The Best Instant Pot French Onion Pot Roast Recipe Ever

Savory aromas fill the kitchen when you craft this mouthwatering Instant pot French onion pot roast recipe that transforms an ordinary dinner into a gourmet experience.

Rich beef slowly simmers in caramelized onions and robust seasonings, creating tender meat that practically melts on your tongue.

Deep flavor layers emerge from each carefully selected ingredient, promising a hearty meal that comforts and satisfies.

Minimal prep work means maximum enjoyment, letting you spend less time cooking and more time relishing every delicious bite.

The Instant pot works its magic, infusing the roast with complex, harmonious tastes that will impress even the most discerning palate.

Juicy, succulent meat falls apart with the gentlest touch, revealing why this recipe has become a modern classic.

Prepare to elevate your dinner game with this irresistible, foolproof dish that brings restaurant-quality comfort directly to your table.

What Makes This French Onion Pot Roast Irresistible

• Prepare a gourmet-style roast with minimal hands-on time, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
• The layering method of ingredients ensures deep, rich flavors penetrate every bite, transforming a simple chuck roast into a restaurant-worthy dish with incredible taste.
• Streamline your cooking process by using an Instant Pot, which eliminates multiple pans and simplifies cleanup while delivering tender, succulent meat that falls apart effortlessly.
• Elevate classic pot roast with French onion-inspired elements, creating a sophisticated twist on a traditional family favorite that feels both nostalgic and exciting.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Onion Roast

• Chuck Roast: A flavorful and tender cut of beef perfect for slow cooking and shredding.

• Steak Seasoning, Kosher Salt: Essential spices that enhance the meat's natural flavor and create a delicious savory profile.

• Garlic, Onions, Bay Leaf: These ingredients build depth of flavor and create a rich, classic French onion taste base for the dish.

• Beef Broth, Better Than Bouillon, Cornstarch: These components create a rich, smooth gravy that adds moisture and intensity to the pot roast.

Step-by-Step for French Onion Pot Roast

Step 1: Prepare the Beef

Cut the chuck roast into bite-sized chunks.

Placing smaller pieces in the Instant Pot helps them cook more evenly and quickly, ensuring tender meat throughout.

Step 2: Season the Meat

Generously sprinkle steak seasoning and kosher salt over the beef chunks.

This crucial step builds a flavor foundation that will make every bite delicious.

Step 3: Layer the Aromatics

• Minced garlic
• Sliced onions

Spread the minced garlic across the seasoned meat, then cover with a generous layer of sliced onions.

These ingredients will create a rich, deeply flavored base for the roast.

Step 4: Add Liquid and Flavor Boosters

• Beef broth
• Better Than Bouillon
• Bay leaf

Pour beef broth into the Instant Pot, then add a spoonful of Better Than Bouillon and a bay leaf.

These ingredients will develop a complex, savory flavor profile.

Step 5: Pressure Cook the Roast

Secure the Instant Pot lid, ensuring the pressure release valve is set to “sealing.” Cook on manual high pressure for 60 minutes.

This low-and-slow method guarantees melt-in-your-mouth tender meat.

Step 6: Natural Pressure Release

Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 25 minutes.

This gentle process helps maintain the meat’s tenderness and prevents it from becoming tough.

Step 7: Finish and Thicken the Sauce

Remove the bay leaf and shred the meat using two forks.

Create a cornstarch slurry by mixing beef broth with cornstarch.

Activate the sauté function and stir the slurry into the cooking liquid, cooking until the gravy thickens and becomes glossy.

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

Drizzle the rich, luxurious gravy over the shredded beef.

The result is a comforting, flavor-packed meal that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Tips for Tender and Flavorful Pot Roast

• Cut chuck roast into 10 even chunks to ensure uniform cooking and maximum flavor absorption throughout the dish.
• Sprinkle steak seasoning and kosher salt generously over beef chunks before cooking to guarantee every bite tastes incredible.
• Layer sliced onions carefully to help them break down completely, creating a rich, classic French onion taste and transforming the broth.
• Allow natural pressure release for 25 minutes after cooking to maintain meat tenderness, preventing tough and dry protein results.
• Create a smooth cornstarch slurry by whisking beef broth and cornstarch together, then stir into hot liquid to develop a silky, restaurant-quality sauce.

Keeping and Warming Up French Onion Roast

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The meat will stay moist and flavorful when sealed properly.
• Transfer cooled pot roast to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 3 months. Label with the date for easy tracking.
• Place shredded meat in a microwave-safe dish. Add a splash of beef broth to prevent drying. Cover with a damp paper towel. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until warmed through.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Place meat in a baking dish, drizzle with reserved gravy. Cover tightly with foil. Warm for 20-25 minutes until heated completely. This method helps maintain the meat's tenderness and original flavor.

