How to Make Instant Pot French Onion Soup in 30 Minutes

Are you craving a delicious, comforting bowl of French Onion Soup but think it’s too time-consuming to make from scratch? Well, guess what? With your trusty Instant Pot, you can have this classic dish ready in just 30 minutes! That’s right—this Instant Pot French Onion Soup recipe is here to save the day, perfect for quick family dinners or weeknight dinner ideas. It’s a game-changer for anyone who loves easy pasta recipes or hearty soups but wants something that’s ready in no time.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ready in just 30 minutes—perfect for 30-minute meals!
• Rich, flavorful broth with caramelized onions and a touch of red wine.
• Crispy baguette slices topped with melted Gruyère cheese.
• Easy to make in your Instant Pot for a hands-off cooking experience.
• Great for weeknight dinner ideas or special occasions.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need for this French Onion Soup Recipe (full measurements are in the recipe card below):

• 2 tbsp butter
• 10 medium-sized yellow onions, sliced
• 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 6 cups beef broth
• 6 slices baguette, sliced about 1/2 inch thick
• 3/4 cup Gruyère (Swiss) cheese

Full ingredient list with measurements is provided in the printable recipe card below.

How to Make the Recipe

Let’s walk through how to make this Instant Pot French Onion Soup step by step:

1. Turn your Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add the butter and sauté the onions for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to brown and caramelize. Don’t forget to scrape those delicious bits off the bottom of the pot!
2. Add salt, pepper, thyme, and flour, stirring until the onions are well coated. Pour in the red wine and sauté for 1-2 minutes, letting some of the liquid reduce.
3. Add the beef broth, then place the lid on your Instant Pot and make sure the valve is set to seal. Press the pressure cook button and set it to high for 5 minutes. The Instant Pot will take about 5-10 minutes to come to pressure, then it will cook for 5 minutes.
4. Do a quick release of the pressure by flicking the switch at the top with a spoon. Open the lid when the pressure gauge has dropped and the lid opens easily. While the soup is cooking, slice your baguette, grate the cheese, and preheat your oven to broil on high.
5. Ladle the soup into ramekins or oven-safe bowls. Top each bowl with a slice of baguette and sprinkle some Gruyère cheese over the top. Broil for 2-3 minutes, watching closely to make sure the cheese doesn’t burn. Remove from the oven and serve immediately!

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

Here are a few tips to make your Instant Pot French Onion Soup even better:

• Let the onions brown as much as possible in the first step—this is where the deep flavor comes from!
• Don’t skip the red wine—it adds a rich, depth of flavor to the broth.
• For an extra crispy top, toast the baguette slices in the oven for a few minutes before adding the cheese.

How to Serve

This French Onion Soup Recipe is perfect on its own, but you can also serve it with a side salad or crusty bread for a more filling meal. If you’re feeling fancy, add some fresh thyme or extra cheese on top for a beautiful presentation.

Make Ahead and Storage

You can make the soup base ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze it for up to 3 months. However, it’s best to assemble the soup with the baguette and cheese just before serving for the crispiest results. Reheat the soup base, then top with fresh bread and cheese under the broiler.

There you have it—a delicious, easy-to-make Instant Pot French Onion Soup that’s ready in just 30 minutes! Perfect for quick family dinners or cozy nights at home. Let me know in the comments how you enjoy it!

Instant Pot French Onion Soup

A rich and flavorful French Onion Soup made quick and easy in the Instant Pot, topped with melted Gruyère cheese and crusty baguette slices.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine French

Servings 6 people

Calories 320 kcal

Ingredients

  

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp butter
• 10 medium-sized yellow onions sliced
• 0.5 tsp salt & pepper
• 0.5 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tbsp flour
• 0.5 cup red wine
• 6 cups beef broth
• 6 slices baguette sliced about 1/2 inch thick
• 0.75 cup Gruyère (Swiss) cheese

Instructions

 

• Turn Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add butter and sauté onions for 15 minutes until they start to brown, stirring occasionally and scraping bits off the bottom.
• Add salt & pepper, thyme, and flour, stirring until onions are well coated. Pour in red wine, then sauté for 1-2 minutes until some of the liquid is reduced.
• Add beef broth, then place lid on Instant Pot and make sure valve is set to seal. Press the pressure cook button and set to high, then cook for 5 minutes.
• Do a quick release of the pressure on the Instant Pot by flicking the switch at the top with a spoon. Open the lid when pressure gauge has dropped and the lid opens easily. Meanwhile, slice baguette, grate cheese, and turn oven to broil on high.
• Ladle soup into ramekins or oven-safe bowls, then top with a slice of baguette and sprinkle some cheese overtop. Broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted, watching closely so it doesn't burn. Remove from oven, then serve and enjoy!

Notes

For an extra crispy topping, toast the baguette slices before adding the cheese and broiling. You can also use other cheeses like mozzarella if Gruyère is unavailable.

Keyword French Onion Soup