French Onion Rice

This French onion rice is like a warm hug in a bowl. It’s savory, comforting, and bursting with caramelized onions and melty Gruyere cheese.

It has all of the classic flavors of French onion soup, but it’s even more satisfying.

And it’s so easy to make, too! It’s fancy enough for a dinner party but cozy enough for a night in on the couch.

I served mine with a simple roast chicken and a crisp green salad. Everyone begged for seconds!

Why You’ll Love This French Onion Rice

Full of Flavor: The caramelized onions fill the rice with more flavor than you could possibly imagine. 

Crowd-Pleaser: This tasty, aromatic rice will be a hit with family and friends.

Versatile: You can serve this rice with a variety of main courses. It tastes fantastic with roasted chicken or pork chops. It also makes an excellent stand-alone vegetarian meal.

Ingredients

• Long-Grain White Rice: Rice is the foundation of this dish. It’s fluffy, tender, and mild, perfect for soaking up all the other rich flavors. 

• Beef Consommé: This strong, flavorful soup has a deep, concentrated beef taste. It adds a ton of flavor to the rice. 

• French Onion Soup: French onion soup is the savory star of the show. It infuses the rice with classic taste. 

• Butter: A must-have for sauteing the onions. It adds richness and depth and works wonders in the caramelization process. 

• Yellow Onions: They complement the French onion-infused rice perfectly. 

• Sugar: For caramelizing the onions. It also helps balance all the savory elements. 

• Dried Thyme: For an earthy, slightly minty note that rounds out the flavors beautifully. 

• Salt & Pepper: The dynamic seasoning duo. 

How to Make French Onion Rice

Follow these simple steps to make French onion rice: 

1. MELT THE BUTTER. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. 

2. CARAMELIZE. Add 1 large, thinly sliced yellow onions and sugar to the skillet. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions caramelize.

3. PREPARE RICE. Combine the rice, consommé, French onion soup, water, thyme, salt, and pepper in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Stir well. Then, spread the caramelized onions evenly over the top.

4. BAKE. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake it for 30 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, uncover, stir, and bake it for another 30 minutes until the liquid is absorbed. 

5. REST & SERVE. Let the rice stand for 5 minutes. Then, fluff it with a fork and (if desired) garnish it with fresh thyme or parsley. Enjoy! 

Tips for the Best French Onion Rice

Want to make sure your rice turns out perfectly? Check out these helpful tips and tricks: 

• Keep things even. Slice the onions as uniformly as possible. This will ensure they cook and caramelize at the same rate.

• Avoid instant rice! You absolutely do not want to make this recipe with instant rice. It will become far too mushy and have an awful texture. Cauliflower rice won’t work, either.

• Give it a good rinse. Always rinse your rice before cooking it. Doing so will remove excess starch and prevent it from becoming too sticky. Rinse it until the water runs clear. 

• Get toasty. Before adding the liquid, toast the rice in butter for a couple of minutes. It’ll help the rice maintain a firmer texture. 

• Don’t forget to stir. Remember to stir well after removing the foil. This will help distribute the onions evenly. 

Variations

Here are a few tweaks I’ve made to this recipe in the past: 

• Pack in some protein. Feel free to mix in some shredded cooked chicken, steak, or shrimp before serving the rice. It’ll make it a heartier, more complete meal. 

• Amp up the veggies. Caramelized onions aren’t the only veggies you can add to this dish. Try mixing in some sauteed mushrooms, peas, or diced carrots for a healthier recipe.

• Make it cheesy. Stir in grated Parmesan or Gruyere cheese at the end. It’ll give you a deliciously cheesy and creamy finish.

• No beef consommé? That’s okay! Use beef broth instead. You can even use chicken or vegetable broth in a pinch. Just realize the flavor may not be as robust. 

• Use oil and butter. You can’t skip the butter in this recipe. If you do, the rice just won’t have the same rich depth of flavor. However, you can use half butter and half oil. The oil will help prevent the caramelizing onions from burning. 

• Add Worcestershire sauce. Just 1 teaspoon will make the rice even more flavorful. 

• Use brown rice. While instant rice won’t work in this recipe, brown rice will. You may need to add a bit more liquid and cook it a little longer. 

How to Store

Leftover French onion rice is almost as good as freshly-made!

To Store: Let the rice cool, then store it in an air-tight container. Refrigerate it for up to 5 days. 

To Freeze: Place the cooled rice in a freezer-safe container and freeze it for 3 to 6 months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating it. 

To Reheat: Reheat the rice on the stove over low heat. Be sure to add a dash of water or broth to keep it from becoming too dry.

You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave on high power. Cover the bowl with a damp paper towel to preserve moisture.

More Delicious Rice Dishes to Try

Mexican Rice Casserole
Bacon Fried Rice
Pineapple Fried Rice
4-Ingredient Souper Rice