French Onion Soup Bites (Phyllo Cups) Recipe
French Onion Soup Bites are a delightful appetizer featuring savory caramelized onions cooked with beef stock and spices, served in crispy phyllo cups and topped with melted Gruyere and Parmesan cheese. These bites are perfect for potlucks, parties, or elegant gatherings, offering all the flavor of classic French onion soup in a convenient, bite-sized format.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: About 15 phyllo cups 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
Scale
Onion Mixture
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cups beef stock
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Drizzle of olive oil
Cheese Toppings
- 2 deli slices Gruyere or other sharp white cheese (or 1 ounce cheese very thinly sliced)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Base
- 1 package frozen phyllo cups (about 15 cups)
Optional Garnish
- Fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- Prepare the onion mixture: In a small skillet, add the thinly sliced onion, beef stock, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, crushed red pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and a drizzle of olive oil. Cook this mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions become very soft and most of the liquid evaporates. This process will take approximately 45 minutes, depending on your stove and skillet type. Using a nonstick skillet is recommended to prevent sticking.
- Cut the cheese: While the onion mixture cooks, cut the deli cheese slices into 8 pieces each, creating two small squares per phyllo cup. This will make it easier to top the bites evenly.
- Preheat the oven: Once the onion mixture is ready, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the phyllo cups.
- Assemble the bites: Fill each phyllo cup with a small amount of grated Parmesan cheese, followed by about a teaspoon of the cooked onion mixture. Use all the onion mixture evenly among the cups. Then top each cup with two small pieces of the Gruyere (or other sharp white cheese), ensuring the cheese is evenly distributed to melt beautifully.
- Bake the phyllo cups: Place the assembled cups on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the bites from the oven and, if desired, sprinkle fresh thyme leaves on top. Serve the bites hot for best flavor. For potluck events, they can be served at room temperature or assembled and baked at the host’s location if preferred.
Notes
- A nonstick skillet is preferred to avoid the onion mixture sticking to the pan as it cooks down.
- You can substitute the beef stock with vegetable stock for a lighter flavor, though the soup’s richness may vary.
- Use deli-sliced Gruyere cheese for ease of cutting and even melting, but any sharp white cheese like Swiss or Fontina will work well.
- Fresh thyme adds a lovely herbal note but can be omitted if unavailable.
- If assembling ahead for a party, bake the cups just before serving or bake at the event location.
Keywords: French Onion Soup Bites, phyllo cups, appetizer, party food, Gruyere, caramelized onions, savory bites
