30 Dishes to serve with French onion soup

Ah, french onion soup. That rich, caramelized broth, the gooey cheese stretching from spoon to bread, the warmth that seeps into your bones and soul. It’s a dish that evokes comfort, romance, and cozy nights in, but what to pair it with? Fear not, fellow gourmands, for I bring you a guide to perfect accompaniments, seasoned with a sprinkle of my own family’s onion-y adventures.

1. 1905 Salad

First up on our list, how about a tasty starter or side dish?

Green salad is a delightful side dish that goes well with virtually any meal. It is crunchy, refreshing, and nutritious. The flavors are mild yet excellent.

To counterbalance the richness of the beef broth, this salad dish from 1905 has lots of crunch and a wonderful zesty zing.

The zesty dressing with garlic, dried oregano, vinegar, olive oil, and lemon juice is one of my favorites. Naturally, you can also easily change the acidity when making this. Feel free to pick and choose your favorite salad and toppings. However, the tomatoes and olives are a must-have since they add a zesty touch that goes perfectly with French onion soup.

2. Simple Green Salad

A simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing helps cut through the richness of the soup. My dad always adds a drizzle of honey mustard to his, a secret weapon he picked up from a Parisian bistro. It adds a tangy zing that keeps the palate dancing.

3. Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad

Nothing beats salad with chicken if you believe you’ll need something a little more substantial.

The one ingredient that French onion soup lacks is protein, which is plenty in this Applebee’s Oriental chicken salad. Rotisserie chicken leftovers are always juicy and flavorful, so I like to use them. That being said, there’s plenty of dressing on this to tickle your taste buds.

It has a tiny tartness to it, similar to the salad above, which contrasts nicely with the meaty broth. However, the honey has added a hint of sweetness to this one. It also contains mustard, which, in my opinion, highlights the cheese even more.

4. French Dip Sandwich

This iconic pairing is a no-brainer. Crusty bread dipped into the molten cheese and broth, soaks up the flavor like a sponge. My grandmother used to make this with homemade bread, still warm from the oven, and it was pure heaven. We’d fight over the end pieces, soaked to perfection with a touch of sweetness from the caramelized onions.

5. Chicken Pesto Panini

Who doesn’t enjoy a salad and soup combination? Perfectly melted cheese tops French onion soup, so it makes sense that a meal containing the same ingredient would go well with it. Furthermore, what surpasses a Panini?

Butter each slice of bread, then add cheese, pesto sauce, mayo, chicken, tomato, avocado, and a dash of salt and pepper. It can be prepared in three to five minutes by placing it on a griddle.

The outcome is a Panini that is golden and crispy and dripping with warm mozzarella cheese. It is the ideal side dish to pair with your delicious soup.

6. Croque Monsieur

An analog of a French grilled cheese is a croque monsieur. It’s cheesy, crusty, and basically to die for.

Thus, I strongly advise spending some time preparing this side dish if you want to turn your French onion soup into a gourmet feast. It will also require some time.

To start, prepare the béchamel sauce, which is what gives this sandwich its distinctive flavor. It’s creamy and wonderful. After that, all you have to do is toast the bread, arrange the ingredients in layers, and broil everything until the cheese melts. Delicious!

7. Scalloped Potatoes

The flavor of French onion soup is thick, meaty, and salted. To make sure it’s balanced, one of my favorite techniques is to pair it with something equally rich but incredibly creamy.

These are the perfect scalloped potatoes, especially if you allow the tops to crisp up and bubble.

And don’t worry, it’s really easy to follow this recipe. Béchamel and roux are not to be found. Rather, place a layer of butter and flour in between the potatoes and bake the sauce.

8. Roasted Potatoes

Mashed, roasted, au gratin – potatoes are a blank canvas for onion soup magic. My sister, the vegetarian in our family, swears by crispy potato wedges dipped in the broth. It’s a satisfying crunch that complements the creamy soup.

9. Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread

Pull-apart bread is a great, kid-friendly side to serve in the middle of the table if you’re serving French onion soup to the whole family. The middle is soft and stuffed with cheese and pesto, while the top is crunchy.

The soup will taste much better with the hint of garlic and basil, so guests can eat as much or as little as they choose.

10. Steak

Steak, sometimes referred to as the “holy grail” of dinners, is arguably the greatest dish to serve following a bowl of French onion soup. Any steak will work well with your soup, so feel free to choose whatever you like.

