Outback Steakhouse Walkabout Onion Soup is a creamy, savory favorite that delivers comforting flavor and steakhouse-style richness in every spoonful.
Photo by She Who Shall Not Be Named
Copycat Outback Steakhouse Walkabout Onion Soup
Walkabout Onion Soup is Outback Steakhouse’s signature creamy onion soup, known for its smooth texture, mellow sweetness, and rich, cheesy finish.
It is distinct from traditional French onion soup and instantly recognizable to Outback fans.
This copycat version recreates the familiar balance of sautéed onions, seasoned broth, and creamy richness that made Walkabout Onion Soup a menu staple. It is simple to prepare and works just as well as a starter or a light meal.
Quick Recipe Overview
- Best For: Cozy dinners, steakhouse-style meals, and comforting starters
- Flavor Profile: Savory, creamy, mildly sweet onion flavor with a cheesy finish
- Skill Level: Easy to moderate
- What Makes It Like the Restaurant: Cream-based broth, slow-cooked onions, and signature seasoning balance
Outback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse opened its first location in Tampa, Florida, in 1988, quickly building a reputation for bold flavors and casual steakhouse comfort.
While steaks and the Bloomin’ Onion became the brand’s calling cards, the Walkabout Onion Soup developed a quiet following of its own. Served as a starter, it offered something unexpected: a creamy onion soup that felt hearty without being heavy.
Over the years, it became a reliable favorite for regulars, often ordered alongside steak or chicken dishes as a warm, familiar beginning to the meal.
The Creamy Soup That Started the Meal Right
Unlike classic French Onion Soup, Walkabout Onion Soup reflects a distinctly American steakhouse approach. The onions are softened and mellowed rather than deeply caramelized, and the broth leans creamy instead of clear. This style creates a smoother, richer soup that pairs naturally with grilled meats and hearty entrées.
It is designed to be comforting, approachable, and easy to enjoy, which explains why it stood out on Outback’s menu for decades. The result is a soup that feels familiar but unmistakably its own.
Outback Steakhouse Walkabout Onion Soup Recipe
Make our Outback Steakhouse Walkabout Onion Soup Recipe at home tonight for your family. With our Secret Restaurant Recipe your French Onion Soup will taste just like Outback’s.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Yellow Sweet Onions thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- 1 15- ounce can Chicken Broth
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground Black Pepper
- 2 Chicken Bouillon Cubes
- 1/4 cup Velveeta Cheese cubes or shredded, compressed in a measuring cup
- 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 cups Thick White Sauce See Below
- Cheddar Cheese shredded, to garnish
White Sauce
- 3 tablespoons Butter
- 3 tablespoons Flour
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1 1/2 cups Whole Milk
Instructions
- In 2-quart sauce pan place 3 tablespoons butter and sliced onions.
- Cook at low to medium heat stirring frequently until soft and clear but not brown.
- Add chicken broth from can, chicken bouillon cubes, salt, pepper, and stir until completely heated through.
- Add white sauce and Velveeta cheese. White sauce will be thick because it has been removed from the heat. Simmer on medium low heat until the cheese is melted and all ingredients are blended, stirring constantly.
- Turn temperature to warm and let cook for additional 30 - 45 minutes.
- Serve with a garnish of shredded cheddar cheese, and a couple of slices of warm dark Russian Bread.
White Sauce
- In a 1-quart sauce pan melt butter and add flour, cook on medium heat until the flour turns thick and comes away from the sides of the sauce pan.
- Pour milk in flour a little at a time and stir constantly, add salt. Mixture should thicken and become like thick pudding.
- Remember to stir constantly taking care not to let mixture lump, set aside off from heat until ready to use for the soup.
Related Copycat Recipes
- Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup – Iconic café soup that tastes like a warm bowl of nostalgia
- Max & Erma’s Chicken Tortilla Soup – Hearty chicken soup with bold spices, tender veggies, and crunchy tortilla strips
- Outback Steakhouse Queensland Chicken and Shrimp – Grilled chicken and shrimp topped with creamy sauce and bold steakhouse flavor
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Questions People Ask
Is Walkabout Onion Soup the same as French onion soup?
No. Walkabout Onion Soup is cream-based and milder, while French onion soup uses a clear beef broth and deeply caramelized onions.
Can this soup be made ahead of time?
Yes. It reheats well and can be made a day in advance, making it convenient for meal prep or entertaining.
What does it pair well with?
This soup pairs especially well with steak, chicken, baked potatoes, and simple side salads.
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Photo of French Onion Soup is by She Who Shall Not Be Named and is used by permission under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) License. Photo of “Outback Steakhouse” is by Mike Mozart and is used by permission under the Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) Creative Commons License. Read the Full License Here – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode. Thank you, She Who and Mike. Great Pictures. Photos may be representative of the recipe and not the actual finished dish. All photo licenses listed were correct at the time of the posting of the page. Recipe is our adaption of several recipes formally widely-circulated on the internet – courtesy of the Wayback Machine. Additional Information is from original research done by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes and/or courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.
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September 27, 2014 @ 7:16 pm
I was so ready to make this recipe, until I saw Velveeta. I was really hoping for real cheese, not processed. bleh..
March 8, 2022 @ 6:08 pm
Velveeta? Really? No thank you.
March 9, 2022 @ 3:47 am
Connie,
Ha! We typically prefer Sharp Cheddar – But not when the recipe calls for Velveeta.
You should try a recipe before you rate it.
Thanks for your interest.
Alton