Instant Pot Paleo French Onion Soup {Whole30}
Rich, comforting, and so full of flavor, this is the best Paleo French Onion soup you’ll ever eat! It’s so easy to make in the Instant Pot or slow cooker. It is made without wine and cheese, making it perfect for Whole30, paleo, and dairy-free diets. Only you will know that it is healthy!
My soup addiction is legendary and turning conventional soup recipes into Whole30/paleo soups is pretty much my jam. You might remember how much we love the Paleo Pot Pie Soup and I fully consider it a complete healthy meal in one bowl.
It’s hard to imagine French Onion Soup without that big ol’ piece of crusty bread covered in melted cheese on top. But this Whole30 + Paleo French Onion soup is so flavorful, so delicious that you may not even miss it.
And because we’re making it in the Instant Pot (slow cooker instructions are included too!), you’ll love how simple it is to whip up a batch any time the cravings start. And trust me, one bite and you won’t be able to get this soup out of your head!
Soup is pretty much my favorite thing. Whole30 soups are so delicious, comforting, and healthy that I actually put together a guide on 15 Whole30 Soups to keep you warm and cozy.
Check out all my Instant Pot Soup recipes for more inspiration.
What Ingredients Are in Paleo French Onion Soup?
- Onions (doy)
- Beef Broth/stock
- Ghee (use olive oil if you need it to be 100% dairy-free)
- Coconut Aminos (replacing some of the umami flavors you’d get from the Worcestershire Sauce in conventional recipes)
- Apple Cider Vinegar (to give you that bite from sherry or red wine in conventional recipes)
- Thyme & and a bay leaf
- Arrowroot powder
If you don’t want to make your own homemade bone broth, check out this post on where to buy bone broth. In a very dorky move on my part, I’ve created a free download where you can compare protein and sodium content as well as the price per ounce for various brands. #nerdalert
Want to make the your meal prep even easier for this soup? Check out this post on freezing onions so you can always have the main ingredient ready to go!
Need help getting started with the Whole30? You’ll love my free printable Trader Joe’s Whole30 shopping list and my Whole30 Costco shopping list.
What Are the Best Onions For French Onion Soup?
To develop the deep flavor that French Onion Soup is known for, you’ll want a strong onion. For that, I usually use a mix of red, yellow, and white onions. If I can only use one, it is red onions. Having used sweet onions in the past, I do not recommend them as I think it throws off the flavor profile.
Adding in a shallot or two is always a great way to develop the flavor even more.
How to Stop Onions Making You Cry
Usually, by the second onion, my eyes are watering so badly it is no longer safe to use a knife. My husband tells the same joke every time “you know how to stop onions from making you cry, right? Don’t get so attached to them”. #dadjokes
I have found the only way tears don’t stream down my face while chopping onions is to put them in the fridge for an hour before I cut them. It’s not always convenient, but when I am making something that calls for SIX onions, it is the only way to keep my fingers safe!
How Long Does French Onion Soup Last?
This dairy-free Frenc Onion Soup is good in the fridge for up to four days. After that, you should transfer it to the freezer. Freeze in pint wide mouth canning jars for single-servings, and quart jars for family portions.
Make sure you leave 1 inch of headspace (space between the top of the food and the top of the jar) to allow for the soup to expand while freezing. It is recommended you only freeze in wide mouth jars.
How to Make Instant Pot Paleo French Onion Soup
*Detailed and printable recipe is available at the bottom of the post. Slow cooker instructions are down there too!
Melt the ghee using the Saute function on the Instant Pot, and add the onions and 1/4 tsp of kosher salt. Stir occasionally until browned (15-25 minutes). Some of the onions might stick a bit, but keep pushing everything around to deglaze the pot.
Add in the arrowroot and stir.
Add in the stock, coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar, thyme and bay leaf. Lock the lid into place and set the steam release handle (valve on top) to “Sealing”. Press Manual>High Pressure>10 minutes. <—–If you have any questions about those terms, check out this post on recipes for Instant Pot beginners.
Allow for 5 minutes of a natural release and then flip the valve to perform a quick release. Discard stems from the thyme and the bay leaf. Serve and try not to let the “mmmmmmm” sounds everyone is making distract you from your own bowl of soup.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- If you’re not Whole30/Paleo/dairy-free, feel free to add some grated cheese to the top of your bowl and soup and stick that bad boy under the broiler. Gruyere, provolone, and swiss are all yummy options.
- Use 1 tsp dried thyme instead of fresh.
- Not Whole30/Paleo/Gluten-free, you can sub in Worcestershire sauce for the coconut aminos, and all-purpose flour for the arrowroot powder.
- If you don’t eat beef you can use chicken bone broth in lieu of the beef stock.
More Whole30 + Paleo Soup Recipes
- Whole30 Tomato Soup {Whole30, Paleo, Dairy-Free, Keto, Vegan}
- Chipotle Instant Pot Turkey Chili {Whole30, Paleo, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free}
- Dairy-Free Chicken and Gnocchi Soup {this one is borderline paleo/Whole30 depending on your own rules}
- Whole30 Potato Soup {Whole30, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free}
- Whole30 Beef Stew
- Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth
Paleo French Onion Soup WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS
One serving of Instant Pot Paleo French Onion Soup has 4 WW Freestyle SmartPoints.
Making this recipe or others?
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Rich, comforting, and so full of flavor, this is the best Paleo French Onion soup you'll ever eat! It's perfect for Whole30, paleo, and dairy-free, diets.
- 6 onions thinly sliced
- 4 tbsp ghee
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 3 tbsp arrowroot powder
- 7 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
Press "Saute" and let the Instant Pot heat up for 2 minutes.
Melt the ghee and add the onions and 1/4 tsp of kosher salt. Stir occasionally until browned (15-25 minutes). Some of the onions might stick a bit, but keep pushing everything around to deglaze the pot.
Add in the arrowroot and stir.
Add in the stock, coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar, thyme and bay leaf. Lock the lid into place and set the steam release handle (valve on top) to “Sealing”. Press Manual>High Pressure>10 minutes.
Allow for 5 minutes of a natural release and then flip the valve to perform a quick release. Discard stems from the thyme and the bay leaf.
Combine ghee, onions, and kosher salt and cook on low for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.
Add in the arrowroot and stir.
Add in the stock, coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar, thyme and bay leaf. Turn slow cooker up to high and cook for an additional 1-2 hours.
Use 1 tsp dried thyme instead of fresh.
Not Whole30/Paleo/Gluten-free, you can sub in Worcestershire sauce for the coconut aminos, and all-purpose flour for the arrowroot powder.
If you don't eat beef you can use chicken bone broth in lieu of the beef stock.
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Is there something i can dub the ghee for to make it compatible to AIP? No dairy allowed in the elimination phase
How do they feel about vegan butter? I think that would give the best flavor.
This is AMAZING! It’s so silky and delicious.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Karen! It’s one of my favorites too. 🙂
I absolutely LOVE French Onion Soup but never want to use wine. This recipe looks perfect- thanks!
Me too Aisling! We don’t drink (just a personal choice) but when I have tried adding cooking wine to the soup, I didn’t enjoy the flavor.