Description
French Onion Beef Short Rib Soup is a luxurious twist on the classic French onion soup. Tender, fall-off-the-bone short ribs simmered in a rich, caramelized onion broth, topped with crusty bread and melted Gruyère cheese — it’s the ultimate comfort dish that’s both hearty and elegant.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs beef short ribs (bone-in)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
- 8 cups beef broth (preferably low sodium)
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 baguette, sliced and toasted
- 2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese
Instructions
- Season short ribs with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the short ribs on all sides until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the same pot, then add onions and brown sugar. Cook, stirring often, until deeply caramelized, about 30–40 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes. Deglaze the pot with white wine (if using), scraping up browned bits.
- Return short ribs to the pot. Add beef broth, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 2–2.5 hours, or until the meat is tender and falling off the bone.
- Remove short ribs from the pot. Shred the meat and discard the bones. Return the meat to the soup and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Preheat broiler. Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls. Top each with a toasted baguette slice and a generous amount of Gruyère.
- Broil for 2–3 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Serve hot.
Notes
- Make the soup a day ahead to deepen the flavor even more.
- Use a mix of yellow and sweet onions for depth.
- Gruyère can be substituted with Swiss or provolone in a pinch.
- For extra richness, add a splash of Worcestershire or soy sauce before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl with bread and cheese
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: french onion soup with short ribs, beef short rib soup, gourmet comfort food, caramelized onion soup, gruyère soup topping