Instant Pot French Onion Soup

Instant Pot French Onion Soup is amazing! It’s rich, and it’s full of flavor. Top it off with the classic French Bread, from the caramelized onions to the melted cheese on top. It is a winner on any stormy or winter night.

I love making soups, and with the Instant Pot, you can make them in about half the time of stove-top cooking. If you have not tried making soups in the Instant Pot, you are so missing out; they’re truly earth-shattering!

I love a great pot of soup. The broth and the caramelized onions add so much flavor, you will find it hard to believe that you made this in less than 10 minutes.

Once you become addicted to making Soups in the Instant Pot, check out more of these delicious and easy Instant Pot Soup Recipes, INSTANT POT CREAM OF BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP, INSTANT POT BROCCOLI AND CHEDDAR CHEESE SOUP, INSTANT POT HOMEMADE TOMATO SOUP, and INSTANT POT CHICKEN AND GNOCCHI SOUP (OLIVE GARDEN COPYCAT).

What Is French Onion Soup?

French Onion Soup is truly a classical soup, and it has been around since Roman times. One of the reasons is the ingredients are so plentiful and inexpensive, and it soon became a favorite around the globe.

The French Onion Soup migrated to the United States. Thanks to Henri Mouquin back in 1861, he added the iconic cheese and bread on top.

The soup is commercially made by Campbells and other soup manufacturers and remains one of America’s favorite soups.

Ingredients Needed For Instant Pot French Onion Soup

• Onions
• Butter
• Olive Oil
• Broth
• Thyme
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Gruyere cheese
• French bread

How To Make Instant Pot French Onion Soup

Start by slicing the onions thin. Once you have them done, add the butter and oil to your Instant Pot Bowl, then press the saute button. Once the butter starts to melt, and the oil is hot, add your onions.

Remember to keep on moving the onions, so they don’t stick and then eventually burn.

Once the onions are cooked, add your broth or stock. Then add your lid, and set the manual high pressure for 10 minutes, when the timer beeps, just let it naturally release.

When you can, remove the lid, mix well.

Then place a piece of french bread into each bowl, then pour the soup into them. Top each bowl with a portion of cheese.

Broil, until the cheese is melted. Remove and let the soup cool a bit, before serving.

The Best Onions for French Onion Soup

While you can use any onions for a traditional French Onion Soup, I find that regular onions sweat and caramelize more than sweet onions.

However, most people really associate carmelize onions with being a dark brown color. This is not true. The more you caramelize your onions, the soup will turn more bitter. So, for best results, sweat the onions until they are soft and golden brown.

Most chefs use a combination of red onions, shallots, sweet onions, and regular onions for the best combination of flavors.

The Best Cheese for French Onion Soup

The traditional cheese used for a classical French Onion Soup is Gruyere. Although you can easily switch this out for other cheese, if you are going for a classic French Onion Soup, reach for slices or shredded Gruyere.

Most American Grocery Stores sell Gruyere in slices now, making it easy to purchase and use in the recipe.

If you can not find Gruyere Cheese, reach for Swiss Cheese, Sharp Cheddar, Jarlsberg, or Emmental. They all will make suitable replacements.

What to Serve With French Onion Soup

This soup is raelly a heavy soup, that can be eaten by itslef for a great lunch or dinner. Typically served with a loaf of French Bread, it’s really hearty.

I usually pair my French Onion Soup with a large garden salad, or grilled chicken.

Storing French Onion Soup

This is a great soup that you can easily make ahead and will last for about a week in the refrigerator. Although, it is important not to add the bread until ready to serve.

To use from the refrigerator, heat up in a saucepan or the microwave. Then add the bread and cheese. Place the bowl into the broiler right before serving.

Freezing French Onion Soup

This is actually an amazing soup to Freeze, and it’s one of my favorite items at Trader Joe’s, which sells a frozen French Onion Soup.

To freeze, you will only be freezing the soup. You will add the bread and cheese upon preparation for serving.

Let the soup cool to room temperature, and then ladle the soup into freezer-safe containers. The soup will last between 1 to 2 months.

To use frozen, place the frozen French Onion Soup into the refrigerator overnight, then heat up in the microwave or a saucepan.

Some Other Great Instant Pot Soup Recipes

• Instant Pot Cream of Butternut Squash Soup
• Instant Pot Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese Soup
• How to Make Vegetable Broth in the Instant Pot
• Instant Pot Homemade Tomato Soup
• Instant Pot Chicken and Gnocchi Soup (Copycat Olive Garden Recipe)

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