Tasty Pairings for Pot Roast

• Savor Robust Red Wine Pairing: Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah perfectly complement the rich, savory beef with their bold tannins and deep fruit notes.
• Create Creamy Comfort Side: Smooth mashed potatoes or buttery polenta provide an excellent base that soaks up the delicious French onion gravy.
• Brighten with Fresh Contrast: Crisp arugula salad with light vinaigrette cuts through the meat's heaviness, adding refreshing balance to the hearty dish.
• Match Rustic Bread Option: Crusty sourdough or garlic-rubbed baguette slices work wonderfully for dipping into the flavorful gravy and absorbing extra sauce.

Fun Variations for French Onion Pot Roast

• Gluten-Free French Onion Pot Roast: Replace cornstarch with arrowroot powder or potato starch to create a gluten-free thickening agent for the gravy.
• Low-Sodium French Onion Pot Roast: Swap regular steak seasoning with a salt-free herb blend and use low-sodium beef broth to reduce overall salt content while maintaining robust flavor.
• Keto-Friendly French Onion Pot Roast: Skip cornstarch entirely and use xanthan gum as a minimal-carb thickener. Add extra butter or heavy cream to increase fat content for ketogenic requirements.
• Slow Cooker Alternative: Transform this Instant Pot recipe into a traditional slow cooker method by cooking on low for 8-10 hours or high for 6-7 hours, maintaining the same ingredient proportions and seasoning techniques.

FAQs

• What makes French onion pot roast different from regular pot roast?

This recipe uses classic French onion flavor profiles with caramelized onions, intense beef broth, and a rich gravy that creates deeper, more complex taste compared to traditional pot roasts.

• Can I use a different cut of beef for this recipe?

Chuck roast works best because it’s tender and has enough fat marbling to create a succulent, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Other tough cuts like bottom round or brisket can also work, but chuck roast delivers the most consistent results.

• Do I need special equipment to make this recipe?

An Instant Pot is required for this specific method. While you could adapt the recipe for slow cooker or oven, the Instant Pot ensures faster cooking and helps meat become extremely tender in just one hour.

• How do I know the meat is perfectly cooked?

The meat should shred easily with forks and have a soft, tender texture. The natural pressure release helps prevent the meat from becoming tough, so follow the recipe’s instructions carefully for best results.

Instant Pot French Onion Pot Roast Recipe

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4.7 from 16 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty French onion pot roast delivers rich, caramelized onion goodness straight from your instant pot. Tender beef melts with savory depth, promising a comforting meal you’ll savor with every delicious bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 3 pounds boneless beef chuck roast (cut into 10 chunks)
• 2 large white or yellow onions (sliced)
• 1 ½ cups reduced-sodium beef broth (divided)

Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:

• 3 tablespoons steak seasoning
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tablespoon Better Than Beef Bouillon
• 1 bay leaf

Thickening Agent:

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

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Instructions

1. Transform chuck roast into 10 bite-sized chunks to guarantee uniform cooking and enhanced flavor absorption within the Instant Pot.
2. Generously coat meat pieces with robust steak seasoning and kosher salt, ensuring comprehensive flavor penetration throughout the protein.
3. Distribute minced garlic across seasoned meat, then blanket with thinly sliced onions to develop classic French onion essence and aromatic depth.
4. Introduce beef broth and concentrated Better Than Bouillon, complementing the liquid with a single bay leaf to elevate overall taste profile.
5. Secure Instant Pot lid, positioning pressure release valve to “sealing” mode, then program for high-pressure cooking at 60 minutes for tender meat preparation.
6. Allow natural pressure reduction over 25 minutes, enabling gradual meat relaxation and preventing potential toughening from rapid decompression.
7. Extract bay leaf, then delicately shred meat using two forks. Create cornstarch slurry by whisking remaining broth, then activate “sauté” function to thicken gravy for approximately 2 minutes.
8. Present succulent shredded beef adorned with rich, velvety gravy, ready for immediate serving and enjoyment.

Notes

• Choose a well-marbled chuck roast for maximum tenderness and rich flavor during pressure cooking.
• Cut meat into uniform chunks to ensure even cooking and faster heat penetration throughout the roast.
• Use fresh, high-quality onions and slice them thinly to help them break down completely and create a deeply caramelized sauce base.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 380
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 640mg
• Fat: 20g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 12g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 38g
• Cholesterol: 100mg