French Onion Soup Casserole Recipe | LaaLoosh (2024)

By Wendy Zitzman

French Onion Soup Casserole Recipe | LaaLoosh (1)

French Onion Soup has always been one of my favorite dishes…who doesn’t love the idea of toasted bread and gooey cheese, melted all over a hot and flavorful onion soup?

But the traditional French Onion Soup recipe is not low calorie or Weight Watchers friendly. I’ve tried a few pre-made, low calorie versions that I’ve found in grocery stores but the taste is either blah or the portion is super small. So I set out on a journey to make my own but also decided to make it as a casserole, just because I was hungry and wanted a meal that had some substance.

It was so easy to make and the finished product was delicious! All the flavors that I love but for fewer Points. And making it into a casserole was really easy. It just basically the soup with more onions and less broth. If you want to make this dish as a soup, just use more broth when making it. So simple, yet so perfect.

And each very large serving is just 5 Points. This low calorie French Onion Soup Casserole Recipe is perfect for warming up on a cold day.

Enjoy!

French Onion Soup Casserole Recipe | LaaLoosh (2)

A casserole version of traditional French Onion Soup, this dish is a real winner. Each serving is very big, and you get all the delicious flavors that are expected. A perfect, low calorie recipe to warm you up on a cold winter day.

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Prep TimePrep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook TimeCook Time 45 minutes mins

Total TimeTotal Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

ServingsServings 4

CaloriesCalories 237 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch Oven

  • 1 Oven

Ingredients

  • 5 medium onions - thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp light butter
  • 1 cup fat free beef broth
  • ½ cup red wine
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • loaf French baguette
  • 4 slices light Swiss cheese - I used Jarlsberg
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Set a large pot or Dutch oven medium high heat, melt butter and add in onions, garlic and salt.

  • Cook, stirring frequently until onions become caramelized, about 30-40 minutes.

  • If onions start to stick to pan, just stir a tbsp or two of the broth as needed.

  • Once onions are caramelized, add in the broth, wine, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, pepper and thyme. Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  • Turn heat to low and add in vinegar and season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Cover and keep over low heat to stay hot while you prepare the bread.

  • Preheat oven broiler. Slice 1/3 of a loaf of French baguette into about 12 slices.

  • Spray a baking sheet with nonfat cooking spray, and arrange baguette slices evenly on sheet. Lightly mist again with an olive oil mister or the nonfat cooking spray and then place in oven for 3 minutes on each side, or until bread is well toasted on both sides.

  • Remove bread from oven and set it to bake on 375 degrees.

  • Pour onion mixture into an 8X8 casserole dish. Top evenly with bread slices and then cover evenly with Swiss cheese slices.

  • Place casserole dish into oven and let bake until cheese is melted and bubbly and beginning to brown, about 10-15 minutes. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5 cupsCalories: 237 kcal (12%)Carbohydrates: 29 g (10%)Protein: 11 g (22%)Fat: 5 g (8%)Fiber: 3 g (13%)

Cuisine: French Recipes

Diet: Low Calorie Recipes, Low Fat Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

Main Ingredient: Vegetable Recipes

Category: Casserole Recipes

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

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AuthorWendy Zitzman

As your average, every day, All American woman, I look forward to sharing with you my thoughts and ideas on many different topics that interest me such as dieting, health & fitness. Trust me when I tell you that this is one site you NEED to bookmark! I have the most amazing recipes with Weight Watchers Points that you won’t believe are low calorie! As an avid Weight Watchers follower, I have learned so many helpful tips and tools over the years that I am eager to share.

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    20 Comments

    1. barb9 years ago

      Followed exact directions. No problem with extra soup. This is Great! Thanks.

    2. Sarah11 years ago

      About to assemble – but my onions seem like they’re too “soupy”. How much liquid should be in the onion mixture?

    3. Gail11 years ago

      How does this make 4 servings of 1-1/2 cups each with only 1-1/2 cups total liquid?

    4. Dana11 years ago

      Got very excited coming across this recipe only to find out it’s not actually vegetarian. I’m sure that vegetable broth would not make this taste the same.

    5. Chriseda Howard11 years ago

      I just wanted you to know that I made this for my husband and myself this week and we both loved it. Thank you so much for the tip about using some broth to keep the onions from sticking to the pot, that was a real issue for me.

    6. Heather Mathieson11 years ago

      Considering I cook for 1… how well do you think this would keep/reheat??

    7. Gigi11 years ago

      I made this tonight and it was very tasty. I wouldn’t call it a casserole it was too soupy, We ate it as a soup… I followed the directions exactly,

    8. Rebecca O'Malley11 years ago

      this sounds great. do you think you could make the soup mixture ahead of time and refrigerate then just heat up with bread, cheese, etc later?

      • laaloosh11 years ago

        Sounds like a good idea! I think it should work fine….

    9. KatieQ11 years ago

      This casserole should not be classified as vegetarian because it is made with beef broth and Worcestershire sauce which contains anchovies..

      • Beth Baker11 years ago

        Easily remedied by subbing beef flavored veggie broth and anchovy free worcestershire …….but the last bottle of Worcestershire I picked up – no longer listed anchovies in the ingredients.

