Instant Pot French Onion Pot Roast Recipe

If you love comfort food that feels like a warm hug, get ready for a serious treat: Instant Pot French Onion Pot Roast. This dish takes all the irresistible flavors of classic French onion soup—rich, golden onions, deep beefy broth, a hint of thyme—and marries them with a meltingly tender pot roast that the Instant Pot transforms in a fraction of the time. The result? A weeknight-friendly main course that tastes like it’s been slow-simmered all day long, with a luscious, savory onion gravy begging to be ladled over everything on your plate.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

What makes this Instant Pot French Onion Pot Roast shine is how a handful of straightforward ingredients come together to create something truly unforgettable. Each element in this lineup is carefully chosen to lock in maximum flavor, deliver the perfect texture, and ensure your pot roast is anything but ordinary.

• Chuck roast (3–4 lb): The marbling in this cut melts down beautifully under pressure, giving you fork-tender, juicy beef every time.
• Olive oil (2 tablespoons): Helps develop a golden crust on the roast and adds a subtle richness to your dish.
• Salt (2 teaspoons): Essential for bringing all the flavors together and properly seasoning both the meat and onions.
• Black pepper (1 teaspoon): Adds gentle heat and depth without overpowering the savory notes of the dish.
• Garlic powder (1 teaspoon): Rounds out the seasoning on your roast for a well-developed flavor base.
• Worcestershire sauce (1 tablespoon): Adds umami goodness that will have everyone asking for seconds (or thirds!).
• Yellow onions, thinly sliced (2 large): The star of the show; cooking them low and slow brings out extraordinary sweetness and flavor.
• Garlic, minced (4 cloves): Boosts the aromatics and adds a welcoming savory punch.
• Tomato paste (1 tablespoon): Provides a touch of acidity and subtle richness for a more robust gravy.
• Dry red wine, optional (1/2 cup): Deglazes the pot and deepens the sauce; sub beef broth if you prefer alcohol-free.
• Beef broth (1 1/2 cups): Lays down the savory groundwork for that signature French onion flavor profile.
• Cornstarch mixed with water (1 tablespoon + 2 tablespoons water, optional): For thickening your onion gravy to the perfect spoon-coating consistency.
• Fresh thyme (4 sprigs) or dried thyme (1 teaspoon): Lends a classic herbal aroma that feels cozy and elegant all at once.

How to Make Instant Pot French Onion Pot Roast

Step 1: Sear the Roast

Start by setting your Instant Pot to the sauté mode and pour in the olive oil. While the pot heats up, generously season all sides of your chuck roast with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Once the oil is shimmering, add the roast and sear for 3–4 minutes per side. This step locks in flavor and lays the foundation for a deep, caramelized gravy later on.

Step 2: Caramelize the Onions

After you’ve browned the roast, transfer it to a plate. Toss all the thinly sliced onions straight into that same pot, using the leftover flavor bits as a base. Cook the onions for about 5–7 minutes, stirring every so often until they’re tender and golden, truly bringing out their natural sweetness.

Step 3: Build the Flavor Base

Next up, stir in your minced garlic and tomato paste. Let them cook for just about a minute; this wakes up the tomato paste and infuses the onions with extra savory goodness and a little brightness that’ll show up in every bite.

Step 4: Deglaze and Add Liquids

If you’re using dry red wine, pour it in now—this will help you scrape up every last bit of caramelized goodness from the base of the pot (trust me, you want all of it!). Let it bubble for a minute, then add the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce to round out the flavor.

Step 5: Add Beef and Herbs

Carefully return the seared roast to the pot, nestling it into the onion mixture. Top with fresh thyme sprigs or sprinkle your dried thyme evenly. This will infuse the whole dish with subtle herbal notes as it cooks.

Step 6: Pressure Cook to Perfection

Cancel sauté mode, lock the lid, and set your Instant Pot to “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” on high for 60 minutes. Now you can relax while the Instant Pot French Onion Pot Roast works its magic, breaking down the beef into something luxuriously tender and soaking up all those flavors.

Step 7: Let It Rest, Thicken the Sauce (Optional), and Serve

Once the timer is up, let the pressure release naturally for 15–20 minutes before opening. Transfer the roast to a platter and slice or shred as you like. For a luscious onion gravy, turn the Instant Pot back to sauté and whisk in the cornstarch slurry, letting it simmer for a couple of minutes until the sauce reaches your ideal thickness. Spoon onions and gravy generously over the beef and get ready to swoon.

How to Serve Instant Pot French Onion Pot Roast

Garnishes

This pot roast is already loaded with flavor, but a sprinkling of fresh chopped parsley or extra thyme leaves gives it a fresh, beautiful finish. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, a few crispy fried onions on top never go unappreciated!

Side Dishes

For pure comfort, serve your Instant Pot French Onion Pot Roast over creamy mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or rustic slices of crusty bread. Don’t forget a simple green salad or roasted vegetables to round out the meal and balance all those wonderful rich flavors.

Creative Ways to Present

Turn leftovers into epic sandwiches, layer the shredded beef and onions on a toasted baguette, or even make a French onion pot pie with puff pastry. This recipe is so versatile, you can reinvent it in dozens of delightful ways—perfect for impressing the family or making meal prep a little more exciting.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you find yourself with leftover Instant Pot French Onion Pot Roast, simply transfer it (with plenty of gravy and onions!) to an airtight container. It will stay perfectly delicious in the fridge for up to 4 days, and the flavors actually deepen and develop overnight.

Freezing

You’ll be glad to know this dish freezes wonderfully. Divide cooled pot roast and sauce into freezer-friendly containers or zip-top bags, label them, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best results—future you will thank you!

Reheating

For gentle reheating, place leftovers with their sauce in a saucepan and warm over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. You can also microwave individual portions in short bursts, stirring in between, until everything is hot and just as comforting as when freshly made.

FAQs

Can I make Instant Pot French Onion Pot Roast without wine?

Absolutely! If you’d prefer to skip the wine, just use extra beef broth—your pot roast will still develop a hearty, rich gravy full of classic French onion flavor.

What’s the best way to get deeply caramelized onions in the Instant Pot?

Take your time on sauté mode. Stir often, but give the onions some contact with the pot so they can develop that signature golden color and sweetness. They don’t need to be deeply browned, just deeply softened and fragrant.

How can I make this recipe gluten-free?

This recipe is naturally gluten-free if you use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce and check that your beef broth doesn’t contain any gluten-based ingredients. The cornstarch slurry for thickening is also gluten-free!

Can I use a different cut of beef?

Chuck roast is ideal for its marbling and tenderness, but other cuts like brisket or bottom round can work, too—they may just require a bit of extra cooking time and yield slightly different textures.

Is it okay to cook vegetables with the roast?

Definitely! For a classic twist, you can add chunks of carrots or potatoes on top of the roast (not at the bottom, so they don’t get too soft). They’ll soak up all that luxurious French onion flavor as they cook.

Final Thoughts

There’s nothing cozier or more soul-satisfying than sharing a platter of Instant Pot French Onion Pot Roast with friends and family. Every bite delivers melt-in-your-mouth beef and savory-sweet onions with ease, thanks to the magic of the Instant Pot. I hope this recipe earns a regular spot at your table—give it a try and gather everyone around for a meal that feels both effortless and truly special.

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