Of course, you may use a leaner cut, such as fillet mignon or New York strip steak, to tone down the flavors a little if you think they’re too strong.

But if you’d prefer to pair your rich soup with something chewy, try a great flank steak. Your teeth will have something meaty to bite onto as a result. Lastly, serve your French onion soup with a T-bone or rib-eye steak for a complete and decadent supper. This combo is extra flavorful and incredibly filling!

11. Lemon Butter Scallops

In search of something a little lighter? Now let’s discuss seafood!

Known as large, meaty morsels of perfection, scallops pair wonderfully with a cup of French onion soup. Searing scallops to perfection is the secret to making them taste incredibly delicious.

A little butter, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper are all you need:

• Put two teaspoons unsalted butter and two teaspoons olive oil in a skillet or sauté pan.
• After using a paper towel to pat dry, season the scallops with salt and pepper.
• When the fat starts to smoke and the skillet is hot throughout, carefully add the scallops.
• Cook each side for 1 and a half minutes.
• Since timing is so important, I suggest setting a 90-second timer. Serve right away once each side has finished cooking.

The center of the scallops should remain translucent while having a golden crust on both sides.

12. Oven Baked Salmon

Baked salmon is another delicious fish that pairs well with French onion soup. This rich pink fish is incredibly delicious, not overly filling, and the ideal counterpoint to the richness of the soup.

This dish is also very easy to make. All you need to do is bake it, add some brown sugar spice, and garlic butter, and serve!

13. One Pan Chicken with Shallots

I realize that pairing French onion soup with another meal that has a lot of onions could seem strange, but trust me—it works! This soup’s delicious Dijon white wine sauce balances out the strong flavors of the beef. In addition, it has delicious cherry tomatoes and tender chicken for acidity and color pops.

14. Wiener Schnitzel

Serving schnitzel after the soup is my favorite since it gives your plate just the right amount of crunch. Although you can use any kind of meat you like, this is one of the original varieties of schnitzel. Though chicken or pork would be as crispy and savory, I prefer the original recipe with veal.

15. Garlic Butter Pork Tenderloin

 

Serve this easy yet incredibly tasty meal after a large bowl of French onion soup. After the strong beef broth, the flavors of the garlic combined with the juicy pork are exactly what you need. Moreover, this pairs great with potatoes and rice alike!

16. Banana Cream Cheesecake

All right, it’s time to discuss what to serve with French onion soup. You most likely have room for a large slice of rich cheesecake if you ate the soup for your main dish!

This banana dish is my favorite since it contrasts greatly with the soup and is rich and creamy yet only slightly sweet. I believe you need something quite sweet to clear your palate after a meal this savory. And cheesecake is the best of all!

17. Easy No Churn Lemon Ice Cream

Too much cheesecake—thick and dense? Something creamy, sweet, tangy, and light would be nice. The next best thing is ice cream, especially this zesty lemon dish that’s easy to make, quick to prepare, and incredibly tasty. Best of all, the preparation time for this no-churn recipe is only 15 minutes. All you have to do then is wait for it to freeze.

18. Godiva Chocolate Brownies

All of you who adore dark chocolate, rejoice! This bittersweet favorite pairs wonderfully with French onion soup due to its light flavor. You could always choose a rich chocolate cake, or you could just have a square or two of something really good.

However, I believe that these incredibly fudgy brownies are the greatest alternative after a huge bowl of French onion soup. They are always a hit, simple to cook, and great with the family!

19. Red Wine Spritzer

There are always drinks to go with the best meal pairings! So serve some wine with your French onion soup meal to give it a more elegant appearance. Not just any wine, though. Wonderful spritzer of red wine! Given how strong French onion soup is, you want a full- or medium-bodied soup that pops.

Red wine is also an obvious choice because it’s usually made with beef broth. The delicate texture and flavor of this spritzer make it preferable to a glass of regular red wine. Yes, it’s still quite strong, but I adore the subtle sweetness and the bubbles in contrast to the thick soup. However, you can choose a more textured and creamy wine if your soup is pureed. You can also never go wrong with a simple and affordable white wine, sticking to more dry and sweet varieties.

20. Bourbon Cocktails

French onion soup goes incredibly well with bourbon since it’s comforting, slightly sweet, and slightly Smokey. The Bourbon Old Fashioned is my choice, if I had to choose only one. It finishes with a lovely bourbon flavor and undertones of citrus. Any of them, though, would be a great contrast to the heavy soup.