    10. Steph11 years ago

      Caramelize onions for 30-40 minutes?

      • laaloosh11 years ago

        Yes.

      • k l11 years ago

        they are wonderful.

      • Cate9 years ago

        That is what makes it so yummy!!!!!. I always cook them slow on low heat, but this is the best recipie I have found. I dont have the individual crocks and it still taste the same!

    11. Michelle Englehart Miller11 years ago

      Sounds delish, but to clarify, you’d have to use veg broth for this to be vegetarian.

    12. Just One Boomer (Suzanne)11 years ago

      Perfect for winter comfort food for those of us up in the northeast blue states.

    13. Elizabeth @ Food Ramblings11 years ago

      making it this weekend!!!

    14. Judy@lifeonthefoodchain.com11 years ago

      This is pure genius! If it wasn’t 8 AM I’d run and make it now…it may be on tonights dinner menu, though. Looks delish.

    Food Recipes

    French Onion Soup Casserole Recipe | LaaLoosh (2024)

    FAQs

    Should you cook onions before putting in casserole? ›

    To prevent a soupy casserole, be sure to fully thaw any frozen vegetables in a colander over a bowl, and pat dry, squeeze excess moisture out of greens like spinach or chard, and quickly precook watery fresh vegetables like onions, mushrooms or squashes just until they release their moisture.

    How do you deepen the flavor of French onion soup? ›

    A few sprigs of thyme and a bay leaf elevate the soup even more, but I take it a step further, adding a splash of fish sauce for complexity and depth—don't worry, it won't taste fishy—and a hit of cider vinegar to balance some of that oniony sweetness.

    Should French onion soup be thick or thin? ›

    Made slightly thicker than most watered down soups because every mouthful NEEDS a slightly thickened texture to compliment the caramelized onions.

    Why do you put baking soda in French onion soup? ›

    The caramelized onions for this soup cook more quickly due to a pinch of baking soda but still have that deep, slow-cooked flavor. Topping the soup with hot, cheesy toasts prepared while the soup simmers, eliminates the need to bake the soup in specialty French onion soup bowls.

    Which onions are best for casseroles? ›

    Yellow onions are perfect for stews, soups, barbecues, roasts and sauces. Avoid eating them raw as they have a strong flavour.

    How long to cook raw onions in soup? ›

    Cook the onions, stirring often, until they have softened, about 15 to 20 minutes.

    Why do you add flour to French onion soup? ›

    Onion soup, at its very essence, is nothing more than onions and water boiled together. Period, done, finished, everything added from that point on is pure opinion. Caramelizing the onions brings out sugars, and makes a more luxurious silky and sweet soup, adding flour gently thickens and provides body.

    How to doctor up canned French onion soup? ›

    Infusing the soup with a richer taste is as easy as quickly sauteing crushed garlic before pouring the soup in. Some soft, buttery garlic sauteed in earthy olive oil is the perfect addition to enrich canned French onion soup.

    What is the difference between onion soup and French onion soup? ›

    What is the Difference Between Onion Soup and French Onion Soup? French onion soup is always made with beef stock. Other onion soups can be made with chicken, vegetable, or beef stock. Additionally, French onion soup typically contains wine or sherry, which isn't typical or necessary in other onion soups.

    How many onions is 3 lbs? ›

    How many onions are in a pound? - Quora. There are 6 small onions (about 2.5 ounces each), 4 to 5 medium onions (about 3 to 3.5 ounces each), or 3 large onions in 1 pound.

    Why do you put lemon juice in soup? ›

    In this case, however, the lemon provides more of a flavor undertone that enhances other seasonings like thyme, parsley, and turmeric. According to trained chef Leetal Arazi, who spoke with Real Simple, you can bring a "zesty flavor" to your soup simply by adding lemon.

    Why do people put lemon in soup? ›

    Lemons are a chicken soup game changer. Why? They brighten up and balance the salty, rich flavors of the dish, and make all of the ingredients come into line.

    What are the best onions for soup? ›

    Yellow is the ideal variety for caramelizing. When you are sauteing onions to build flavor as a base for your dish (soup, tomato sauce, you name it), the yellow onion is your friend. That being said, white onions are a totally acceptable substitute for yellow, especially if you're cooking them.

    Should you cook onions before putting in sauce? ›

    While sautéing or caramelizing the onions is recommended, you can also add raw onions to your spaghetti sauce if you prefer a more pronounced onion flavor and crunch. Keep in mind that raw onions will have a sharper taste compared to cooked ones.

    Why should you cook onions first? ›

    Onion is the first to go in the pan because it needs time to become translucent, meaning it's cooked, which takes about 10 minutes. Garlic, on the other hand, cooks quickly and burns easily, so introduce it after the onion is cooked.

    Will onions soften in the oven? ›

    Toss a big pile of thinly sliced onions with olive oil and a splash of water (which will help them to steam and soften), season with salt, then roast until golden-brown and shrunken, stirring every 10 minutes or so, for 40–50 minutes. What you're looking for!

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