Description
This French Onion Casserole is a comforting dish featuring caramelized onions simmered in a rich beef broth and cream mixture, layered with crusty baguette slices and topped with melted Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses. Baked to golden perfection, it combines savory, sweet, and creamy flavors in a hearty casserole perfect for a cozy meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Onion Mixture
- 6 large onions, thinly sliced (about 2.5 pounds)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Casserole and Toppings
- 1 baguette, sliced into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare it for baking the casserole later.
- Caramelize the Onions: In a large skillet, melt the butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and stir frequently, cooking them for about 25 minutes until they are golden brown and caramelized for deep, sweet flavor.
- Add Sugar: In the last 5 minutes of cooking the onions, sprinkle in the sugar. This helps enhance the natural sweetness of the onions, balancing their savory profile.
- Simmer with Broth and Cream: Add the beef broth, heavy cream, dried thyme, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir to combine, then bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for another 5 minutes to meld all the flavors.
- First Layer: In a casserole dish, arrange half of the baguette slices in an even layer. Pour half of the onion and broth mixture over the bread, then evenly sprinkle half of the shredded Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses on top.
- Second Layer: Repeat the layering by adding the remaining baguette slices, followed by the rest of the onion mixture and the remaining Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses on top.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the assembled casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheeses are melted, bubbly, and the top is golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes to set before serving warm.
Notes
- Use good quality beef broth for the best depth of flavor.
- Gruyère cheese melts beautifully and adds a nutty flavor; you can substitute with Swiss cheese if needed.
- For a vegetarian version, replace beef broth with vegetable broth.
- If you prefer less cream, reduce the heavy cream slightly or substitute with half-and-half.
- The casserole is excellent served alongside a green salad or roasted vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: French onion casserole, caramelized onion casserole, Gruyère cheese casserole, baked onion dish, comfort food casserole