1-Pot French Onion Soup (Vegan!)
User Reviews
4.8
62 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
5 mins
-
Cook Time
1 hr
-
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
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Servings
2 (Bowls)
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Calories
230 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
French, International
1-Pot French Onion Soup (Vegan!)
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This vegan French Onion Soup relies on slowly caramelized yellow onions cooked in oil or water, flavored with garlic, thyme, and bay leaves, then simmered in vegetable broth enhanced with coconut aminos and miso paste for depth. Optional shiitake mushrooms add texture and richness. The soup develops a sweet, layered onion flavor with a broth that balances savory and umami notes. It is typically served with croutons made from toasted or baked bread, which add a crunchy contrast to the tender onions and broth.
Description
The recipe for 1-Pot French Onion Soup uses medium-thick slices of yellow onions cooked over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes. This slow caramelization brings out a natural sweetness and softens the onions without burning them. The inclusion of garlic, bay leaves, and thyme creates a classic herbal base. The broth incorporates vegetable stock, miso paste for an earthy umami boost, and coconut aminos for mild sweetness and soy-like notes, making the soup vegan and richly flavored.
Optional shiitake mushrooms add a meaty texture and deepen the soup's flavor. The cooking method of slow caramelization and gentle simmering builds a complex taste profile, combining tender onion strands suspended in a savory, aromatic broth. Croutons made from toasted bread cubes (optionally oil-free) are often served on top to introduce a crisp textural element when eaten together.
The soup is suited for those seeking a comforting vegan dish that highlights caramelized onions and melded savory ingredients in a single-pot preparation. Stirring regularly and cooking low and slow helps achieve the characteristic sweetness and prevents burning.
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Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp oil or sub twice the amount in water, plus more as needed to prevent sticking, or vegan butter
- 2 medium yellow onion peeled and sliced into slightly larger than 1/4-inch rounds
- 1 healthy pinch salt plus more to taste
- 1 healthy pinch black pepper plus more to taste
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup shiitake mushroom adds depth of flavor and a bit of texture // okay to omit, thinly sliced
- 1 Tbsp arrowroot starch optional // or all purpose flour if not gluten-free, or cornstarch
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 ½ tsp thyme or sub 3/4 tsp dried thyme, fresh leaves, lightly chopped
- 4 cups vegetable broth (we prefer Pacific brand or DIY)
- 1 Tbsp coconut aminos (or sub half the amount with tamari as it’s saltier)
- 2 tsp miso paste (if soy-free, use chickpea miso // we like Miso Master brand)
FOR SERVING optional
- croutons (gluten-free as needed // see notes for instructions)
Instructions
- Heat a large pot, saucepan, or Dutch oven over medium heat. Once hot, add oil, butter, or water and the sliced onions (they should be ~1/4 inch thick so the soup has nice texture). Stir and cover.
- Cook the onions over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until they start to very slightly brown. Then turn heat to low and cook for a total of ~30-40 minutes, opening the lid and stirring every 5 minutes. The name of the game with caramelizing onions is to cook slow and low. NOTE: If cooking without oil, be sure to cover the pot with lid after stirring — this helps them cook more evenly. And add 1 Tbsp water more at a time as needed to prevent sticking/ burning.
- How long you cook your onions depends on how deeply you want them caramelized. We found 30 minutes to produce a light golden brown color and sweet flavor, and 35-40 minutes to yield a deeper brown color and richer caramelized flavor. Be careful not to burn by keeping heat on low and adding a bit of water or broth as needed to prevent sticking.
- Add a healthy pinch of salt and pepper while sautéing, plus more to taste later as you season the soup.
- When your onions are close to being caramelized, add minced garlic and mushrooms and sauté for 2-3 minutes more. Then add arrowroot starch (optional, for slight thickness) and stir to fully combine (it should absorb fully into the onion mixture). Use a wooden spoon to disperse any clumps.
- Add bay leaf, dried or fresh thyme, vegetable broth, and coconut aminos (reserve the miso for later).
- Cover and simmer soup for about 20 minutes to develop and meld the flavors. Then simmer uncovered for another 5-10 minutes so it thickens slightly (the flavors will intensify even more). Ensure it isn’t boiling — only a gentle simmer. If serving with croutons, prepare at this time (see notes below).
- To incorporate the miso, add it separately to a small dish and top with ~1/4 cup of the warm broth. Use a spoon or whisk to fully combine, ensuring there are little to no clumps. Then add back to the pot and turn off heat (this ensures you don’t cook the miso, which would dampen its nutritional benefits). Stir to combine.
- Taste and adjust flavors as needed, adding more salt or pepper to taste, coconut aminos for depth of flavor, or miso for umami flavor.
- Serve hot topped with toasted croutons (optional) and additional herbs and black pepper. Store cooled leftovers in the refrigerator up to 4-5 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Store croutons separately (loosely covered) at room temperature up to 1-2 days.
Notes
- For croutons, cube day-old bread, toss with oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then bake at 400°F for 8-10 minutes until golden and crisp.
- For an oil-free version, omit oil and dry roast the bread with seasonings; croutons will be less browned but still crispy.
- Nutrition info is approximate and based on avocado oil use and excludes optional ingredients and croutons.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1bowl
Calories
230
(12%)
Carbohydrates
23.5g
(8%)
Protein
2.7g
(5%)
Fat
14g
(22%)
Saturated Fat
1.7g
(9%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
9.7g
(57%)
Monounsaturated Fat
1.9g
(10%)
Trans Fat
0g
(0%)
Cholesterol
0mg
(0%)
Sodium
1374mg
(57%)
Potassium
316mg
(7%)
Fiber
5.2g
(21%)
Sugar
12g
(24%)
Vitamin A
49.7IU
(1%)
Vitamin C
10.5mg
(12%)
Calcium
76.6mg
(8%)
Iron
1.4mg
(8%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2(Bowls)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 230 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1bowl | |
| Calories | 230 | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 23.5g | 8% |
| Protein | 2.7g | 5% |
| Fat | 14g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat | 1.7g | 9% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 9.7g | 57% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1.9g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 1374mg | 57% |
| Potassium | 316mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 5.2g | 21% |
| Sugar | 12g | 24% |
| Vitamin A | 49.7IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 10.5mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 76.6mg | 8% |
| Iron | 1.4mg | 8% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
62 reviews
Excellent
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