With the weather getting cooler and schedules becoming busier, this soul-warming Creamy Onion Bacon Soup can be ready for dinner in 45 minutes.

If you were stuck on a deserted island (not dessert island, unfortunately) and could only cook with three ingredients, what would they be? Onions would definitely be on my list. Seriously, I go through so many onions for one person, a three-pound bag is nothing. If a recipe calls for onion, I add extra onion. If a recipe doesn’t call for onion, I add onion. Grilled cheese missing something? Add fried onions. Making sloppy joes? Add onion. When I’m eating out at restaurants and don’t want fries (which is most of the time)? Add onion rings. Burger comes with fried onions on it? I want that one. Patty melt with caramelized onions on it? I want that one too. Dare I say this Italian girl cooks with more onion than garlic? Because I most certainly do.
Ever since I quit my corporate job and started working from home, I’ve been busier than ever (which is ironic because I was practically working two jobs before). Probably because I know I need to hustle and there is sooo much to do when you work for yourself. By the time dinner rolls around, I just want to make something relatively quick then go sit on the couch watching reruns of Criminal Minds. Soup is my go-to quick dinner because I have a set formula for making it; all of my soups are made the same way, just different flavors. Depending on the ingredients, soup is ready after 30-45 minutes. Since I love onion so much, I wanted a soup where onion was the hero and not just the sidekick. When The National Onion Association asked me to create a soup that wasn’t French onion soup, this Creamy Onion Bacon Soup came to mind. Lots of onion with a side of bacon. Now that is what I call dinner.

The key to making quick dinners is prepping ahead of time. Since I use so much onion throughout the week, I chop a whole onion at one time then store what I don’t use in a container in the refrigerator. When it’s time to cook, I just grab a handful and throw it into my pan. Did you know there is a certain technique to cutting an onion? The National Onion Association has a video that demonstrates the same technique that I use, which you can watch on their website. Once you’re done watching that video, don’t forget to read these helpful tips on how to select, cut, prepare, and store onions. Be sure to follow NOA on Twitter and Pinterest for more onion recipes.

Because I wanted this creamy onion soup to have lots of flavor, I cooked bacon right in the pot and used the bacon fat to cook the onions. That means this recipe has the bonus of being a one-pot meal. One pot means less dishes. Less dishes means more time to eat onion soup.

Love onion as much as I do but want to make this soup vegetarian-friendly? Instead of sauteing the onions in bacon fat, skip the bacon and use olive oil. For the chicken broth, use vegetable broth. For the Parmesan cheese, use your favorite white cheese, such as mozzarella or Swiss. You can even add sliced portobello mushrooms to bring some of that meatiness to the soup.

Love onions but want to make this soup vegetarian-friendly? Skip the bacon and cook the onion in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth and mozzarella or Swiss cheese for Parmesan cheese.Creamy Onion Bacon Soup
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Disclosure: I was compensated by The National Onion Association for this recipe. As always, thank you for reading and supporting brands I work with, which allows me to bring you more recipes. All opinions, text, and photographs are my own.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!! I love onions too (and it’s a new love so I’m extra fierce about it) and this soup looks divine!
Carla says
Oh a new onion love? Welcome to the fun side :D
Carolyn says
You said creamy, you said bacon, you said onion! YUM!
Carla says
Yup – all three words perfect for a soup!
Anita at Hungry Couple says
I’m also an ‘add onion to everything’ cook but I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of traditional French onion soup. It’s entirely possible I’d like a homemade version but your creamy take on it is seriously much more up my alley. Stealing…um…trying this soon!
Carla says
What?! I love French onion soup! Although my homemade version has portobello mushrooms in it (because I’m a rebel like that ;) ) If you steal, you better share!
Casey from Kitchen PLAY says
Loving this soup! Sounds delicious…just what I need on this blustery cold day. Thanks for sharing!
Carla says
The perfect cure for the cold weather blues :)
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says
I love everything about this soup!! Looks delicious.
Carla says
Thanks, Gerry!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Definitely craving a bowl of this soup to devour right now.. it looks so creamy and delicious. I can only imagine how good it must have tasted!
Carla says
Thanks, Thalia!
Becca from ItsYummi.com says
You KNOW you had me at bacon, girly!
Carla says
:D
Nicole says
Oh, I love a good onion soup! If only I didn’t cry so much while making it. lol
Carla says
Actually, if you store the onion in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before cutting, you won’t cry! It slows down the chemical reaction that causes you to tear up.
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
This is the definition of comfort food :)
Carla says
Total comfort food!
Kristen says
I absolutely love everything about this soup! Hello fall comfort!
Carla says
With the way the weather has been, total fall comfort food.
kita says
Can I come hang out on your island? Because my boyfriend HATES onions. It makes cooking everything so hard! I mean, what doesn’t taste better with onions? Right! This soup sounds AMAZING. It would totally be something I would make a big giant batch of – just for myself. Party on onion island!
Carla says
Yes! Let’s go conquer Onion Island!
Stacy says
I’m with you on that deserted island, bringing onions and bacon. The hard part would be deciding on the third item. Might have to be garlic or cheese. Tough decisions.
Your creamy onion bacon soup looks and sounds wonderful, Carla! It seems thick enough to use as a sauce over pasta as well. I mean, if there are leftovers, which seems unlikely.
Carla says
I vote garlic! It’s not quite thick enough for a sauce BUT I can definitely see these flavors as a sauce over chicken and/or pasta.
Nikita says
I have an app called “Chef tap” and this recipe was featured. Oh man this looks so good! I will def make it for my fiance when he gets home. It has all the things he loves! Bacon? Check. Onion? Check check! Creamy hearty soup? Jackpot! I love onion but this version would be overpwoering for me, so I’ll make a less oniony version for myself! (Sorry)
Thanks for the recipe!
Carla says
Feel free to adjust the amount of onion to your liking :)
cristina says
Beautiful soup and love it with bacon and the parmesan. Perfect for these Autumn days (or any day for that matter!)
Carla says
Thanks, Cristina!
[email protected] says
This looks utterly delicious – my favorite sort of soup!
Amanda L Rauch says
I made this today with wild harvested ramps and it was amazing! Thanks for the great recipe.
Carla says
Love the idea of using ramps! I’ll have to try that myself.