In this article you will learn how to make French onion soup healthy and low calorie! This recipe for French onion soup is just 216 calories for 2 cups!
This homemade French onion soup recipe is easy and delicious. And I’ve supplied you with everything you’ll need to make the best French onions soup recipe at home.


Below, you’ll learn how to make French onion soup from scratch. It’s easier than you think. Plus we’ve included two different cooking methods. This way if you don’t have oven save bowls, you can still make this recipe for French soup.
This French onion soup recipe is just 216 calories for 2 cups!
Low Calorie French Onion Soup
Traditional French onion soup is packed with calories and fat… But I was able to cut 100’s of calories without changing the flavor AND we doubled the serving too!
What You’ll Find in this Article:
- Healthy French Onion Soup Ingredients (shopping list!)
- How to Make Low Calorie French Onion Soup
- Low Calorie French Onion Soup Recipe (recipe card!)
- Nutrition and Calories in French Onion Soup Recipes
Healthy French Onion Soup Ingredients
To make a recipe French onion soup, you need just a handful of ingredients. And many of these French onion soup ingredients are pantry staples!


Shopping List for Healthy French Onion Soup:
- Olive oil spray
- Onions
- Salt and pepper
- Thyme
- Worcestershire sauce
- Beef broth
- Dry sherry
- French bread
- Gruyere Cheese
- Parmesan cheese
You can make French onion soup with red onions, yellow onions, or sweet maui onions. I’m not a big fan of using white onions in recipes for French onion soup, but they will work as well.
How to Make Low Calorie French Onion Soup
This French onion recipe can be made two ways… with oven safe bowls, and without.
These easy recipes for French onion soup will ensure everyone can make the recipe, without shattering their soup bowls. (Which will happen if you use the wrong bowls in the oven!)
Below you will find two different methods on how to make French onion soup… I can not stress this enough. If you do not have oven safe bowls, DO NOT place your regular bowls in the oven! Just use the tips below and stay safe.
How to Make Healthy French Onion Soup:
- Slice onions in half then cut the halves vertically into thin slices.
- Spray saute pan with olive oil and heat over medium heat.
- Add onions, salt, pepper and thyme, and cook, stirring gently until the onions start to soften.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook onions, stirring every few minutes.
- Once the onions are a light golden brown (about 25 minutes), add in the Worcestershire sauce.
- Add beef broth, sherry and thyme, and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven broiler.
- Ladle soup into oven safe serving bowls and place one slice of bread on top of each.
- Divide the gruyere and Parmesan cheese over the tops of all 4 bowls. Place bowls a rimmed baking sheet and broil until cheese bubbles and browns, about 2-3 minutes.
If you don’t have oven safe bowls:
- Add the slices of bread to a baking sheet. Top with cheese and broil until the cheese bubbles and browns.
- Ladle soup into 4 bowls and top each with a cheese topped slice of bread.
Low Calorie French Onion Soup Recipe
The easy onion soup recipe is filling and delicious, and you can freeze leftover soup (before adding cheese and bread) for up to 2 months!
More Low Calorie Soup Recipes:


Low Calorie French Onion Soup
Ingredients
- Olive oil spray
- 4 onions
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon thyme chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 32 ounces beef broth
- 2 tablespoons dry sherry
- 4 thin slices of French bread
- 1/4 cup grated Gruyere Cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Slice onions in half then cut the halves vertically into thin slices.
- Spray saute pan with olive oil and heat over medium heat.
- Add onions, salt, pepper and thyme, and cook, stirring gently until the onions start to soften.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook onions, stirring every few minutes.
- Once the onions are a light golden brown (about 25 minutes), add in the Worcestershire sauce.
- Add beef broth, sherry and thyme, and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven broiler.
- Ladle soup into oven safe serving bowls and place one slice of bread on top of each.
- Divide the gruyere and Parmesan cheese over the tops of all 4 bowls. Place bowls a rimmed baking sheet and broil until cheese bubbles and browns, about 2-3 minutes.
If you don’t have oven safe bowls:
- Add the slices of bread to a baking sheet. Top with cheese and broil until the cheese bubbles and browns.
- Ladle soup into 4 bowls and top each with a cheese topped slice of bread.
Nutrition
Nutrition and Calories in French Onion Soup Recipes
Most French onion soup recipes are packed full of fat and calories. But this one is low in calories and DOUBLE the serving! I skipped all of the butter and used olive oil spray instead. This helps cut 100’s of calories without changing the flavor or consistency!
The nutrition and calories below are based off 1 serving (2 cups) of the Healthy French Onion Soup Recipe above.


Important Note: As a reminder, at Lose Weight By Eating it is our goal to make you healthier, all-natural versions of your favorite recipes… not all will be “diet worthy” depending on the diet you are on. But they will be healthier versions to help curb your cravings.
What to Read Next:






Lose Weight By Eating Cookbooks


Share this Low Calorie Recipe:


Article History:
- Article originally written and published on April 22, 2021 by Audrey Johns
- Article updated on March 16, 2023 by Audrey Johns