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French Onion Short Rib Soup with Cheesy Gruyère Toast(No Wine)

A deeply savory twist on classic French onion soup—rich beef short ribs, jammy caramelized onions, and no wine needed! Topped with melty Gruyère toast, this cozy comfort soup is rustic, refined, and soul-warming.

  • Total Time: 3 hours 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4–6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
    • For the soup:
    • 2 lbs bone-in beef short ribs
    • Salt and black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 6 cups beef broth (low-sodium)
    • 2 cups water
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 2 sprigs fresh)
    • 1 bay leaf

 

  • For the cheesy toast:
  • 4–6 slices crusty baguette or sourdough
  • 1 ½ cups shredded Gruyère cheese
  • Optional: fresh thyme or parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Sear the Short Ribs: Season short ribs with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear ribs on all sides (2–3 minutes per side). Remove and set aside.
  2. Caramelize the Onions: Reduce heat to medium. Add butter and onions to the pot. Cook, stirring often, for 30–40 minutes until golden and caramelized.
  3. Build the Broth: Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire, scraping up browned bits. Return short ribs to the pot. Add beef broth, water, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer.
  4. Simmer: Cover and simmer on low for 2.5–3 hours, until ribs are tender and fall apart.
  5. Shred the Meat: Remove ribs, discard bones and fat, shred meat, and return to the soup. Discard bay leaf and adjust seasoning.
  6. Make the Cheesy Toast: Preheat broiler. Place bread on a baking sheet, top with Gruyère, and broil 2–3 minutes until bubbly. Optionally, place toast directly on soup in oven-safe bowls and broil.
  7. Serve: Ladle soup into bowls, top with cheesy toast, and garnish with herbs if desired.

Notes

  • Use chuck roast or stew meat if you don’t have short ribs.
  • Swap Gruyère for Swiss, provolone, or mozzarella.
  • Add mushrooms for extra umami depth.
  • Soy sauce or tamari can replace Worcestershire for similar flavor.
  • Freezer-friendly—just leave the toasts off until ready to serve.
  • Author: Selena Trump
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 hours
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Stovetop + Broiler
  • Cuisine: French-Inspired

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bowl + toast
  • Calories: 580
  • Sugar: 8g
  • Sodium: 950mg
  • Fat: 36g
  • Saturated Fat: 18g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 14g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 25g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 38g
  • Cholesterol: 125mg

Keywords: french onion soup, short rib soup, no wine onion soup, Gruyère toast, cozy soup