This Cream Of Onion Soup recipe is a soul-warming creamy bacon soup with onion that can be ready for dinner from start to finish in 45 minutes. Perfect for cold weather and busy schedules!


Cream of onion soup in a white bowl with blue checkered linen


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.

Making a salad or a sandwich? I add pickled red onion to it.

When I’m eating out at restaurants and don’t want fries (which is most of the time)? Add onion rings.

BBQ bacon 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.

That’s why I made it the star of this Cream Of Onion Soup. I was debating on calling it a cream of bacon soup since I wasn’t shy with the bacon either.

Whatever you call it, this creamy onion soup combines all that savory onion goodness bathing in smooth, velvety cream with the smokiness of crispy bacon.

Soup also makes a quick and easy dinner that can be ready in 45 minutes from prep to eating. I have a set formula for making them. All of my soups are made the same way, just different flavors.

Because I wanted this creamy bacon soup with onion to have lots of flavor, I cooked bacon right in the pot and used the bacon fat to fry the onions.

That means this cream of onion soup recipe has the bonus of being a one-pot meal. One pot means less dishes. Less dishes means more time to eat homemade onion soup.


Prepping Onions For Soup

Ingredients For Cream Of Onion Soup

To make your cream of bacon soup with onion, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • Bacon: Can use your favorite kind
  • Onion: Yellow onion is my go-to because it’s mild, but you can also use white or Vidalia. I don’t necessarily recommend red for soup, but it’s doable.
  • Flour: Makes the roux that thickens the soup
  • Salt: Flavors the soup, especially because there is dairy involved
  • Broth: Can be chicken or vegetable
  • Heavy cream: Puts the cream in creamy onion soup
  • Parmesan cheese: Rounds out the soup with its saltiness and umami
  • Lemon juice: Cuts through all the fat and brightens up the soup

How To Make Vegetarian Cream Of 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.


Creamy onion soup in white bowl with handle

How To Cook Cream Of Onion Soup

Grab your Dutch oven and let’s get ready to make this creamy onion soup!

  1. Add bacon to a cold pot then turn the heat on medium. Once the bacon starts sizzling, cook on one side until crispy then flip and finish cooking. Remove then crumble.
  2. Cook onion in bacon drippings then cook until softened and start to brown.
  3. Stir in flour and salt to form a roux then slowly whisk in broth. Bring to a boil.
  4. Cook until thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
  5. Stir in cream, cheese, and bacon until cheese has melted.

Refrigerate any leftover creamy onion soup for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove.


Close up of cream of bacon soup with onion

What To Serve With Cream Of Onion Soup

Serve your creamy onion soup recipe with small batch dinner rolls and green onion salad.


Cream Of Onion Soup with bacon in white bowl

Cream Of Onion Soup FAQ

Can you freeze cream of onion soup?

It’s not recommended due to the cream.

Can you use milk instead of cream?

Yes, use whole milk instead of heavy cream (although the soup won’t be as rich with less fat).

Can you make creamy onion soup gluten free?

Use 1 tablespoon cornstarch instead of flour to make a gluten free onion soup.

More Easy Soup Recipes

Enjoyed this for dinner? Here are more favorite soup recipes:

Close up of cream of bacon soup with onion

Cream Of Onion Soup

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

This Cream Of Onion Soup recipe is a soul-warming creamy bacon soup with onion that can be ready for dinner from start to finish in 45 minutes. Perfect for cold weather and busy schedules!

Ingredients

  • 3 strips uncooked bacon
  • 1 medium yellow onion (about 8 ounces), diced
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt (preferably kosher)
  • 3 cups vegetable or chicken broth/stock
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream or whole milk
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (not from the green can)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Add bacon to a large pot or Dutch oven and turn the heat on to medium. Once the bacon starts cooking, cook on one side for a few minutes until crispy then flip and finish cooking the other side.
  2. Remove the bacon and place on a plate lined with a paper towel; pat off as much grease as you can. When cool enough to handle, crumble bacon. Leave the bacon drippings in the pot.
  3. Add the onion and a big pinch of salt to the hot bacon drippings and cook until soft and brown, stirring often, about 10-12 minutes.
  4. Stir in the flour and salt to form a roux then gradually stir in the broth. Bring to a boil, stirring often.
  5. Once boiling, cook until it starts to thicken slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
  6. Remove from the heat then add the cream/milk, cheese, and crumbled bacon. Stir until cheese has melted then add lemon juice. Taste and adjust for salt.

Notes

  • To make this soup vegetarian, substitute 1 tablespoon olive oil for the bacon.

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First published October 13, 2014