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If you’re wondering what to serve with your French onion soup, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I list 45 of the most popular side dishes for French onion soup.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best dishes to serve with French onion soup are French bistro salad, mushroom grilled cheese, frisee salad, a charcuterie board, or cheesy garlic bread. For entree options, try steak frites, herb butter roasted chicken, sole meuniere, or French dip sandwiches.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

French bistro salad

You can’t go wrong with serving your French onion soup alongside this equally as classic salad.

It’s a no-frills side featuring your favorite leafy greens lightly coated with a zippy, tart vinaigrette – just what you need to cut through the richness of your soup.

Psst… want a citrusy twist? Make a honey and lemon vinaigrette instead.

Why we love this recipe: a serving only clocks in at 83 calories.

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French bistro salad
Add a fruity note
Watercress salad with apples
Make a classic
Caesar salad

Steak frites

Another traditional French combo is steak and French fries.

You can use any cut of beef, but this recipe goes with a juicy seared ribeye. YUM.

And the fries are cooked twice, ensuring they’re golden and extra crispy.

Serve your French onion soup as a starter for this meal, or enjoy it on the side for an indulgent dinner.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

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Steak frites
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Grilled New York strip with asparagus
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Flank steak with corn salsa

Baked asparagus fries

Tired of the usual roasted asparagus spears? Shake things up and coat the spears with a parmesan and breadcrumb mixture.

Under the oven’s high heat, the mixture will crisp up nicely, giving you a satisfyingly crunchy bite.

I like using them as low-carb breadsticks for dipping in some luscious French onion soup.

Why we love this recipe: you can enjoy seconds of these spears without any guilt.

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Baked asparagus fries
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Prosciutto-wrapped asparagus
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Grilled asparagus

Sole meuniere

Want a light but filling entree to go with your French onion soup? Look no further than sole meuniere.

It may sound like a complicated dish, but making it is a breeze.

The sole gets coated in flour, pan-fried, and then finished off with a bright lemon butter sauce that’ll make your taste buds sing.

Easy-peasy!

Why we love this recipe: it’s restaurant-worthy without the luxurious price tag.

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Sole meuniere
Skip the stovetop
Lemon thyme roasted salmon
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Mediterranean-style baked cod

Sauteed broccoli rabe

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/649292471290172479/

Take inspiration from Italian cuisine and saute some broccoli rabe to go with your French onion soup.

This veg is known for its stark bitterness, which makes it an excellent contrast to a rich dish like French onion soup.

Pro tip: if the bitter taste is too harsh, blanch the broccoli rabe first to mellow out the flavors.

Why we love this recipe: one-skillet dish = less mess to clean up.

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Sauteed broccoli rabe
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Roasted rapini (broccoli rabe)
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Lemon garlic broccolini

Sourdough bread bowl

Recreating the bread-bowl experience at home is a bit of effort, but it’s not impossible.

And you’ll be the talk of the family for weeks!

By the time you’ve finished the soup, the bread bowl will have soaked up loads of flavor and you can devour it. YUM.

Why we love this recipe: your house will smell amazing after baking these.

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Sourdough bread bowls
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Weight watchers bread bowl
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Pumpkin bread bowls

Frisee salad

There’s only a few ingredients in this recipe, but it has to up there with one of the most moreish salads I’ve ever tried!

The natural bitterness of the frisee leaves is perfectly balanced out by a flavor-loaded bacon fat dressing.

Psst… you can also add a runny poached egg on top.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a healthy dish with a touch of indulgence.

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Frisee salad with hot bacon dressing
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Bitterleaf and orange salad

Garlic mushroom grilled cheese

Sauteed mushrooms are one of my favorite ways to jazz up a plain old grilled cheese.

Not only do they add a satisfying meaty bite, but they also bring an umami twist that everyone will love.

Pro tip: saute the mushrooms over a high heat so they caramelize instead of turning soggy.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a perfect meat-free side.

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Mushroom grilled cheese sandwich
Make it basic
Grilled ham and cheese sandwich
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Stovetop grilled vegetable panini

Charcuterie board

A charcuterie board is a great way to start a dinner party.

It’s loaded with eye-catching and tasty elements like cured meats, nuts, fruits, olives, and of course, cheese.

The sky’s the limit here!

Why we love this recipe: it’s really easy to customize to your tastes.

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Italian charcuterie board
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Fruit and cheese board
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Snack-time charcuterie board

Cheesy garlic bread

French onion soup already has a delicious cheesy topping, but you can never have too much cheesy bread!

This recipe uses three kinds of cheese, LOTS of garlic, and some freshly chopped herbs for a burst of freshness.

Why we love this recipe: you can make extras and freeze them for when the cravings hit.

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Cheesy garlic bread
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Garlic butter breadsticks
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Spicy parmesan and herb grissini

Caprese salad

If you’re not a fan of leafy greens, why not pair your French onion soup with Caprese salad instead?

The combination of sweet-acidic tomatoes, fresh basil, and the balsamic dressing is ideal for a late summer lunch.

Why we love this recipe: it will add a nice pop of color to brighten up your spread.

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Caprese salad
Make another Italian classic
Panzanella salad
Add more veg
Greek salad

Arugula, prosciutto, and grilled pear salad

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/69524387992211579/

I know there’s a lot of salad on this list, but they’re a great option for paring with French onion soup.

This salad is a bit more complicated than the previous ones with the additions of juicy grilled pears and salty ham.

There’s also feta in the recipe, but I would be tempted to skip the extra cheese in this case.

Why we love this recipe: it looks as good as it tastes.

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Arugula, prosciutto, and grilled pear salad
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Arugula and lemon salad
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Watercress and pear salad

Herb butter roasted chicken

You can never go wrong with a delicious roast chicken dinner.

And the trick to perfecting this recipe is marinating the meat for at least two hours to ensure that all the herby goodness seeps through into the chicken.

Enjoy these roasted chicken quarters after a bowl of French onion soup for a hearty and elegant dinner.

Why we love this recipe: it won’t break the bank.

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Herb butter roasted chicken
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Honey mustard baked chicken drumsticks
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Grilled honey lemon chicken

French dip sandwiches

Stick with your onion soup’s French roots and serve it with a decadent French dip sandwich.

Thin slices of rare tender beef are piled high and then covered with cheese in a hoagie roll.

The whole thing is usually served with a meaty dipping sauce, but you can use your soup instead!

Why we love this recipe: it’s great for feeding a crowd.

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French dip sandwiches
Make it tangy
Italian beef sandwiches
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Philly cheesesteak

Lemon Sorbet

After a heavy meal of French onion soup and whatever sides you dcide to go for, there’s only one thing I’d want for dessert.

A cold, refreshing lemon sorbet.

And guess how many ingredients you need to make this?

Two… Yes, just two!!

Why we love this recipe: you don’t need an ice cream maker for this recipe.

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Lemon sorbet
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Raspberry sorbet
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Lemon tart

The best side dishes to serve with French onion soup

French bistro salad
Steak frites
Baked asparagus fries
Sole meuniere
Sauteed broccoli rabe
Sourdough bread bowl
Frisee salad
Garlic mushroom grilled cheese
Charcuterie board
Cheesy garlic bread
Caprese salad
Arugula, prosciutto, and grilled pear salad
Herb butter roasted chicken
French dip sandwiches
Lemon Sorbet