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    Home » Recipes » All Recipes

    Low Carb French Onion Soup

    by Oscar Chimenti, Last Modified: November 22, 2022 This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. See the Disclosure Policy linked in my footer.

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    a bowl of soup topped with melted cheese and a sprig of thyme next to bread and onions.

    This Low Carb French Onion Soup is made with thinly sliced caramelized onions, a rich broth with wine and brandy and topped with a crispy low carb french baguette and a gooey gruyere cheese.

    This warm and cozy keto french onion soup recipe will feel like you are having a traditional french onion soup.

    bowl of french onion soup topped with a sprig of time next to crusty bread and onions this recipe

    When fall is upon us I start to crave soups. One of my favorite soups is french onion soup. I was always attracted to the golden layer of bubbly cheese on top and this onion soup keto version will not disappoint.

    However, as I make this soup and add each ingredient I learn to understand the complexity of the flavors of this delicious french onion soup. I now thoroughly enjoy the flavourful notes of the broth and onions more than the crusty cheese.

    Jump To:
    • 🥘 Ingredients for low carb french onion soup
    • Other low carb soup recipes you might enjoy
    • 👨🏻‍🍳 Steps to make this onion soup
    • 👨🏻‍🍳 Substitutions and Variations
    • ♨️ Top tips and serving suggestions
    • 🥣 Equipment used to make this french onion soup
    • 💭 Frequently asked questions
    • 🍽 Other low carb recipes you may enjoy
    • Low Carb French Onion Soup

    🥘 Ingredients for low carb french onion soup

    bowl of french onion soup topped with a sprig of time next to crusty bread, cheese and onions

    This keto french onion soup is made with traditional french onion soup ingredients. However, some purists might not agree with using red wine instead of white but I prefer the bolder and more complex flavors of red.

    This low carb french onion soup is also topped with a couple of slices of crusty low carb french baguette that I made specifically for this recipe. I then add some shredded gruyere cheese and broil it in the oven to give it that nice bubbly gooey crust on top.

    • Caramelized Onions: this soup will be nothing without these savory and sweet onions
    • Beef Broth: giving this soup a salty and savory beef flavour
    • Red Wine: the rich and bold complexity of red wine gives this soup extra flare and je ne sais quoi 😘
    • Brandy: adding notes of flowers, fruit and citrus to this low carb french onion soup
    • Crusty Baguette: as mentioned earlier I developed a Low Carb French Baguette recipe specifically for this soup. This soup can also be enjoyed without the bread.
    • Gruyere Cheese: this cheese is in my top 3 of all cheeses. Alternatively, you can use an Emmental but I prefer the nutty flavors of gruyere cheese.

    Other low carb soup recipes you might enjoy

    • Low Carb Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Soup
    • Keto Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken Soup
    • Low Carb Roasted and Curried Butternut Squash Soup
    • Instant Pot Low Carb Cheeseburger Soup
    • Low Carb Ginger Asparagus Soup

    👨🏻‍🍳 Steps to make this onion soup

    How to make low carb French onion soup?

    STEP 1: add the butter and oil over medium heat in a dutch oven or heavy bottom pot, then add the thinly sliced onions with a dash of salt. Cook on medium heat until softened, stirring often. Once softened reduce heat to medium low and continue to cook for 30 to 40 minutes. Stirring often during this whole process.

    caramelizing the onions in the dutch oven and stirring with a wooden fork

    STEP 2: Once the onions have become slightly browned add the garlic and allow to soften for 2 minutes. Next, add the red wine and brandy and continue to simmer on low until the wine is reduced to half.

    reducing wine covered onions in dutch oven

    STEP 3: add the beef broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 1 hour. While it's simmering slice the baguette into ½ inch slices and brush both sides with olive oil. Place on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 400°F for 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway through. Once out of the oven, rub each baguette with a half clove of garlic.

    brushing the baguettes with garlic
    • STEP 4: add the soup to an oven soup bowl like a ramekin or french onion soup bowl. Top with two slices of the low carb bread and then top with shredded gruyere cheese.
    a bowl of french onion soup topped with cheese next to pot of soup with a ladle in it

    STEP 5: Place bowls on a baking sheet and broil in the oven for about 4 minutes just to get the cheese topping nice and bubbly. Serve with a sprig of thyme on top (optional)

    bowl of french onion soup topped with a sprig of time next to crusty bread and onions

    👨🏻‍🍳 Substitutions and Variations

    There are many variations to the classic French onion soup. Here are some other ways you can make this low carb soup.

    • Cheese - use any cheese that melts well such as Emmental, provolone, fontina or mozzarella
    • Bread - as an alternative use any low carb bread you can purchase in grocery stores, cut into the size of your bowl and toast in the oven just the same
    • Red Wine: if you prefer white wine you can use the same amount instead of red

    See my other Keto Soup Recipes

    ♨️ Top tips and serving suggestions

    Top Tip: If you don't have oven safe bowl you can place the cheese on top of the baguette slices while on the baking sheet and melt them in the oven. Then just simply top the soup with the crusty and cheesy baguette slices.

