Instant Pot Caramelized Onions Make Onion Soup a Snap to Fix (2024)

Instant Pot Recipes
French Mains
Cheese Recipes
French Food

Diana Rattray

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

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Updated on 09/21/22

Ingredients

3 pounds yellow or sweet onions
8 ounces Gruyère cheese
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 clove garlic, pressed or finely minced
2 quarts unsalted or low-sodium beef stock, divided
2 tablespoons dry sherry, or red wine, optional
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf
2 sprigs thyme
6 to 12 slices French baguette, depending on size, toasted
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Thyme leaves,or chopped chives, optional garnish

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
Slice off the ends of the onions and then slice the onions in half lengthwise; peel them and cut into 1/4-inch slices. Slice the onions by hand or use a food processor with the slicing disc. Shred the Gruyère cheese, and refrigerate it until you are ready to assemble the topping.
Choose the sauté function on the Instant Pot and adjust it to the lowest setting. When the pot is hot, add the butter and swirl it around until it is melted and begins to bubble. Add the onions and baking soda and sauté, stirring frequently, until the onions soften and "sweat," or about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute longer. Cancel the sauté function.
Add about 1/4 cup of the beef stock (or 2 tablespoons of sherry or red wine and 2 tablespoons of stock) to the onions and lock the lid in place. Turn the steam release valve to the sealing position. Choose the pressure cook or manual button, high pressure, and set the time for 18 minutes. When the time is up, carefully turn the steam release valve to venting to release the steam quickly.
Choose the sauté function and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until much of the liquid has evaporated and the onions are deep golden brown.
Add the salt, pepper, remaining beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, the bay leaf, and thyme. Turn the sauté function to the highest setting and bring the soup to a boil. Turn the sauté function to the lowest setting and simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove and discard the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Taste the broth and adjust the seasonings.
Preheat the broiler. Place oven-safe bowls on a baking sheet and fill them with soup. Place a slice or two of toasted bread on each bowl of soup and cover with a generous amount of the shredded Gruyère cheese. Broil the soup about 4 to 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is melted and the bread is nicely browned around the edges.
Garnish each serving with thyme leaves or chopped chives and enjoy.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Recipe Variation

Gruyère is a Swiss cheese that melts beautifully, making it an ideal (and authentic) choice for French onion soup. To substitute, try Emmental or Jarlsberg.

How to Toast Bread Slices

Heat the oven to 400 F. Arrange the baguette slices (about 3/4-inch-thick slices) on a baking sheet. Brush the slices lightly with olive oil or melted butter. Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned and crisp.

How to Store French Onion Soup

Instant Pot French onion soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three days.
You can also freeze it for up to three months.

Fondue Savoyarde

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
872	Calories
29g	Fat
119g	Carbs
37g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories	872
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g	37%
Saturated Fat 15g	77%
Cholesterol 72mg	24%
Sodium 2466mg	107%
Total Carbohydrate 119g	43%
Dietary Fiber 7g	26%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 37g
Vitamin C 13mg	63%
Calcium 543mg	42%
Iron 8mg	44%
Potassium 701mg	15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

soup
appetizer
french
family dinner

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