This deeply flavorful soup takes classic French onion soup to the next level by slow-simmering tender, fall-apart short ribs in a rich, caramelized onion broth. Topped with crispy Gruyère toast, this dish is comfort food at its finest!
🕒 Prep Time: 15 minutes
⏳ Cook Time: 3 hours
⏱ Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
🍽 Servings: 6
🔥 Calories per Serving: ~480
🛒 Ingredients
For the Short Ribs:
- 🍖 2 lbs bone-in beef short ribs
- 🧂 Salt & black pepper, to taste
- 🛢 2 tbsp olive oil
- 🧄 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 🍷 ½ cup dry red wine (optional but adds depth!)
- 🥣 6 cups beef broth
For the Caramelized Onion Soup:
- 🧅 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 🧈 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 🍯 1 tsp sugar (helps caramelize the onions faster)
- 🥄 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (for balance)
- 🌿 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
- 🍷 ½ cup dry sherry or white wine
- 🌾 1 tbsp all-purpose flour (for thickening)
For the Gruyère Toast:
- 🍞 6 slices of baguette or rustic bread
- 🧀 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
- 🛢 1 tbsp olive oil
- 🌿 Fresh thyme, for garnish
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Sear the Short Ribs:
- Pat the short ribs dry and season with salt & black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Sear the short ribs on all sides until deeply browned (about 3-4 minutes per side). Remove and set aside.
2️⃣ Caramelize the Onions:
- In the same pot, reduce heat to medium and melt butter.
- Add sliced onions and stir. Sprinkle with sugar and thyme.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown (about 30-40 minutes).
- Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
3️⃣ Deglaze & Build Flavor:
- Pour in sherry or white wine and scrape up any browned bits.
- Sprinkle flour over the onions and stir for 1 minute.
- Add the short ribs back to the pot. Pour in beef broth and red wine.
- Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook on low heat for 2 ½ – 3 hours until the short ribs are fall-apart tender.
4️⃣ Make the Gruyère Toast:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Brush bread slices with olive oil and toast for 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle with Gruyère cheese and broil for 2-3 minutes until melted and bubbly.
5️⃣ Shred the Short Ribs & Serve:
- Remove short ribs from the soup and shred the meat. Discard bones and fat.
- Stir shredded beef back into the soup.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and top with Gruyère toast.
🍯 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✔️ Rich, deeply flavorful broth with caramelized onions & beef.
✔️ Fall-apart short ribs that melt in your mouth.
✔️ Crispy Gruyère toast makes every bite heavenly.
✔️ Restaurant-quality comfort food at home!
🔥 Helpful Tips
✅ Want it even richer? Use homemade beef broth for maximum depth.
✅ No Gruyère? Use Swiss or Comté cheese instead.
✅ Short on time? Cook in a pressure cooker for 45 minutes instead of simmering.
Enjoy your French Onion Short Rib Soup with Gruyère Toast—a warm, hearty dish perfect for cozy nights! 🧅🍖🧀 Let me know if you need more delicious recipes! 😊