Learn how to make perfect French Onion Soup in the Instant Pot. Cozy, hearty and flavorful french onion soup is topped with melted cheese and a crusty piece of sourdough in this easy recipe!
This recipe was originally published in August 2022. I updated the recipe notes and images in September 2025.
Why Make Soup in the Instant Pot
French Onion Soup is traditionally made on the stove, but like many of my favorite soup recipes, I like it even more made in the Instant Pot.
While I have many instant pot recipes, soup tends to be one of the easiest dinners to make!
- You can caramelize the onions right in the Instant Pot! No need to use the stove at all.
- The soup takes just 20 minutes of prep work and it’s ready to eat in 45 minutes.
- Pressure cooking helps the flavors mingle and meld for an even better tasting onion soup.
- Generates less heat than the stove. Perfect for year-round cooking!
Ingredients for Soup
If you’re looking to make this french onion soup in the Instant Pot, be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements.
- Red onions – Because you’re going to caramelize your onions, any variety will work here. We always have red onions in our kitchen and they are not expensive. You could also use Vidalia onions, but they are usually more expensive.
- Honey – Sweetens and balances out the sharpness of the onion flavor, while helping the onions caramelize quicker.
- Red wine – Gives the soup a deeper flavor and helps deglaze the pot. Brandy can also be used if you prefer! If you don’t want to use alcohol, replace the red wine with more broth.
- Beef broth – This is the base of the soup so choose a quality broth. I recommend the low-sodium varieties so you can adjust the saltiness of the soup to your liking.
- Sourdough bread slices – You can use any thick, crusty Artisan Bread in it’s place, but the tanginess of the sourdough is especially delicious!
- Swiss cheese – Freshly grated cheese is a must for topping French onion soup! Other white cheeses like white cheddar or provolone may be substituted.
How to Make Instant Pot French Onion Soup
Making French Onion Soup in the Instant Pot is just as easy, and maybe even easier, as making it the traditional way.
- Start by caramelizing the onions in the Instant Pot on the SAUTE setting.
- Then add the spices, wine and broth. Cover and pressure cook the soup in the Instant Pot for 5 minutes.
Recipe FAQs
Store leftover French Onion Soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It keeps for about 4 days. I recommend storing the soup without the bread and cheese topping. Reheat the soup in the oven or on the stove. Then add the sourdough slices and cheese to each bowl before broiling and serving.
The red wine (or brandy) brings a depth of flavor to Instant Pot French Onion Soup that’s tough to replicate with non-alcoholic substitutes. If you don’t want to use red wine in this French Onion Soup recipe, simply leave it out and use extra broth instead.
Yes, you can! Toast the slices of sourdough bread under the broiler while the soup cooks in the Instant Pot. Then sprinkle shredded cheese over bowls of soup while it’s still hot. Top each bowl with the toasted sourdough slices before serving and enjoy!
The cheese won’t be browned and bubbly without the broiling step but it will taste wonderful regardless!
More Easy Dinner Recipes
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Instant Pot Recipes
Instant Pot French Onion Soup is so easy to make at home and tastes better than the restaurant versions!