    • Serving: enjoy in an oven-safe bowl topped with crispy baguette and bubbly cheese. Either as a side or it can be a whole meal in itself.
    • Storage: if you have leftovers or want to make this soup ahead you can store the broth in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. When ready to eat, serve in oven safe bowls and top with the crispy bread and cheese, broil in the oven until soup is warm and cheese is bubbly on top.

    🥣 Equipment used to make this french onion soup

    I find having this low-carb french onion soup recipe in traditional oven safe bowls truly give you that classic french soup feeling.

    Another option would be to use oven-safe ramekins or souffle bowls as long as they are at least 10 oz in size.

    A medium sized dutch oven pot always comes in handy for soups and stews.

    Baking sheets are a must for this recipe in order to make the crusty bread and to place the oven safe bowls onto in case they boil oven and not make a mess in the oven.

    bowl of french onion soup topped with a sprig of time next to crusty bread and onions

    💭 Frequently asked questions

    What is French Onion Soup?

    Traditional French onion soup is made with beef broth, and caramelized onions and topped with croutons or a large piece of bread and cheese melted on top.

    What are the best onions to use for this soup?

    Yellow onions tend to caramelize best but a white onion will also work. I suggest not using red onions and they will be too sweet for this recipe.

    Can I use any type of cheese instead of gruyere?

    Any cheese that will melt nicely in the oven like provolone, fontina, Emmental or mozzarella.

    Do I have to use alcohol to make French onion soup?

    No, just replace the alcohol liquids with the same amount of beef bone broth.

    Is this low carb french onion soup keto friendly?

    A cup of this soup with the bread and cheese has roughly 9g of net carbs. Therefore, depending on your daily macros this soup may or may not fit into a keto diet.

    How can I reduce the number of carbs in this recipe?

    You can reduce the carbs by using fewer onions. Although this recipe is considered sugar-free, onions will release some sugar while sauteing them. Reducing the onions to only one will still give you that onion flavor and be enjoyable. You may also want to omit the keto bread to limit the number of carbs.

    What kind of red wine did you use for this french onion soup?

    I used a very dry low carb red wine for this soup.

    🍽 Other low carb recipes you may enjoy

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      Can Diabetics Eat Bacon?
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      Sugar Free Chocolate for Diabetics
    • female with sunglasses about to bite into a corn on the cob.
      Can Diabetics Eat Corn?
    • greek yogurt bowl with berries and granola.
      Deliciously Guilt-Free: Bedtime snacks for diabetics
    bowl of french onion soup topped with a sprig of time next to crusty bread and onions
    bowl of french onion soup topped with a sprig of time next to crusty bread and onions

    Low Carb French Onion Soup

    Oscar
    Made with caramelized onions, a rich broth topped with a low carb french baguette and melty cheese.
    5 from 83 votes
    Print Pin This Recipe
    Prep Time : 5 mins
    Cook Time : 2 hrs
    Total Time : 2 hrs 5 mins
    Course : Soup
    Cuisine : French
    Diet : Diabetic
    Servings : 4 people
    Calories : 245

    Ingredients
      

    Soup

    • 2 tablespoon butter
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 medium onions thinly sliced
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • ¼ cup dry red wine
    • 1 tablespoon brandy
    • 32 oz beef broth 1 carton (900ml)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

    Crispy Baguette Slices

    • 4 slices low carb french baguette see recipe
    • ½ clove garlic
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ¼ cup gruyere cheese shredded
    Get the New E-bookCheck out Low Carb Comfort Food!

    Instructions
     

    Soup

    • Add the butter and oil to a medium sized dutch oven or heavy bottom pot. Allow butter to melt and then add the thinly sliced onions with a dash of salt.
      2 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoon olive oil, 3 medium onions
    • Cook on medium heat until softened, stirring often. Once softened reduce heat to medium low and continue to cook for 30 to 40 minutes. Stirring often during this whole process.
    • Once the onions have become slightly browned add the garlic and allow to soften for 2 minutes. Next add the red wine and brandy and continue to simmer on low until wine is reduced to half.
      2 cloves garlic, ¼ cup dry red wine, 1 tablespoon brandy
    • Add the beef broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 1 hour.
      32 oz beef broth, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt
    • After the hour, add the soup to an oven soup bowl like a ramekin or french onion soup bowl. Top with two slices of the baguette and then top with shredded gruyere cheese.
      4 slices low carb french baguette, ¼ cup gruyere cheese
    • Place bowls on a baking sheet and broil in the oven for about 4 minutes just to get the cheese topping nice and bubbly. Serve with a sprig of thyme on top (optional)

    Crispy Baguette Slices

    • Slice baguette into ½ inch slices and brush both sides with olive oil. Place on baking sheet and bake in the oven at 400°F for 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway through. Once out of the oven rub each baguette with a half clove of garlic.
      ½ clove garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil

    Notes

    Top Tip: If you don't have oven safe bowl you can place the cheese on top of the baguette slices while on the baking sheet and melt in the oven. Then just simply top the soup with the crusty and cheesy baguette slices.

