French Onion Beef Short Rib Soup

 

Here’s a rich, cozy recipe idea for French Onion Beef Short Rib Soup — it combines the deep caramelized onion flavor of classic French onion soup with the meaty richness of braised short ribs.

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🥘 French Onion Beef Short Rib Soup

Ingredients

• 2 lbs (900 g) beef short ribs (bone-in preferred)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 4–5 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried)
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ cup dry red wine
• 6 cups beef stock (preferably homemade or low-sodium)
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• Salt & black pepper, to taste

For serving

• Baguette slices, toasted
• Gruyère cheese (or Swiss/Emmental), grated
• Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Sear the Short Ribs

   • Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high.
   • Season short ribs generously with salt & pepper.
   • Sear on all sides until deeply browned (about 8–10 min). Remove and set aside.

2. Caramelize the Onions

   • In the same pot, reduce heat to medium, add butter.
   • Add onions with a pinch of salt. Cook slowly, stirring often, until deeply golden and jammy (30–40 min).
   • Stir in garlic, thyme, and bay leaf.

3. Deglaze & Build the Broth

   • Pour in red wine, scraping up browned bits. Simmer 2–3 min.
   • Return short ribs to the pot. Add beef stock + Worcestershire.
   • Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook low & slow:
     • Stovetop or oven (325°F / 160°C): 2½–3 hours
     • Slow cooker: 6–8 hours on low

4. Finish the Soup

   • Remove short ribs, discard bones, shred meat, and return to pot.
   • Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove bay leaf.

5. Cheesy Toast Topper

   • Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls.
   • Top each with a toasted baguette slice and a generous handful of Gruyère.
   • Place under broiler until cheese is melted & bubbly.

6. Serve

   • Garnish with parsley and serve piping hot.

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✨ The result: Deep, rich onion broth infused with short rib flavor, with gooey cheese and crusty bread on top.

Would you like me to also give you a pressure cooker/Instant Pot version so it’s faster to make?