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bowl of soup with bread and cheese on top
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4.78 from 9 votes

Instant Pot French Onion Soup

Gooey cheese, crusty bread, caramelized and a rich beef broth...this Instant Pot French Onion Soup is ultra easy to make right in the pressure cooker!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: French
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 412kcal
Author: Danielle Wolter

Ingredients

  • 6 medium yellow onions thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup sherry
  • 8 cups beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 12 ounces Gruyere cheese shredded
  • 1 French baguette

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in the Instant Pot on the saute setting. Add the onions and stir to coat with the butter.
  • Switch the Instant Pot to the pressure setting and cook on high for 20 minutes. Use the quick release to release the pressure. 
  • Turn the Instant Pot to saute and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions start to turn brown and much of the liquid has evaporated.
  • Add the garlic, sherry, beef broth, bay leaf, thyme, salt and pepper. Pressure cook on high for 10 minutes.
  • Use the quick release to release the pressure.
  • While the soup is cooking, slice the baguette into 1 inch slices. 
  • Ladle the soup into individual oven proof crocks. 
  • Place 1-2 slices of bread over the soup and sprinkle with about ⅛ cup of the grated Gruyere.
  • Place under the broiler until the cheese is melted and browned, about 2-3 minutes. Be sure to watch it under the broiler to ensure it doesn't burn. All broilers act a little different.

Notes

  1. Use beef bone broth for the best results.
  2. Substitute any type of onions for the yellow onions.
  3. If using dried thyme, use half the amount called for in the recipe.
  4. Substitute Swiss, Jarlsberg, or Emmantheler for the Gruyere if desired. They all have a great flavor and go very well with this soup.
  5. A crusty French baguette is the best bread to use, but any crusty bread can be used. You can also toast the bread for extra crustiness.
  6. Adjust salt to taste. Depending on the beef broth you use, it may contain more sodium than others. The recipe calls for a minimal amount of salt, but you will likely need to adjust it if using unsalted/low sodium broth.

Nutrition

Calories: 412kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 2105mg | Potassium: 345mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 707IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 498mg | Iron: 2mg