French Onion Grilled Cheese

Name: French Onion Grilled Cheese
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 8 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon Olive Oil; 2 small Onions, Sliced into rings; 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper; 1 tablespoon Beef Base; 1/2 cup Water; 2 teaspoons Butter; 1 loaf Rustic Bread, Small, or 4 slices of your favorite thick bread; 2 slices White Cheddar Cheese

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Caramelized onions and lots of gooey cheese come together to taste like the classic French onion soup!

This French Onion Grilled Cheese is a perfect lunch option for indulging in rich savory flavors.

This french onion grilled cheese sandwich is what dreams are made of. Cheesy melty gooey goodness packed with a sweetened savory onion flavor in every bite. You’re going to love this onion grilled cheese!

The salty beef broth is perfect for those sweet caramelized onions. The crusty bread is a must as it soaks up all that delicious broth. The hot and bubbly Gruyere cheese is creamy, nutty and melts right into the broth so that each bite hits you with different flavors and textures. the French onion soup flavor is just dreamy.

Inspired by Soup

That exquisite French onion soup is the inspiration behind this sandwich. I cooked down two small onions until they were soft and caramel in color. Then I added just a touch of beef base and a little water so that the onions would take on the flavor of my beloved soup. I placed these onions between two halves of crusty bread and added slices of white cheddar cheese.

Think of this recipe as a guideline. Just as you can swap out the cheese, the bread can be changed up as well. I used country-style bread that I found in the bakery section of my grocery store. Use what you have access to, as long as it’s on the firm side.

This sandwich is the hand-held version of my favorite soup! It has everything I love about French onion soup, but it’s something you can sink your teeth into!

Ingredients

Olive Oil
Onions
Black Pepper
Beef Base
Water
Butter
Rustic Bread Slices
White Cheddar Cheese

For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.

How to Make French Onion Grilled Cheese

Heat your olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add in the onions.
Cook your onion for about 15-20 minutes while stirring frequently. Continue to cook the onions until they begin to soften and turn golden in color.
Reduce the heat to low and then stir in the pepper, beef base, and water. Stir to combine.
Cook until the liquid has been mostly absorbed and the onions are thickened. Remove the pan from the heat.
Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat on the stove and butter one side of each slice of bread.
Place two slices of bread onto the pan, butter side down.
Divide the onion mixture between the two slices and then top with cheese and the remaining bread slice, butter facing up.
Grill your sandwiches for 2-4 minutes per side or until the outside is golden and the cheese has melted.
Serve immediately.

FAQs

What cheese works well for a french onion grilled cheese sandwich recipe?

I know Gruyere is more traditional, but that’s not always easy to find. Swiss cheese would work well too. I like the white cheddar, the sharp flavor seems to pair well with the beef flavoring in the onions, plus it melts nicely too!

What goes well with french onion grilled cheese?

This sandwich is great served on its own as a simple meal but it can also be paired with a lovely simple soup like celery or parsnip soup or salad as side dishes to make it feel more complete. You’ll want simple flavors to pair with this sandwich because you don’t want to overpower the onion flavor in your sandwich.

If you liked this french onion grilled cheese recipe then check out my other tasty grilled cheese sandwich recipes!

Yield: 2 servings