French Onion Beans

Some flavors are so classic, so beloved, that they transcend their original form and inspire countless variations. French onion soup is one of those dishes, the sweet, jammy caramelized onions, the rich beef broth, the melty Gruyère cheese, the crispy bread on top. It's comfort food perfection.

But what if you could take all those wonderful flavors and make them even heartier? Enter French Onion Beans, created by Lauren Hodgen of Citrus Diaries. This brilliant recipe takes the beloved soup and transforms it by adding brothy Bayo beans to the mix. The beans soak up all that rich, savory goodness while adding protein, fiber, and a creamy texture that makes this feel like a complete, satisfying meal.

The result is something that's both familiar and new, all the flavors you love from French onion soup, but with the added heartiness of beans. Topped with crunchy croutons and melty Gruyère cheese, then baked until golden and bubbling, this is comfort food at its finest.

Why This Works So Well

The genius of this recipe is how it honors the original while making it even better. The foundation is still those deeply caramelized onions, cooked low and slow until they're jammy, sweet, and full of umami. Beef broth adds richness and depth. Fresh thyme brings aromatic notes. A splash of sherry vinegar (optional but recommended) adds brightness that balances all that richness.

But then come the beans. Bayo beans, cooked until tender and served with some of their flavorful broth, join the party. They absorb all those wonderful flavors while adding substance and a creamy texture that makes every spoonful more satisfying. The croutons on top get crispy in the oven, and the Gruyère melts into gooey, golden perfection.

It's like French onion soup grew up and became a full meal.

The Star: Bayo Beans

Let's talk about Bayo beans, the beautiful tan beans that are firm on the outside and creamy on the inside. These beans make the richest, most flavorful dishes, and the full-bodied, golden broth they produce is unlike anything we've tasted. That broth is key to this recipe, it adds even more depth and flavor to the already rich base.

What makes Bayo beans perfect for this dish is their ability to hold their shape while becoming wonderfully creamy inside. They don't fall apart in the broth, but they do soak up all those wonderful flavors from the caramelized onions, beef stock, and herbs. Each bean becomes a little pocket of deliciousness.

Our Bayo beans come from Carlos and Ana María Albarrán in the heart of Morelos, Mexico. Their small organic farm is one of the rare few still practicing the Milpa system, where corn, beans, squash, and chiles grow together. This ancient method builds healthy soils, supports biodiversity, and creates food that nourishes both body and spirit. As part of our partnership with La Comandanta, we are delighted to offer this rare gem grown using this labor-intensive, hand-harvested technique. The care that Carlos and Ana María give to the land can be tasted in each delicious bite. This is the epitome of traditional farming and preserving cultural traditions, resulting in the most delicious and healthy beans you could find. Learn more about Carlos and Ana María.

The Art of Caramelizing Onions

Here's where patience pays off. Truly caramelized onions take time, 15 to 20 minutes of low and slow cooking. You can't rush this step. If you cook them too quickly over high heat, they'll brown but won't develop that deep, sweet, umami-rich flavor that makes French onion soup so special.

The key is to cook them gently in butter with fresh thyme, stirring frequently. They'll gradually transform from raw and sharp to soft, sweet, and jammy. The color will deepen from white to golden to a rich caramel brown. This is where all the magic happens, so give them the time they need.

Assembling and Baking

Once your onions are perfectly caramelized, the rest comes together quickly. You add beef stock to the skillet (it might sizzle, so be careful), then stir in the cooked Bayo beans with a bit of their broth. A splash of sherry vinegar adds brightness if you have it.

Then comes the fun part: topping with croutons and a generous amount of grated Gruyère cheese. The whole thing goes into a hot oven until the cheese melts into gooey, golden perfection and the croutons get crispy. The smell alone will make everyone come running to the kitchen.

Why You'll Love This

French Onion Beans takes everything wonderful about French onion soup and makes it even more satisfying. It's rich and comforting but feels substantial enough to be a complete meal. It's impressive enough for company but easy enough for a weeknight. And it's the kind of dish that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a bowl and not move for a while.

Plus, it's a great way to use those beautiful Bayo beans you've been saving, turning them into something special that celebrates both traditional French cooking and traditional Mexican farming.

This is comfort food that honors tradition while creating something new and delicious.