Slow Cooker French Onion Soup is so comforting and tasty on a chilly day. Preparing it in the crockpot makes it it easier for the busy mom. With a side salad it can easily be a complete meal.
6 tablespoons of butter
4 onions, sliced
Pinch of kosher salt
Pinch of pepper
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 cup of wine or cooking sherry (I prefer red wine)
2 bay leaves
2 fresh thyme sprigs
1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
8 cups of beef broth
1 baguette, sliced
1 cup of grated cheese, Gruyere or Swiss
Melt butter in sauté pan.
Add onions, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. cook until caramelized and tender (15-20 minutes).
Add garlic and cook 3 minutes longer.
Pour onion from sauté pan to slow cooker.
Add wine to sauté pan to deglaze it. Be sure to loosen all the crusty bits from the bottom pan and pour the sauté pan contents into the slow cooker. I prefer a dry red wine but The Pioneer Woman uses a white wine. I have tried her recipe but I prefer the red wine as it seems to add more body.
Add the Worcestershire sauce to the slow cooker.
Tie bay leaves and thyme into a bundle with string (makes it easier to retrieve when done). Place herb bundle in crock pot.
Pour in 8 cups of beef broth.
Cook on high 4 - 5 hours 0r low for 7-8 hours.
Remove herb bundle.
Slice baguette into 1 inch thick pieces and place on a cookie sheet.
Sprinkle each slice liberally on each slice.
Put cookie sheet under broiler for 5 minutes or until bread is toasted and cheese has melted and begun to brown. Keep a close eye on them so they don't burn.
Ladle soup into bowls and float the baguette slices on top to serve.