Ingredients
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6 tablespoons butter
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4 large yellow onions, sliced and separated into rings
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1 tablespoon white sugar
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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½ cup cooking sherry
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7 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
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1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
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¼ teaspoon dried thyme
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1 bay leaf
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8 slices of French bread
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½ cup shredded Gruyere cheese
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⅓ cup shredded Emmental cheese
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¼ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
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2 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
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Gather all ingredients.
![Ingredients to make slow cooker French onion soup]()
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
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Heat butter in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add onions; cook and stir until translucent, about 10 minutes.
![A large pot with sliced onions cooking down in butter]()
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Sprinkle onions with sugar; reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring constantly, until onions are soft and caramelized, at least 30 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
![A large pot of caramelized sliced onions]()
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Stir sherry into onion mixture; scrape the bottom to dissolve the small bits of browned food.
![A large pot of caramelized onions and sherry, being stirred with a wooden spoon]()
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Transfer onions into a slow cooker and pour in beef broth. Season with sea salt; stir in thyme and bay leaf.
![A slow cooker with caramelized onions, with beef stock being poured over the onions]()
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Cover and cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours or on High for 4 to 6 hours.
![A slow cooker with caramelized onions cooking in beef broth]()
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Preheat the oven broiler about 10 minutes before serving. Set an oven rack about 8 inches from the heat source. Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet; broil until toasted, 1 to 2 minutes per side.
![A baking sheet with toasted slices of bread]()
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Lightly toss Gruyere, Emmental, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses in a bowl.
![A small glass bowl of shredded cheese]()
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Fill oven-safe soup crocks 3/4 full with onion soup and float a bread slice in each bowl.
![Two crocks of onion soup, next to a slow cooker of onion soup]()
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Top each with about 2 tablespoons cheese mixture.
![Two crocks of slow cooker French onion soup topped with shredded cheese]()
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Place filled bowls onto a baking sheet and broil until cheese topping is lightly browned and bubbling, about 2 minutes.
![A crock of slow cooker French onion soup, topped with melted cheese]()
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Cook’s Note
You do not have to caramelize the onions; you can melt the butter in your crockpot, stir in the onions to coat, add the remaining ingredients, and cook. However, caramelizing the onions makes for a much, much better soup!
If you like, put all the soup components — soup, toasted bread, and cheese mixture — out on the table and let people make their soup! This seems to be the favored method when I host a craft night. People can make their own decisions about what they want in or on their soup!
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 442 | Calories |
| 16g | Fat |
| 57g | Carbs |
| 18g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 8 | |
| Calories 442 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 16g | 21% |
| Saturated Fat 9g | 45% |
| Cholesterol 38mg | 13% |
| Sodium 1539mg | 67% |
| Total Carbohydrate 57g | 21% |
| Dietary Fiber 3g | 10% |
| Total Sugars 10g | |
| Protein 18g | 35% |
| Vitamin C 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium 222mg | 17% |
| Iron 4mg | 22% |
| Potassium 283mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
