French Onion Chowder
Two soups collide in this French Onion Chowder. Onions are slowly cooked until caramelized and tender, then combined with fresh thyme, garlic and potatoes in a creamy rich broth. This recipe yields 10 cups or serves about 6.
As I sit and wait for the Michigan weather to get its act together and warm up, I’m still enjoying soup. I made this chicken soup recipe two weeks in a row, and then for some change I morphed two recipes to create this gorgeous and lusciously rich soup.
First of all, who doesn’t love caramelized onions. Onions slowly cooked until the sugars are released and caramelize. Imagine those glorious onions along with tender potatoes, garlic and fresh thyme in a creamy broth. It’s everything I love in life.
It’s heaven in a bowl, I tell you.
Here’s what you will need: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon extra light olive oil, 2 pounds sweet onions, kosher salt, 4 large cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves, 1/3 cup dry white wine, 2 medium potatoes, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 3/4 cup heavy cream, 2 bay leaves,1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper.
Start by slicing 2 pounds of sweet onions 1/4-inch thick.
Next heat 4 tablespoons of butter in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Then add in the onions and 3/4 teaspoon of kosher salt, toss, cover and cook for 5 minutes undisturbed. After the 5 minutes, remove the lid and cook on medium-low heat for 40 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
This is what the onions should look like after 20 minutes.
And then this is what the onions should look like at the 40 to 45 minute mark. Caramelized and smelling mouth-watering.
Next, add in the minced garlic and fresh thyme and cook for a minute or two. Then pour in the wine and simmer until the wine is reduced by half.
Then add in the diced potatoes and sprinkle in the flour.
Next, stir and cook the flour for 2 minutes before pouring in the chicken broth.
Next, pour in the heavy cream and add in the bay leaves. Then cover and heat on medium-high bringing the soup to a low-boil. Next uncover the pot, reduce the heat to medium to medium-low and cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until the potatoes are thoroughly cooked through.
Furthermore, I’ve made this a few times and if the soup doesn’t thicken up enough or I’m lacking in patience, I will make a cornstarch slurry. Typically I mix up 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water and stir it into a bubbling soup.
Lastly, remove the bay leaves and add in the parmesan cheese. Next, taste and season with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and ladle the piping hot soup into bowls.
Finally, serve with extra freshly ground black pepper and then maybe a piece of crusty bread for dunking. Because soup is always better with bread.
Enjoy! And if you give this French Onion Chowder recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
My cookbook Simply Scratch : 120 Wholesome Homemade Recipes Made Easy is now available! CLICK HERE for details and THANK YOU in advance!
*I've made this a few times and if the soup doesn't thicken up enough or I'm lacking in patience, I will make a cornstarch slurry. Typically I mix up 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water and stir it into a bubbling soup.French Onion Chowder
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 363 Total Fat: 21g Saturated Fat: 12g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 8g Cholesterol: 54mg Sodium: 221mg Carbohydrates: 34g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 10g Protein: 11g
Over the past few years I’ve been on a mission to find and create recipes that I can make from scratch. I hope you enjoy the recipes on this blog as they are tried and true from my kitchen to yours! (
Whew, this looks really good!
Laurie McNamara replied: — March 19th, 2019 @ 8:43 am
Thank you, Michsi!
I’m not a huge fan of thyme. Would fresh rosemary be a good substitute?
Laurie McNamara replied: — March 19th, 2019 @ 8:43 am
Absolutely! Just use about half or little less than what is called for in the recipe, as rosemary is a bit stronger of an herb. Enjoy!
Making this right now. I am so excited. I have no fresh thyme, but do have everything else. I did par boil the potatoes. As I feel they don’t ever get done enough quickly for me. It looks wonderful!! Eating it soon.
Laurie McNamara replied: — March 19th, 2019 @ 8:41 am
Hi Tracy! I hope you enjoyed the soup! How did parboiling the potatoes work for you? The only thing I’d worry about is the potatoes being mushing while the soup thickens. So I’m curious to hear how this worked out for you. Thanks for taking the time to make this recipe and leave a comment!
I made this soup with a couple of small changes and it was delicious! My daughter is vegetarian and sensitive to gluten, so I used vegetable broth (I like Better Than Bullion Vegetable Base the best) instead of the chicken broth. I got distracted and forgot to add the flour (I was planning to use gluten free flour) before adding the broth so I left it out altogether and added one tablespoon of cornstarch near the end of the cooking to give the soup a little body, while also keeping it gluten free. A second tablespoon would have thickened it to look more like Laurie’s pictures. The soup was satisfying and flavorful, and it will definitely go into my regular rotation (especially for chilly rainy day!)