21. Crusty Baguette or Garlic Bread

Serve a side of freshly baked baguette slices or garlic bread to soak up the flavorful broth. The crunchiness of the bread contrasts beautifully with the smooth texture of the soup.

22. French Fries or Pommes Frites

For a heartier option, serve crispy French fries or pommes frites on the side. The saltiness and crunchiness of the fries create a delightful contrast to the soup’s velvety texture.

23. Roasted Veggies with Mushrooms

This kind of hearty soup pairs nicely with vegetables, and roasting is one of the greatest methods to prepare them. It’s really up to you to know what you include in your mix, but we adore mushrooms. In particular, they go well with red peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, broccoli, tomatoes and onions.

24. Noodles

If you’re a pasta lover—and you know you are—you’ll believe that everything goes with noodles. It’s true, really! Noodles are the ideal side dish to go with French onion soup since they are simple to prepare and take little time to prepare.

25. BLT Sandwich

A traditional BLT is the second sandwich on the list of foods that pair nicely with French onion soup. In its most basic form, it consists of three ingredients combined with crusty bread and maybe a bit of mayo to make it easier to eat. Between mouthfuls and slurps of soup, all these will tantalize your palate.

26. Strawberry Arugula Salad with Steak and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Imagine that you are ravenous and eager to savor a delicious dinner. Salad and steak will work, though. Combine them rather than merely doing them in classes. We promise that this will be the best ten dinners of the year! You may get every taste in the spectrum, from sweet to umami, just like in your soup. What a feast for the taste buds.

27. Sea Scallops in Saffron Sauce

Let’s talk about seafood for a little. Scallops, let’s get started. And not just any scallops—seared scallops, to be exact. With every taste, these small nuggets are like little pieces of bliss.

The combination of saffron sauce and a golden-brown crust will produce a remarkable taste of cooked, flowery sweetness.

This is a fantastic combination with your soup because of the way the saffron mixes with both sweet and savory flavors.

28. Homemade French bread

Many of us enjoy soups of any kind best served with a nice loaf of fresh bread. In this instance, there are no exceptions. A layer of grated Swiss Gruyere and Parmesan cheese melts and falls off the top of the bread, which you can either place over your pile of swimming onions or, as purists might like, dip your bread into the beef stock like an au jus. Yes, please bring it!

There’s no denying that French onion soup tastes great with a fluffy, chewy French baguette.

29. Italian Steak Sandwich

What more could you want for a fantastic side dish to go with French onion soup? Thinly sliced, well-seasoned beef, long, substantial buns, and a little spice from green peppers. This sandwich tastes great “hot” and is great sans cheese. Here, we’re going to presume that you’ve already had enough cheese to melt into your soup.

Cook to your desired level of spice. Just watch out that your bread isn’t too mushy and your peppers are cooked just enough for the finest flavor. Then, be sure to savor every bite!

30. Ratatouille

In French cuisine, two traditional dishes that are frequently served together are ratatouille and French onion soup. The flavors of ratatouille and French onion soup complement each other well and combine with a different texture to create a mouthwatering mix.

Conclusion

French onion soup beckons a symphony of pairings, from classic dips and salads to adventurous seafood and cheese-infused surprises. Remember, the true magic lies not just in the ingredients, but in the memories made around the table. So, gather your loved ones, unleash your culinary creativity, and savor every bite of this warm, comforting journey, seasoned with a touch of family love. And don’t forget the bread – it’s the perfect vehicle for soaking up every drop of this oniony delight!

FAQ’s

Q: What’s the best thing to pair with French onion soup?

A: It depends! Classic French dips and salads are always satisfying, but don’t be afraid to experiment. Try grilled cheese with gourmet cheeses, pan-seared scallops, or a spicy Caesar salad for a twist.

Q: Can I make the meal lighter?

A: Definitely! Choose roasted vegetables, a simple arugula salad, or fruit instead of heavier sides. Opt for lighter cheeses like mozzarella or Havarti in your grilled cheese.

Q: Any tips for perfect French onion soup?

A: Slow and steady wins the race! Caramelize your onions until deeply golden and sweet. Don’t be shy with the cheese – Gruyère or Comté adds real depth.

Q: What about dessert?

A: Keep it light and refreshing! Fruit salad or sorbet are ideal. For a treat, try chocolate mousse or crème brûlée.