Cozy Up With These Delicious Dairy-Free French Onion Soup Recipes

Onion soup has long been a staple for people all over the world. In fact, research suggests that the ancient Greeks and Romans likely both ate onion soup, probably due to their abundance in vegetable gardens at the time. But it wasn’t until much later that French onion soup was invented (it first started to appear in Parisian restaurants around the 18th century). This version isn’t made of just simple onions, but it’s also loaded with toasted bread and lots of melted cheese.

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Today, French onion soup is served all over Paris and France in general, as well as French restaurants all over the world. But did you know this classic comforting dish doesn’t actually need to be made with dairy? Keep reading to find out how to make delicious French onion soup using only plant-based ingredients.

What is French onion soup made of?

The first ingredient of French onion soup is obvious. It is, you guessed it, onions. Usually these are cooked slowly, to achieve that deep caramelization that gives the dish its signature rich flavor. Gastronomy expert Paola Westbeek writes on the blog The French Life, “The most important factor is time. Slowly cooking the onions is imperative for them to gently caramelize and infuse the broth with all of their natural sweetness.”

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Alongside onions, French onion soup is usually made with bread, as well as ingredients like white wine (for more depth of flavor), garlic, herbs, olive oil, beef broth, and melted cheese. Usually, gruyère cheese, which is a Swiss cheese known for its slightly sweet flavor, is used in French onion soup. However, some recipes opt for provolone or comté, which is a French cheese made with unpasteurized milk.

But you can also use dairy-free cheese to make a delicious, hearty French onion soup. And instead of beef broth, vegetable broth works just as well when it comes to adding that rich umami element to the dish.

Vegan French onion soup recipes

Check out the recipes below for more on how to make a delicious French onion soup, without the dairy or the beef.

Vegan Huggs

1French Onion Soup With Cashew Mozzarella Cheese

Recipe developer Melissa Huggins also believes that if you cook the onions right, you can’t go wrong with French onion soup. “The onions are the star of this show,” she says. “They will create a deep, rich, and flavorful soup. So, give them ‘thyme’ and let them do their thing.” Other key ingredients in Huggins’ recipe include a gooey, creamy homemade cashew mozzarella cheese, low-sodium vegetable broth, sliced baguette, red wine, and vegan butter.
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The Curious Chickpea

2French Onion Soup With Dairy-Free Gouda

Gouda might not be a common choice for French onion soup, but in this recipe, a dairy-free version of the Dutch cheese works beautifully. However, most of the flavor comes down to the onions, of course. “For the best caramelized onions, choose sweet onion varieties like Vidalia or Walla Walla,” writes recipe developer Eva Agha. “The sugars in the onion are what caramelize, so picking onions with higher sugar content is important.”
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Vegan Richa

3French Onion Soup in an Instant Pot

An Instant Pot is “the easiest and most hands-off way of making this French bistro classic without compromising on the flavor,” says recipe developer Richa Hingle. The onions will caramelize beautifully with minimal effort, allowing you to sit back and let them work their magic on their own. When it’s done, serve with some vegan mozzarella and sliced sourdough for a comforting, nourishing lunch or dinner.
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Madeleine Olivia

4French Onion Soup With Grated Dairy-Free Cheese

In her version of the classic French dish, recipe developer Madeleine Olivia opts to keep things simple by adding grated cheese. The dish is also made with white wine, vegan beef stock, and vegan Worcestershire sauce, for that much-needed umami. “Perfect for cosy evenings, this recipe is both wholesome and indulgent, appealing to vegans and non-vegans alike,” Olivia writes. [“It’s] just as satisfying as the traditional version, but kinder to animals and the planet.”
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Minimalist Baker

5One-Pot Vegan French Onion Soup

Another one-pot recipe, this version from Minimalist Baker will come together easily with ingredients like yellow onions, garlic, shiitake mushrooms (for a little more depth of flavor) and coconut aminos. Unlike the others on the list, it omits the cheese, but it’s still just as rich and satisfying, especially when loaded with croutons. “We like saving the best bites for last: a little onion soup and the last few croutons that remain crisp in parts but are slightly soft in others from soaking in the broth,” notes Minimalist Baker. “So satisfying!”
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