    This recipe card provides the basic details to make this recipe. For more information, questions or variations please review the content above the recipe card.

    Updates and Revisions

    If conflicting information between the video and recipe card, the recipe card will always have the most up to date information, ingredients and instructions.

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    Nutritional Information

    All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 18g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g
    LOVE THIS RECIPE?Check out I Hacked Diabetes on Pinterest

    🌡️ Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more food guidelines

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Toni

      October 22, 2021 at 12:04 pm

      5 stars
      Everyone at my house loved how satisfying this!

      Reply
    2. Amy Liu Dong

      October 21, 2021 at 8:29 pm

      5 stars
      I am thinking of a soup recipe to make today, and this one is perfect!
      It looks delicious and easy!

      Reply
      • Oscar Chimenti

        October 21, 2021 at 9:14 pm

        Great, hope you enjoy it.

        Reply
    3. Lexa

      October 21, 2021 at 6:59 pm

      5 stars
      We loved this French Onion Soup! A great recipe for this time of the year!

      Reply
      • Oscar Chimenti

        October 21, 2021 at 9:14 pm

        Thank you Lexa.

        Reply
    4. Lara

      October 21, 2021 at 6:20 pm

      5 stars
      Another winning recipe Oscar! Love the low carb bread…. Brilliant!

      Reply
      • Oscar Chimenti

        October 21, 2021 at 9:15 pm

        Thanks Lara.

        Reply
    5. Jeri

      October 21, 2021 at 4:26 pm

      5 stars
      Mmmm, this soup was so full of flavor! Better than any restaurant french onion soup. It is going on the dinner rotation schedule! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Oscar Chimenti

        October 21, 2021 at 9:15 pm

        Right on. Thanks Jeri.

        Reply
    6. Amanda Scarlati

      October 21, 2021 at 1:55 pm

      5 stars
      This soup was delicious! Perfect for a cold Fall evening.

      Reply
      • Oscar Chimenti

        October 21, 2021 at 9:16 pm

        Perfect soup for a cold evening. Thanks Amanda.

        Reply
    7. Natalie

      October 21, 2021 at 12:56 pm

      5 stars
      I love french onion soup. I will give your recipe a try. Looks amazing and so delicious!

      Reply
    8. Jere Cassidy

      October 21, 2021 at 12:42 pm

      5 stars
      It's been ages since I had French Onion Soup and your recipe is simple to make.

      Reply
    9. Jessica

      October 21, 2021 at 12:37 pm

      So happy to have stumbled across this recipe. I have been craving anything French onion something fierce lately. Next week I start back up on a low-carb diet so this will definitely be on the menu. I'm thrilled that you have a recipe for low-carb baguette as well because you just can't have French onion soup without the bread

      Reply
      • Oscar Chimenti

        October 21, 2021 at 9:17 pm

        I agree, you need the bread in the soup 🙂

        Reply
    10. Kayla DiMaggio

      October 21, 2021 at 8:00 am

      5 stars
      French onion soup is my favorite and I loved the way you reduced the carb amount! This was delicious!

      Reply
      • Oscar Chimenti

        October 21, 2021 at 9:17 pm

        Thanks so much Kayla.

        Reply
    11. Megan Ellam

      October 21, 2021 at 3:01 am

      5 stars
      Yaas! this looks amazing! I cannot wait to give it a try. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    12. Alexandra

      October 21, 2021 at 2:19 am

      5 stars
      Delicious and full of flavour, this soup will be a fantastic starter for our festive menu also!

      Reply
    13. Addie

      October 20, 2021 at 10:50 pm

      5 stars
      This soup is so hearty and flavorful!

      Reply
    14. Chef Dennis

      October 11, 2021 at 9:02 am

      5 stars
      Your French onion soup was a big hit with my family, I'll definitely be making it again!

      Reply
    15. Mirlene

      October 08, 2021 at 7:51 pm

      5 stars
      One of my favorite soups to make for my husband. Thanks for sharing this delicious soup.

      Reply
      • Oscar Chimenti

        October 09, 2021 at 8:52 pm

        Welcome, enjoy 🙂

        Reply

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    I am a Type 2 Diabetic and enjoy creating low-carb and diabetic-friendly recipes that are good for you! All recipes are developed to help you make great food without the highs and lows of diabetes.

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    49 shares