fresh thyme. Eat!

Nutrition

Calories: 630kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.

horizontal photo of Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup

Meet Tieghan Gerard

I'm Tieghan, the recipes you'll find here are inspired by the people and places I love most. I try to live simply, eat seasonally, and cook with whole foods. My hope is to inspire a love for amazing food, as well as the courage to try something new!

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3.89 from 1454 votes (1,353 ratings without comment)

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327 Comments

  1. Jeannine says:

    5 stars
    This in incredible! So so yummy!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you so much Jeannine! xTieghan

  2. Deb MacLean says:

    Absolutely perfect combination of mushroom and onion soup. Will be a regular soup for us.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Deb! xTieghan

  3. Kelsey says:

    5 stars
    This was by far one of the best recipes I have made! So flavorful & yummy! On a cold, fall day it’s something I look forward to not only eating but also making!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      I am so happy you loved this one, Kelsey! It is such a perfect one for a cold night! Thank you so much! xTieghan

  4. Monika says:

    5 stars
    This was absolutely DELICIOUS!!!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Monika! xTieghan

  5. elizabeth says:

    Made this tonight and it was so delicious! I added some cannellini beans to make it our meal. Another wonderful recipe! Thank you!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you so much Elizabeth! xTieghan

  6. Jamie says:

    Looks so delicious! What size pot did you get? Is it the 1 quart?

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Jamie,
      Yes! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan

  7. Theresa probst says:

    Noticing you used chicken or vegetable broth with the soup instead of the traditional beef usually used in a French onion soup. Any particular reason? Maybe beef broth and cream don’t melt well? Just curious.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Theresa,
      I just decided to go with chicken broth for this recipe:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan

  8. Mark Sz says:

    5 stars
    I love French Onion Soup but I’ve never used cream or mushrooms in it. Can’t wait to try this. Question: tell us about those pots your serving the soup in, and are wooden handle can’t be safe under a broiler?

  9. Clare says:

    Can we substitute for beef broth? Will it work as well?

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Clare,
      Yes that would be fine to do! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan

  10. Teresa Moes says:

    5 stars
    Minnesota weather has turned very cool! This was an excellent soup for a cool fall evening. We loved the malty caramelized onions with the broiled cheese topping. Delicious! This soup takes time, but worth it.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you so much Teresa! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan

  11. Gail says:

    Love this recipe but can you tell me what brand the little pots with wood handles are?

  12. Sue says:

    Can I omit the mushrooms? or is there a recommended substitution?

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Sue,
      You could just omit the mushrooms:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan

  13. Christy says:

    I LOVE that this doesn’t use beef broth! I’m a vegetarian and feel like vegetarian recipes for French Onion Soup never quite get it right but the addition of Worcestershire sauce with mushrooms is interesting and should give it the right flavor! I can’t wait to. make this!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you so much Christy! I hope you love this recipe! xTieghan

  14. Colleen Reader says:

    Oooh this looks like a perfect hug in a mug soup for the weekend. Saved to the recipe box, thank you Tieghan 🙂

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you so much Colleen! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan

  15. Theresa says:

    Question….have you experimented with both fresh and dried mushrooms? I have a difficult time keeping fresh ones, well, fresh. 😉

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Hey Theresa,
      I think this recipe works best with fresh mushrooms! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan