Description
French Onion Beef Short Rib Soup is a rich, slow-cooked fusion of tender beef short ribs and caramelized onions in a savory broth, topped with crusty bread and melted cheese. It’s an elevated take on classic French onion soup, with extra depth and heartiness.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2–3 lbs bone-in beef short ribs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4–5 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 8 cups beef broth (preferably low sodium)
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (or additional beef broth)
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 6 slices French bread or baguette
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese
Instructions
- Season beef short ribs with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and sear ribs on all sides until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium and melt butter in the same pot. Add onions and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until deeply caramelized (30–40 minutes).
- Stir in garlic and thyme. Cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Deglaze with white wine, scraping up browned bits from the bottom. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add beef broth, bay leaves, and the seared short ribs. Bring to a simmer.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 2–3 hours, or until the short ribs are fall-apart tender.
- Remove the ribs, shred the meat, and discard bones. Return shredded meat to the pot. Discard bay leaves and thyme stems.
- Toast bread slices, top with cheese, and broil until melted and bubbly.
- Ladle soup into bowls and top each with a cheesy toast. Serve hot.
Notes
- Boneless short ribs or chuck roast can be used as alternatives.
- Use mozzarella, provolone, or fontina in place of Gruyère.
- Add a splash of balsamic vinegar for extra depth.
- Make it gluten-free using certified gluten-free bread and broth.
- Freeze soup (without bread) for up to 2 months for easy future meals.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl with toast
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 115mg