Slow cooker onion soup

This is a super-easy and happily budget-friendly soup with just five ingredients. The slow cooker does all the work here, caramelising and intensifying the flavours of the onion for a rich-tasting result.

Ingredients

• 30g/1oz butter, diced
• 800g/1lb 12oz onions, thinly sliced
• 1½ tsp roughly chopped thyme leaves (optional)
• 1½ tsp sugar
• 1.2 litres/2 pints beef or vegetable stock (made from 2 beef or vegetable stock cubes)

Method

1. Toss the butter, onions, thyme (if using) and sugar together in the bowl of the slow cooker. Put the lid on and cook on high for 6–8 hours, stirring every so often, until the onions are rich and caramelised.

2. Pour in the stock and cook for another 30 minutes. Serve hot.

Slow cooker onion soup