If you’re looking for a delicious, restaurant-style meal that’s fast and simple to make at home, look no further than Instant Pot Panera Copycat Bistro French Onion Soup. With its rich flavor from caramelized onions and savory broth, this comforting soup will satisfy your soul with just the right amount of indulgent sweetness!

"Finished bowls of Instant Pot Copycat Bistro Panera French Onion Soup topped with melted cheese and crispy croutons."
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Aside from its sophisticated taste, one of the best things about this recipe is how quickly it can be put together in less than an hour! So when you’re down to your last few ingredients on a busy weeknight, there’s still hope that dinner can turn out like something special – as if you were dining at your favorite bistro.

What Is Panera Bistro French Onion Soup

Soup has always been a popular choice to enjoy on a cold day or when you need something warm and comforting. But this type of soup, Panera Bistro French Onion Soup, has risen in popularity over the years because it’s not only delicious but also packed with flavor.

This heartwarming classic soup uses sweet onions that are slow-cooked with herbs and seasonings to create an intense yet well-rounded flavor that will warm your soul from the inside out! So if you’re looking for a unique way to spice up your daily soup routine, read on as we dive deep into this iconic Panera favorite!

Ingredients Needed For Copycat Panera French Onion Soup

This easy Copycat Panera French Onion Soup recipe brings an old favorite back to life in your kitchen! Perfect for a chilly day or when you’re craving classic comfort food, this soup is sure to hit the spot. With its sweet and savory flavors, caramelized onions, and gooey cheese topping, it’s no wonder why this soup has been a fan favorite since its creation. All you need are simple ingredients, and before you know it, you’ll have delicious homemade copycat French onion soup ready to serve!

Ingredients Needed For Copycat Panera French Onion Soup on kitchen counter
  • Onions: Use yellow onions, red onions, or white onions. You can even use sweet onions, like Vidalia onions.
  • Broth: Use beef broth, chicken broth, or vegetable broth.
  • Baguette: Serve with crusty baguettes
  • Cheese: Use Gruyere Cheese Slices or Gruyere Shredded
  • Seasonings and Spices: Brown Sugar, Kosher Salt, Worcheshire Sauce, Black Pepper, and Thyme (fresh thyme or dried thyme)

How To Make Copycat Panera’s French Onion Soup In Instant Pot

"Sautéing onions in the Instant Pot for Copycat Panera's French Onion Soup."

Step One: Saute The Onions

Start by setting the saute setting on your pressure cooker. Wait about 30 seconds, and then add your butter. Let the butter melt for about 30 seconds, then add your sliced onions, brown sugar, and salt, and mix well. Allow the onions to saute for 8-10 minutes.

Adding beef broth to the Instant Pot for French Onion Soup after caramelizing the onions."

Step Two: Deglaze The Pot And Prepare Your Soup

It’s important that you use a wooden spatula to remove any onions at the bottom. Otherwise, you will get a BURN notice. Add the beef broth, Worshire Suce, bay leaf, and black pepper, mi well. Then add the pressure cooker lid and then move the valve into the sealed position. Set manual high pressure for 5 minutes.

Step Three: Release The Pressure

Allow the pressure to come down naturally. Then open your lid, and mix well.

"Layering slices of French bread and cheese on top of the French Onion Soup in the Instant Pot."

Step Four: Air Fry French Onion Soup or Broil

Add a couple of slices of baguette into your oven-safe bowl, ladle the soup into the bowl, and add a couple of cheese slices. Place in the broiler for 2-4 minutes or air fry at 300 degrees F, for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

"Setting the Instant Pot to cook the French Onion Soup under high pressure."

Storage Tips

To Store: Let your french onion soup cool to room temperature. Then ladle your soup into an airtight container. The soup will last for 3-5 days. For best results, store the soup separately from the bread and cheese.

To Freeze: This is a great soup to freeze; for the best results, do not freeze the soup with cheese and bread. Ladle the soup into a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. The soup will last for 2-3 months. To use, allow the soup to defrost in the refrigerator overnight.

To Reheat: You can either reheat in a saucepan or microwave. Reheat over low-medium heat until it’s warm.

More Instant Pot Recipes

"Bowl of Copycat Panera French Onion Soup with melted cheese and croutons, ready to be served."

This copycat Panera Bistro French Onion Soup is the perfect wintertime meal. It’s packed with flavor and easy to make in your Instant Pot. This soup is sure to become a family favorite. Give it a try tonight!

Instant Pot Copycat Panera Bistro French Onion Soup

Instant Pot Copycat Panera Bistro French Onion Soup

5 from 7 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings

Description

This copycat Panera Bistro French Onion Soup is the perfect wintertime meal. It's packed with flavor, and it's easy to make in your Instant Pot. This soup is sure to become a family favorite. Give it a try tonight!

Ingredients 

  • 1/4 cup butter, unsalted
  • 3 pounds onions, yellow, white or red onions
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon thyme, fresh or dried
  • 1 baguette, sliced
  • 12 slices Gruyere cheese

Instructions

  • Start by setting the saute setting on your pressure cooker. Wait about 30 seconds, and then add your butter. Let the butter melt for about 30 seconds, then add your sliced onions, brown sugar, and salt, and mix well. Allow the onions to saute for 8-10 minutes.
  • It's important that you use a wooden spatula to remove any onions at the bottom. Otherwise, you will get a BURN notice. Add the beef broth, Worshire Suce, bay leaf, and black pepper, mi well. Then add the pressure cooker lid and then move the valve into the sealed position. Set manual high pressure for 5 minutes.
  • Allow the pressure to come down naturally. Then open your lid, and mix well.
  • Add a couple of slices of baguette into your oven-safe bowl, ladle the soup into the bowl, and add a couple of cheese slices. Place in the broiler for 2-4 minutes or air fry at 300 degrees F, for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Equipment

  • Instant Pot
  • Oven Safe Bowls

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 518kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 25gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 1724mgPotassium: 532mgFiber: 5gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 778IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 678mgIron: 2mg

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