Instant Pot Vegetarian French Onion Soup

This Instant Pot French Onion Soup is an easy recipe for any night of the week! Tender, Vidalia Onions are pressure cooked in a rich broth, topped with creamy melted cheese and a slice of french Baguette. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• EASY – Make soups in your pressure cooker is such a breeze! You really can’t mess this recipe up!
• DELICIOUS – If you’ve never had a soup made in an Instant Pot, you are up for a real treat! Pressure cooking seals in all the aromas, flavors and juices for a really intense, flavorful recipe. It’ got a restaurant quality taste, topped with gooey melted cheese and a sliced french baguette.
• VEGETARIAN – This is a great recipe for vegetarians! Just simple, healthy and wholesome ingredients!

Ingredients For Instant Pot French Onion Soup

For step-by-step instructions, check out the steps below or see the printable recipe card at the end of this post. But here is what you’ll need to get started.

• BUTTER – Unsalted butter. We will use this to saute our onions.
• ONIONS – Use 4 large onions. We like using Vidalia Onions for French Onion Soup. But any yellow onions will do.
• GARLIC – Minced. Will be sauteed with the onions in the butter.
• COOKING SHERRY – If you don’t have any dry sherry, you can substitute for a dry white wine.
• VEGETABLE BROTH – You can substitute for beef broth of chicken broth if needed. Just note that this dish would no longer be vegetarian.
• SEASONINGS – Thyme, Bay Leaf, Kosher Salt, Black Pepper
• FRENCH BAGUETTE SLICES – 8 to 12 small baguette slices, cut about 3/4-inch thick
• CHEESE – 4 thick slices of Provolone Cheese. Buy you can substitute for any cheese that sounds good. Mozzarella, Gruyere cheese or Swiss Cheese could all work.

What Is The Best Onion For French Onion Soup

If you are going to make a vegetarian soup, you have to start with amazing vegetables. Vidalia onions give this soup a complex flavor that feels like it has been cooking all day.  The secret is to caramelize your Vidalia onions using an electric pressure cooker and cut your time in half. It gives this recipe that complex flavor you normally get from stewing your soup for hours.

How To Make French Onion Soup In An Instant Pot

I know this looks like a lot of steps, and it sort of is. But it is important to have caramelized onions in this recipe, which adds some time. Just take your time and follow the steps below. It’s really not hard and we will talk you through ti!

1. Turn your electric pressure cooker to the sauté mode.
2. Melt your butter and then add the onions, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf.
3. Sauté the onions for about 5 minutes until they start to release water.
4. Stir in 3 tablespoons water. Secure the lid to your pressure cooker.
5. Seal the valve and cook on HIGH pressure (manual setting) for 20 minutes. Once the timer has counted all the way down release the pressure to vent.
6. Remove the lid, then turn your pressure cooker back to the sauté mode. Cook your onions for about 5 – 8 more minutes until some of the extra liquid evaporates.
7. Add the sherry and to bring to a simmer. Be sure to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pot, it gives the soup a little more flavor.
8. Let simmer for 10 minutes, until most of the sherry has evaporated. Discard the bay leaf.
9. Add the vegetable broth and bring to a simmer. Cook for an additional 10 minutes or so until your soup has thickened. Finish with salt and pepper to taste.
10. Preheat your broiler. Arrange oven safe bowls on a baking sheet pan and ladle in your soup. Float a slice or two of the baguette slices on top of the broth and cover with a slice of cheese. Broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.

Storage, Leftovers and Freezing

Store leftovers in your refrigerator in an airtight container. They should be good for up to 5 days. You can reheat in the microwave.

You can freeze French Onion Soup. Just allow to fully cool and put in a freezer safe container or a freezer bag. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

We hope you enjoy this Instant Pot French Onion Soup Recipe! Let us know how it turns out in the comments!

Instant Pot Vegetarian French Onion Soup

5 from 1 vote

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Total Time 1 hr

Servings: 4

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Easy Instant Pot Vegetarian French Onion Soup recipe made with seasonal Vidalia onions.

Ingredients 

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 large Vidalia onions sliced thinly
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup cooking sherry
• 6 cups Vegetable Broth
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 8 to 12 small baguette slices cut about 3/4-inch thick
• 4 thick slices of Provolone Cheese

Instructions 

• Turn your electric pressure cooker to the sauté mode. Melt your butter and then add the onions, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf, stir to combine. Sauté the onions for about 5 minutes until they start to release water. Stir in 3 tablespoons water. Secure the lid to your pressure cooker, seal the valve and cook on HIGH pressure (manual setting) for 20 minutes. Once the timer has counted all the way down release the pressure to vent.
• Remove the lid, then turn your pressure cooker back to the sauté mode. Cook your onions for about 5 - 8 more minutes until some of the extra liquid evaporates. Add the sherry and to bring to a simmer. Be sure to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pot, it gives the soup a little more flavor. Let simmer for 10 minutes, until most of the sherry has evaporated. Discard the bay leaf.
• Add the vegetable broth and bring to a simmer. Cook for an additional 10 minutes or so until your soup has thickened. Finish with salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat your broiler. Arrange ovenproof bowls on a sheet pan and ladle in your soup. Float a slice or two of the baguette slices on top of the broth and cover with a slice of cheese. Broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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To learn more about Vidalia Onions be sure to visit vidaliaonion.org.