French Onion Soup Potatoes (Print Version)

Roasted potatoes layered with caramelized onions and melted Gruyère cheese for a French-inspired side dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Potatoes

01 - 3.3 lbs Yukon Gold or russet potatoes, scrubbed and sliced ⅓ inch thick
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - ½ tsp kosher salt
04 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Caramelized Onions

05 - 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
07 - 1 tbsp olive oil
08 - ½ tsp kosher salt
09 - 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves or ½ tsp dried thyme
10 - 1 tsp balsamic vinegar

→ Topping

11 - 7 oz Gruyère cheese, grated
12 - 1 oz Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss potato slices with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 25–30 minutes, flipping once, until golden and tender.
03 - While potatoes roast, heat butter and 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions and salt; cook, stirring often, for 25–30 minutes until deeply golden and caramelized. Stir in thyme and balsamic vinegar; cook 1–2 minutes more. Remove from heat.
04 - Reduce oven temperature to 400°F.
05 - Arrange roasted potato slices in a lightly greased baking dish, slightly overlapping. Spoon caramelized onions evenly over the potatoes. Sprinkle Gruyère (and Parmesan, if using) over the top.
06 - Bake for 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbling.
07 - Let cool slightly. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The combination of sweet caramelized onions and nutty Gruyère transforms humble potatoes into something truly magical without requiring any fancy techniques.
  • Each bite delivers all the deeply satisfying flavors of French onion soup without the soup spoon, making it perfect for elegant dinner parties or cozy family meals alike.
02 -
  • Never rush the onions - I once tried to speed up the process with higher heat and ended up with bitter, burnt onions instead of the sweet, complex flavor that makes this dish special.
  • Letting the potato dish rest for about 5 minutes after baking helps the layers settle together, making it much easier to serve beautiful portions rather than a collapsed mess.
03 -
  • Slicing the potatoes to a consistent thickness is crucial - I use the thickness of a pencil as my guide when I dont have a ruler handy, ensuring even cooking and perfect texture throughout.
  • For an extra layer of flavor that makes guests swoon, deglaze your onion pan with two tablespoons of cognac or brandy before adding the balsamic vinegar, letting the alcohol cook off while leaving behind complex caramel notes.
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