Applebee’s French Onion Soup Easy Copycat Recipe

Bring the warmth and comfort of Applebee’s legendary French Onion Soup straight to your kitchen with this foolproof copycat recipe! This ultimate comfort food showcases perfectly caramelized onions swimming in rich, savory beef broth, topped with crusty bread and a glorious blanket of melted Parmesan and provolone cheese. While the technique requires patience to caramelize the onions properly, the process is surprisingly simple, and the results are worth waiting. Perfect for cozy dinners, special occasions, or any time you crave restaurant-quality comfort food at home.

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What Makes Applebee’s French Onion Soup Recipe So Special?

Applebee’s has perfected the art of French onion soup by focusing on the fundamentals that make this classic dish irresistible. Their version strikes the perfect balance between deeply caramelized onions that provide natural sweetness, rich beef broth that adds savory depth, and that iconic cheese topping that becomes gloriously bubbly and golden under the broiler. What sets their soup apart is the careful attention to onion caramelization and the generous cheese blend that creates that Instagram-worthy cheese pull everyone loves.

Why This Copycat Recipe Works

This recipe succeeds because it replicates Applebee’s key techniques while using accessible ingredients you can find at any grocery store. The combination of butter and oil provides the perfect cooking medium for caramelizing onions, while a beef base adds a concentrated flavor that restaurant kitchens rely on. The dual cheese topping of Parmesan and provolone creates the ideal blend of sharp and mild flavors with superior melting properties that achieve that perfect cheese crust.

Ingredients

For the Soup Base:

• Butter – Provides rich flavor and helps achieve perfect onion caramelization
• Vegetable oil – Combines with butter to prevent burning during the long cooking process
• White onions – Offer sweeter flavor and better caramelization than yellow varieties
• Salt – Draws moisture from onions and enhances natural flavors
• Fresh garlic – Adds aromatic depth that complements the caramelized onions
• Low-sodium beef broth – Creates a savory foundation while allowing seasoning control
• Beef base paste – Provides concentrated beef flavor similar to bouillon but richer
• Ground black pepper – Adds warmth and aromatic complexity to the broth

For the Cheese Topping:

• Firm bread – Sourdough or French bread provides a sturdy base for cheese topping, you could use Texas Toast or even hamburger buns
• Parmesan cheese – Contributes sharp, nutty flavor and excellent browning properties
• Provolone cheese – Adds mild flavor and superior melting characteristics

How to Make Applebee’s French Onion Soup

1. Heat butter and oil in a large stockpot over medium heat.
2. Add the sliced onions and salt. Sauté the onions until they are browned. Stir frequently to prevent burning.
3. Add garlic and cook until the garlic has become fragrant about 2 minutes.
4. Add beef broth, beef base, and black pepper. Taste and add more salt if needed.
5. Simmer for 30 to 45 minutes over low heat. 
6. Heat the oven to broil.
7. Ladle soup into individual oven-safe bowls.
8. Place a slice of bread on top of each.
9. Top each slice with Parmesan and provolone cheese.
10. Place under the broiler until the cheese begins to brown.

Recipe Notes

If you have white onions on hand, I recommend using them for this recipe. They taste a little sweeter, so I am rather partial to them. You can use yellow onions if you desire.

One ingredient that I call for is beef base. The beef base is a paste of concentrated beef flavor. It is like a bouillon cube, but the beef base offers more flavor. Beef base is sold near where you would find bouillon cubes.

I hope you try this recipe; you can make a delicious pot of French Onion Soup just like Applebees.

Storage & Reheating Instructions

• Refrigerator Storage: Store soup base without bread and cheese in airtight containers for up to 4 days. The flavors improve over time as they continue to meld.
• Reheating Method: Heat the soup gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally. When ready to serve, add fresh bread and cheese toppings.
• Freezing Instructions: The soup base freezes well for up to 3 months. Cool completely before freezing in portion-sized containers. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Make-Ahead Tips: Prepare soup base up to 2 days ahead. Reheat and add fresh toppings when ready to serve for best results.

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