French Onion Grilled Cheese

5 from 1 vote

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By: Jill Mills Updated: Dec 31, 2024

This French Onion Grilled Cheese tastes exactly like the classic soup, but in sandwich form! The homemade onion jam pairs perfectly with the gooey cheese and crispy bread. This is the best way to enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich.

The Best French Onion Soup Grilled Cheese

Soup is one of the ultimate comfort foods, and French onion soup in particular is so tasty and rich. But, since it can take a lot of effort to make, I highly recommend trying this French onion sandwich with sweet caramelized onion jam and salty cheeses instead. It’s just as good! Or, if you simply want a new and creative way to make a classic grilled cheese sandwich, this is the way to do it.

If you love the flavors of French onion soup, you should also try my recipe for crockpot French onion chicken, too!

Why You’ll Love This Sandwich

• Gooey and buttery. Crispy, buttery Texas toast is layered with melty gruyere, cheddar cheese, and onion jam. It’s a heavenly combination!
• Tangy and sweet. The onion jam is made with tangy balsamic vinegar, sweet brown sugar, earthy rosemary and thyme, and more. It will add so many delicious flavors to your sandwich.
• Easy to make. This meal is one of my favorites when I need a quick dinner recipe. The best part about it (preparation-wise) is that you can make the onion jam in advance and store it in the refrigerator for when you need it.

What You’ll Need

Fresh herbs are crucial for the perfect onion jam, and to achieve the savory flavors of French onion soup, strong cheeses are essential. Here are more details about everything you’ll need to make this sandwich. Check out the recipe card below to see the exact ingredient amounts.

For the Onion Jam:

• Olive oil – You could also use canola oil or avocado oil if you like.
• Small onions
• Rosemary – Do not chop this. Instead, leave the sprigs whole to add more flavor to the onion jam.
• Bay leaves
• Thyme – Treat this like the rosemary because it will be removed when the onion jam is fully reduced. 
• Brown sugar – I recommend using light brown sugar for this recipe rather than dark brown sugar.
• Red wine – A dry red wine would be best!
• Balsamic vinegar
• French onion soup – Canned soup is my go-to because it’s so easy.

For the Grilled Cheese:

• Thick sliced bread – Texas toast or any other thick slice of bread will work perfectly.
• Unsalted butter
• Gruyere cheese – Make sure to shred it so it melts evenly.
• White cheddar cheese
• Onion jam
• Parmesan cheese – Optional, but I love adding this to the toast as a finishing touch!

How to Make French Onion Grilled Cheese

Both the onion jam and the sandwich come together in just a few simple steps. For the full set of directions, scroll down to the recipe card below.

To Make the Onion Jam:

• Cook the onions. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Drop in the sliced yellow onions, rosemary sprig, bay leaves, and thyme sprigs, then cook the onions for 25-30 minutes or until they are golden and caramelized.

• Add in the brown sugar, wine, and vinegar. First, mix in the brown sugar and stir until dissolved. Next, pour in the red wine and balsamic vinegar. Continue to cook the onions for an additional 2-3 minutes to deglaze the pan.
• Stir in the soup. Reduce the heat to medium-low heat and pour in the French onion soup. Let the pan simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until thick. Finally, remove the rosemary sprig, bay leaves, and thyme sprigs before using/serving. 

To Make the Grilled Cheese:

• Melt the butter. Heat a skillet or griddle pan over medium heat. Add some butter, and place 1 slice of bread onto the griddle pan.

• Add the cheese and jam. Sprinkle a layer of gruyere onto the bread and add a heaping portion of onion mixture. Next, top all of that with white cheddar and the second slice of bread.
• Cook the sandwich. Brown your grilled cheese for about 3-4 minutes, then add more butter and flip it. Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes on the other side. 

• Sprinkle on the parmesan. Remove the grilled cheese sandwich from the skillet and sprinkle each side with grated parmesan. 
• Repeat, then serve and enjoy. Repeat the process for more grilled cheeses with the remaining ingredients. Slice each one in half and enjoy hot!

Serving Suggestions

• Soup. This sandwich pairs so well with your favorite soup! Try your French onion grilled cheese with crockpot tomato soup or minestrone.
• Salad. Sometimes I like to serve this grilled cheese with a salad for a meal that’s a little bit lighter. Something like this avocado salad or this cucumber tomato salad would be great.
• Sautéed veggies. If you like, you can throw in some more vegetables with the caramelized onions (like mushrooms or peppers, etc.).

More Grilled Cheese Recipes

• Kimchi Grilled Cheese
• Easy Pizza Grilled Cheese
• Brisket Grilled Cheese
• Bacon Grilled Cheese
• Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese
• Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese

5 from 1 vote

French Onion Grilled Cheese

This French onion grilled cheese is a fun take on a classic soup recipe! Made with gooey gruyere and cheddar cheese, buttery bread, and sweet onion jam, you'll be hooked on this sandwich from the first bite.

Servings: 4

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 50 minutes mins

Total: 1 hour hr

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Ingredients

  

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Onion Jam:

• ▢ 3 tablespoons Olive Oil
• ▢ 8 Small Onions Sliced
• ▢ 1 Rosemary Sprig
• ▢ 2 Bay Leaves
• ▢ 3 Thyme Sprigs
• ▢ ½ cup Brown Sugar
• ▢ ½ cup Red Wine
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
• ▢ 1 10.5 ounce can French Onion Soup

Grilled Cheese:

• ▢ 8 slices Thick Sliced Bread
• ▢ ½ cup Butter Softened
• ▢ 1 cup Gruyere Cheese Shredded
• ▢ 1 cup White Cheddar Cheese Shredded
• ▢ Onion Jam
• ▢ 3 tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

Onion Jam:

• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onions, rosemary sprig, bay leaves, and thyme sprigs. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are caramelized and golden brown., about 25-30 minutes.
• Add the brown sugar to the skillet and stir until dissolved. Pour in the red wine and balsamic vinegar, and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to deglaze the pan.
• Stir in the french onion soup and reduce the heat to low. Simmer the mixture for 20-30 minutes, or until thickened and jammy. Remove the rosemary sprig, bay leaves, and thyme sprigs. Set aside.

Grilled Cheese:

• Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium heat.
• Add 1 Tablespoon of butter to the skillet.
• Place 1 slice of bread onto the skillet or griddle.
• Sprinkle on a layer of gruyere cheese, add a generous portion of the onion jam, then sprinkle on some cheddar cheese, top with the other slice of bread.
• Grill for 3-4 minutes, add more butter to the pan, and flip the grilled cheese, grill for another 3-4 minutes on the other side.
• Remove the grilled cheese from the heat. Sprinkle each side with grated parmesan cheese. Repeat with remaining ingredients for more grilled cheese sandwiches.
• Slice the sandwiches in half, serve hot and enjoy!

Last Step:

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Notes

• To store the onion jam. The onion jam can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Nutrition

Calories: 928kcal | Carbohydrates: 78g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 58g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 1311mg | Potassium: 832mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 42g | Vitamin A: 1388IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 771mg | Iron: 3mg

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