Brown Derby French Onion Soup Recipe (Classic Copycat)

Step back to the golden age of Hollywood dining with this authentic Brown Derby French Onion Soup recipe. The legendary Brown Derby restaurant, famous for hosting movie stars and industry moguls from the 1920s through the 1980s, served this soul-warming soup that became as iconic as the restaurant’s distinctive hat-shaped building.

This isn’t your typical French onion soup. The Brown Derby’s version features a unique dual-stock base combining rich beef stock with savory chicken broth, creating an extraordinarily flavorful foundation that elevates simple caramelized onions into something truly magical. Perfect for chilly evenings or when you want to bring a touch of old Hollywood glamour to your dinner table.

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Why This Recipe Works

The genius of Brown Derby’s French onion soup lies in its sophisticated approach to building layers of flavor. Unlike traditional recipes that rely solely on beef stock, this version combines beef stock and chicken broth, creating a more complex, well-rounded taste that’s rich and lighter than typical versions.

The generous amount of butter ensures the onions caramelize perfectly, developing deep, sweet flavors that form the soup’s foundation. The careful balance of seasonings, including the subtle addition of celery salt and Worcestershire sauce, adds an umami depth that distinguishes this soup from ordinary versions. The slow simmering process melts all these elements into a harmonious, restaurant-quality result.

Ingredients

Soup Base:

• Butter – Creates a rich foundation for caramelizing onions and adds a luxurious mouthfeel
• Yellow onions – Sweet onions that caramelize beautifully and provide the soup’s signature flavor
• Beef stock – Contributes rich, meaty depth and traditional French onion soup character
• Chicken broth – Adds lighter, more complex flavor notes that balance the beef stock
• Black pepper – Provides subtle warmth without overpowering delicate onion flavors
• Celery salt – Unique seasoning that adds herbaceous complexity and enhances savory notes
• Salt– Enhances all flavors and balances the natural sweetness of caramelized onions
• Bay leaf – Contributes subtle earthy undertones during the simmering process
• Worcestershire sauce – Secret ingredient that adds umami depth and complexity

Traditional Garnishes:

• Garlic croutons – Add textural contrast and absorb delicious soup flavors
• Parmesan cheese, grated – Provides nutty, salty contrast to sweet onions

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing the Onions

1. Peel and thinly slice 1 1/2 pounds of yellow onions, creating uniform slices about 1/8-inch thick for even cooking.
2. The key to perfect French onion soup is patience during this step. Thin, consistent slices ensure even caramelization.

Caramelizing the Onions

3. In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the entire stick of butter over medium heat.
4. Add all the sliced onions to the melted butter, stirring gently to coat every slice completely.
5. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until they become translucent and begin to soften, about 10-15 minutes.
6. Continue cooking, stirring more frequently as they progress, until the onions develop a beautiful golden-brown color and sweet aroma.
7. This caramelization process is crucial and should take about 20-25 minutes total. Don’t rush this step, as proper caramelization creates the soup’s signature depth of flavor.

Building the Soup Base

8. Once the onions are perfectly caramelized and golden brown, add the beef stock and chicken broth to the pot.
9. Stir in the black pepper, celery salt, regular salt, bay leaf, and Worcestershire sauce.
10. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, then immediately reduce heat to low.

Simmering to Perfection

11. Allow the soup to simmer gently for about 30 minutes, or until the onions are tender but still hold their shape.
12. The onions should be soft enough to cut with a spoon but not completely broken down or mushy.
13. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt, pepper, or Worcestershire sauce to your preference.
14. Remove the bay leaf before serving.

Serving the Traditional Way

15. Ladle the hot soup into individual bowls or oven-safe crocks.
16. Sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan cheese.
17. Top with homemade or store-bought garlic croutons.
18. For the classic presentation, place filled bowls under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts and bubbles.
19. Serve immediately while hot.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Proper Storage

Refrigeration: Cool completely and store in airtight containers for up to 4 days. The flavors actually improve overnight as they continue to meld.

Freezing: Freeze for up to 3 months in freezer-safe containers, leaving 1 inch of headspace for expansion.

Reheating Methods

Stovetop (Recommended):

1. Heat gently over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally
2. Add a splash of stock or water if the soup has thickened too much
3. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving

Microwave:

1. Heat in microwave-safe bowls in 1-minute intervals
2. Stir between intervals to ensure even heating
3. Add fresh garnishes after reheating

Love restaurant French Onion Soup? Try these copycat recipes!

• Applebee’s French Onion Soup
• Brennan’s French Onion Soup
• Panera French Onion Soup
• TGI Friday’s French Onion Soup

Pair the soup with Brown Derby’s salad and dressing

• Cobb Salad
• French Dressing

Check out more of my easy recipes for soup and the best copycat restaurant recipes on CopyKat!