French Onion Soup – Instant Pot

French Onion Soup is by far the most requested soup for dinner parties with our friends and family. My vegetarian take on this rich and indulgent dish boasts flavors of caramelized onions, toasty buttered croutons, sweet thyme and of course, melted gooey cheese.

Traditional recipes can be time consuming; but with the help of the Instant Pot, this French onion soup will be ready in under an hour. It has the same luxurious flavors and sweetness from caramelized onions which are topped with toasty croutons and cheese and broiled to golden perfection. My all time favorite, Instant Pot Sauté option, perfectly cooks the onions followed by the pressure cooking option, that seals all the flavors inside. Infused with bay leaf and fresh thyme, this French onions soup is a must-try recipe.

Traditionally made with beef broth, I love making a vegetarian version of this classic french onion soup with the Better Than Bouillon seasoned vegetable base that adds concentrated flavors and perfect color to the soup. I like to use large yellow onions in this soup because they lend to a mellow, sweet taste with the perfect brightness in the end. The onions can be sautéd to a caramel color in about 20-25 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so.

Although dried thyme can be used in a pinch, to me, fresh thyme is a must-have for this classic soup. I add it while pressure cooking along with bay leaf and then garnish again with thyme for a pop color. The Worcestershire sauce adds a savory, umami flavors to the soup and is also available as a Vegan option.

A crusty baguette, sliced in to thick bite-sized pieces, makes homemade croutons in no time. Brush them with some butter for more rich flavors.

The key ingredient to a great tasting french onion soup is fresh, good quality cheese. A large handful of shredded Gruyere cheese and sliced Swiss cheese are broiled just until the cheese melts and starts to brown. I like to finish the soup with a sprinkle of spicy cayenne pepper that perfectly balances the flavors of this classic bistro soup.

Here is a quick video on how to make this crowd pleasing, winter comfort soup in the Instant Pot:

5 from 4 votes

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French Onion Soup Instant Pot

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

Total Time

50 mins

 

A rich and comforting, French Onion Soup with toasty bread croutons, melted Gruyere and Swiss cheese with sweet caramelized onions cooked in a flavorful broth. 

Course: Soup

Cuisine: French

Keyword: french onion soup

Servings: 6

Calories: 414 kcal

Author: Archana

Ingredients

• 4 large yellow onions thinly sliced (use mandolin for thin slices)
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce/ Vegan Worcestershire sauce
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed black pepper
• 3 cups veg broth low sodium
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour

To serve

• 1 crusty baguette thick slices
• 1-1/2 cups shredded gruyere cheese
• 6-12 slices swiss cheese
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional

Instructions

1. Turn the Instant Pot on Sauté(more) mode and heat butter and oil.

2. Add onions, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp sugar and cook for 20-25 minutes stirring every 5 mins until onions turn golden brown but not burnt. Glass lid can be used during Saute process. After 20 minutes the onions should be golden brown and the bottom of the pot will start to brown.

3. Press Cancel. Add wine and deglaze the pot removing all browning from the pot. Cook for 2-3 minutes as the wine evaporates.
4. Add bay leaf, 1/2 tablespoon thyme, remaining salt, pepper, worcestershire sauce and 2-1/2 cups of broth. Secure the lid with Pressure Release to Sealing. Cook on Manual/Pressure Cook (Hi) for 6 minutes followed by Quick Release.

5. Open the Instant Pot, remove the bay leaf and discard. Mix all purpose flour in the remaining broth and slowly stir in the soup. Set Instant Pot to Sauté mode and cook for 5 minutes as the soup thickens.

To Serve:

1. Preheat oven to broil(Hi). Cut each baguette slices into bite sized pieces. Line them on a baking sheet and toast until golden brown (5 to 7 minutes).
2. Add 3/4 cup of soup to an oven safe bowl. Add toasted bread pieces and top them with handful go shredded Gruyere cheese, top with Swiss cheese slices and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper and thyme. Broil for 5 mins or until the cheese melts. Serve hot!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Use a mix of red and yellow onions.

Dry thyme can be substituted for fresh.

 

Nutrition Facts

French Onion Soup Instant Pot

Amount Per Serving

Calories 414 Calories from Fat 189

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 21g 32%

Saturated Fat 11g 55%

Cholesterol 52mg 17%

Sodium 851mg 35%

Potassium 335mg 10%

Total Carbohydrates 34g 11%

Dietary Fiber 2g 8%

Sugars 4g

Protein 18g 36%

Vitamin A 14.1%

Vitamin C 9.6%

Calcium 39.8%

Iron 12.3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Author: Archana

Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live New Jersey with my husband and two sons.

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