Is French onion soup too light for your taste? The French onion soup rice provides both flavor and nourishment in a single skillet. The French onion soup rice turns the popular flavor into a wholesome dinner which serves as an excellent choice for weeknight meals. One skillet contains all the caramelized delightful flavors along with soft rice and melted cheese.🧅✨
Why You’ll Love This French Onion Soup Rice
The eating experience with this rice recipe delivers more than average taste because it reveals exciting flavors to your palate. Two rich element sets collide through the combination of French onion soup condensate with beef broth which produces an intense base that permeates each rice grain. The kitchen becomes enveloped with delectable scents as the dish is baking which makes neighbors and family members wonder about dinner plans. The dish requires very little preparation yet assures maximum ease and comfort while cooking at home so you get your perfect relaxation needs met instantly.
Ingredients (Scroll Down for Full Recipe)
- 1 can condensed French onion soup (the secret flavor weapon!)
- 2 cups beef broth (for that deep, rich flavor)
- 1¼ cups uncooked long-grain white rice
- 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar (adds that special tang)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¾ cup shredded Gruyère cheese
- ½ cup pre-shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh thyme leaves (for that perfect finishing touch)
Let’s Make This Baked Rice Dish!
- Prep your oven: Set it to 425°F and position your rack in the center.
- Mix the base: In a 10-inch oven-safe skillet, combine the French onion soup, beef broth, rice, and sherry vinegar. Stir until everything’s evenly mixed. Place those butter slices evenly across the top – they’ll melt and create little pockets of richness throughout the rice. 🧈
- First bake: Cover the skillet with foil and bake for 30 minutes. The steam trapped under the foil helps cook the rice to perfect tenderness.
- Second bake: Remove the foil (careful, it’s hot!) and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes. This is when the magic happens – the rice absorbs all those incredible flavors and the edges start to get a bit crispy.
- The cheesy finale: Switch your oven to broil, sprinkle all that gorgeous cheese on top, and broil for about 5 minutes until you’ve got golden, bubbly cheese and crispy edges. 🧀
- Serve it up: Garnish with fresh thyme leaves and serve right away while it’s all hot and gooey!
My Secret Tips for Perfect French Onion Soup Rice
My initial attempts at preparing this dish brought forth important techniques which significantly improved the results. Leaving rice untouched inside the oven produces the optimal texture since stirring it could result in poor results. To enhance the tangy flavor (much like I do) pour one extra splash of sherry vinegar. The dish offers familiar tastes which win over even those guests who are fussy about their food.
Personally, this has become my go-to when hosting winter gatherings. There’s something about carrying that hot, bubbling skillet to the table that makes everyone gather around with excitement. And the best part? It pairs beautifully with a simple green salad for a complete meal.
FAQs About This Baked Rice Dish
Can I make this French onion soup rice with brown rice instead?
Absolutely! Brown rice works beautifully in this recipe, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking time. I’d recommend adding about 15-20 minutes to the covered baking time and checking for doneness. You might also need to add a bit more broth as brown rice typically requires more liquid.
What can I substitute for Gruyère cheese?
While Gruyère gives this dish that authentic French onion soup flavor, Swiss cheese makes an excellent substitute. For a more budget-friendly option, a good quality sharp white cheddar works too! Check out my guide to cheese substitutions for more options.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! Prepare it up to the point before adding cheese, let it cool, and refrigerate. When ready to serve, heat it through in a 350°F oven for about 15-20 minutes, then add cheese and broil. It’s perfect for meal prep – I often make it on Sunday for easy weeknight dinners.
The Perfect Balanced Meal
What I love most about this French onion soup rice is how it fits perfectly into a balanced meal plan. While it feels indulgent, it’s actually quite reasonable when paired with lean protein and vegetables. Try serving it alongside steelhead trout or branzino for a complete dinner that hits all your nutritional needs.
As Amelia always says, “Healthy eating doesn’t mean boring eating!” This dish is proof that comfort food can fit into a balanced lifestyle when enjoyed mindfully. The rich flavors mean you’ll feel satisfied with a reasonable portion, which is always my approach to comfort food classics.
If you’re looking for more cozy soup-inspired dishes, you might also enjoy my village soup recipe or swamp soup for those nights when you need something hearty and warming.
For those who love the flavors of French cuisine, my French breakfast recipes offer more ways to bring that special je ne sais quoi to your table. And if you’re interested in learning more about the science behind creating flavorful rice dishes like this one, check out this helpful guide on the Maillard reaction that explains why those crispy edges taste so irresistible.
This French onion soup rice has quickly become one of my most requested recipes from friends and family. There’s something about transforming a beloved soup into a hearty baked rice dish that just works. So the next time you’re craving something cozy but need to feed a hungry crew, remember this simple skillet wonder. It might just become your new go-to comfort food! 🍚✨
French Onion Soup Rice
Equipment
- 10-inch oven-safe skillet
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 1 can condensed French onion soup 10.5-ounce, such as Campbell’s
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 1/4 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
- 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
- 3/4 cup Gruyère cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese pre-shredded low-moisture whole-milk
- fresh thyme leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) with rack in center position.
- Place French onion soup, beef broth, rice, and sherry vinegar in a 10-inch oven-safe skillet, and stir until evenly combined. Place sliced butter evenly over rice mixture. Cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove and discard foil, and continue baking at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) until rice is cooked through and the majority of the liquid is absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Increase oven temperature to broil with rack about 6 inches from heat source. Sprinkle evenly with Gruyère and mozzarella cheese. Broil until cheese is melted and golden brown and rice crisps up around edges of skillet, about 5 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh thyme leaves and serve immediately.