14 French Onion Recipes That Go Beyond Soup

French Onion Soup Pasta — The Spruce / Leah Maroney

If you love the deep and rich flavors of French onion soup, why limit yourself to the bowl? There are so many ways to combine the sweet caramelized onions, melting cheese, and beefy flavor that add up to total deliciousness.

Get inspired to cook outside your comfort zone with our best recipes inspired by a classic bowl of French onion soup. You'll find the essential bistro soup recipe here, of course, as well as clever ideas for weeknight burgers, meatloaf, and pasta. From crave-worthy party appetizers to special occasion entrees, enjoy the flavors you love with these tasty recipes.

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Easy French Onion Soup

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Let's start with the classic. Deep, rich French onion soup is a bistro staple for a reason. With its signature beefy broth brimming with mellow, well-cooked onions and topped with a miniature cheese toastie, it has warmed tummies in France for centuries. Make this restaurant favorite at home with very little effort and just 5 ingredients (plus water) when you follow our essential recipe.
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French Onion Soup Pasta

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Want a go-to pantry pasta recipe you can throw together quickly on busy weeknights? This hearty skillet pasta is full of French onion soup flavor from caramelized onions, canned beef broth, nutty Gruyere cheese, and buttery breadcrumbs. You can easily add in extra protein with some shredded rotisserie chicken or a can of chickpeas.
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Labneh Dip with Caramelized Onions

The Spruce / Anita Schecter

Labneh is a healthy, creamy Middle Eastern spread or dip with a texture like whipped cream cheese. Made from strained, Greek-style yogurt, it's the perfect canvas for all kinds of party dip toppings. Here, it is flavored with fresh and dried herbs and topped with caramelized onions for a seriously addictive party appetizer.
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Slow Cooker Pot Roast With French Onion Soup

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Use your slow cooker for this deeply flavorful, 5-ingredient pot roast that makes a satisfying entree at Sunday dinners and holiday feasts. Load up the crockpot in minutes and leave the roast to cook all day, creating an inviting aroma in your kitchen and perfectly fork-tender meat. Serve with a steamed green vegetable plus some crusty bread for soaking up that tasty sauce.

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French Onion Soup Grilled Cheese

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Warm and melty, with plenty of gooey Gruyere cheese, and tangy, wine-cooked onions, this Frenchified grilled cheese may be the best sandwich you ever tasted. It's a great way to enjoy a soup and sandwich lunch all in one. Don't rush cooking the onions — while they do take some time, it's mainly hands-free, and you will be rewarded with phenomenal flavor.
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French Onion Meatloaf

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Meatloaf is a family favorite meal with mashed potatoes, but some versions can be dry or dull. Not so with this moist and delicious French onion meatloaf that uses humble pantry ingredients to create a crave-worthy loaf. You can also assemble and freeze the unbaked loaf, storing it for up to 3 months, before thawing in the fridge and baking through.
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French Onion Dip

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Nothing beats kicking back in front of the TV with a bag of potato chips, and a bowl of creamy French onion dip. While you could buy the prepared kind, our homemade dip is so much more tasty, and takes little time to whip up with cooked-down onions, mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, shallots, and simple pantry seasonings.
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Slow Cooker Beef and Mushroom Stew With French Onion Soup

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

A can of condensed French onion soup, fresh mushrooms, and a small amount of red wine add special flavor to crock pot beef stew with canned tomatoes. With tender chunks of potatoes and carrots included, it makes a filling family dinner in one bowl. Adding a little flour at the end of cooking helps to thicken the stew even further so it's extra satisfying.

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Classic Holiday Green Bean Casserole

The Spruce

With canned condensed mushroom soup, French fried onions, and cooked fresh or frozen green beans, the classic holiday green bean casserole includes many of your favorite French onion soup flavors in the form of a baked vegetable gratin. Creamy, rich, and crunchy all at once, it is an essential side dish for Thanksgiving turkey.
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Three-Cheese Caramelized Onion Tart

The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

Kick-off your next social occasion with a cheesy, elegant onion tart. Made with crisp, pillowy puff pastry from the store, balsamic caramelized onions, cherry tomato halves, and sprinklings of melted cheese, this savory slice-and-share tart makes an elegant appetizer for a New Year's Eve crowd or any festive gathering of family and friends.
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Instant Pot French Onion Soup

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

When you lack time for caramelizing onions, the Instant Pot is a great shortcut to cooking a full-bodied French onion soup. Not only does it reduce the overall cooking time, but the pressure cooker setting does wonders with canned beef stock, transforming it into a rich and hearty brew. Top bowls with toasted bread and melted cheese for the perfect lunchtime soup on a cold, rainy, or snowy day.
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French Onion Soup Burger With Onions, Gruyere, and Compte Cheese

The Spruce / Grilled Cheese Social

These insanely delicious, umami-bomb cheeseburgers will remind you of a bowl of French onion soup in the very best way. No outdoor grill is required for these seasoned, lean beef burgers that fry up in a cast-iron skillet on the stove. Top them with tangy caramelized onions, melting Gruyere, and comté cheese and serve on toasted buns for the ultimate French bistro burger.

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French Onion Soup Fondue

QVC, Inc.

At your next gathering, treat guests to a retro party appetizer that actually tastes amazing. Ultra-cheesy and creamy, with a deeply savory flavor from beef broth and sauteed onions, French onion soup fondue is not only a delicious dip for fork-speared bread or veggie cubes, it's a fun, interactive party activity, too.
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Slow Cooker Brisket With Caramelized Onions

lenazap / Getty Images

Brisket is a holiday dinner staple for many families and can be made ahead and frozen to make your festive dinner preparations easier. Cook up a special occasion beef brisket to make your occasions unforgettable with this go-to recipe that includes long-cooked onions and a gorgeously savory, baked-in gravy.

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