French Onion Chicken/Mushroom Soup…. IP..perfect for the Duo Crisp or Pro.

Ohhhh Yeah! Delicious. My cheese melted after the photo shoot?.
Check out my other French Onion Recipe Links.
French Onion Soup IP and Sirloin Tri Tip Roast for French Dip.
French Onion Pork Soup or French Dip Sandwich IP.
French Dip Sandwiches.
Roast….Sirloin Tip IP and French Dip Sandwiches

This Recipe is super easy.
If you have the Air fryer Lids to any of the Instant Pots, you are going to love using it with this Recipe PRIOR to using the pressure cooking Lid.
Also, if you have any Pork Broth from drippings, then use that, but if not then use Chicken Broth.

INGREDIENTS FOR ASSEMBLING
4 Pieces Low Carb Bread or Baguette type of Bread. 1 1/2” think. You will stack 2 of the Low Carb Bread slices per Bowl.
English Muffins, Hoagies, Mini French Breads, Ciabatta will all work for you.
2-4 slices Room temp Monterey Jack Cheese, Muenster, Swiss, Gruyere (works best) or, Provalove, if you don’t have either, and do have Mozzerella Sticks or freshly grated, you can use that. (I don’t use pre-grated because the anti caking agent in it will not allow for the Cheese to melt well.). Set aside.

INGREDIENTS FOR THE SOUP.. In order, to the Instant Pot 8 q Duo Crisp plus Air Fryer, Add:
2 thinly sliced Vidallia Onions.
1/2 large Sweet Onion, thinly sliced
1 box of sliced Crimini Mushrooms
1 cup Pork Broth. (Use Chicken if you don’t have it)
1 Tbsp Reduced sodium Better than Bullion Chicken
1/2 c Chardonnay * ( a dry wine will, tone down any sweetness from the onions).
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 Tsp Pepper
2 Tbsp Butter.
4 larger sized Bone in Skin on Chicken Thighs

*note, if you don’t want to use Chardonnay, you can use 1 tsp Sushi Rice Vinegar and 1/2 c Chicken Broth. Or if you don’t want the sweetness of the onions, use a dry white wine.

I usually sear the Chicken until nice and brown using a frying pan BUT, if you don’t have the air fryer lid, sear them for about 5 min per side until nice and brown and continue from there, load some of the onions, then the chicken and then more onions on top so everything is in the pot. Set the time for 4 min and allow 30 min NPR.
Skip the next paragraph and move on to remove the Chicken from the Pot and turn the pot off and back on to Sauté Hi.

If you DO have the Air Fryer lid to your IP, then your gonna love this feature. Instead of searing Chicken in a fry pan or the Pot, the air fryer lid will work on the Thighs BEFORE pressure cooking. )
After adding all the Onions and all the other ingredients into the pot, with the Chicken on top, skin side up, put the Air Fryer Lid on the IP and hit air fry 400° for 15 min. When it was done, take the lid off and switch it out for the Pressure lid. Set the time on the Pot for 4 min and leave it to NPR for 30. It will be Perfect Chicken.

PREHEAT OVEN TO 130°-150° if it goes that low (if not, 200° for 5 min and turn off…don’t forget it!)

*Either way you have chosen to cook the Chicken, at this point.. Toast your bread, butter it and and keep it warm. you can set it in a bowl and keep both warm in an Oven at 130°

Remove the Chicken and turn the Pot off and back on to Sauté HI.. leave it go for about 10 min to reduce the Broth while you remove the skin from the Meat and then the Meat from the Bones . Break it up into bite sized pieces but don’t shred it .
Taste the Soup and at this point add more Salt or Pepper and or Better than Bullion.
Toast your Bread. Butter it . Put a slice of Cheese on it and Set it in a Bowl. Set aside into a preheated warm 130° ish Oven…see pic (not so hot that it kills the Cheese)
Now your Soup is reduced, so add the Chicken back into the Pot and let it re-heat to nice and hot…barely to a boil.
Turn the pot off. If you think it will need it, then turn the pot back on to Keep Warm.
Ladle some of the Soup onto the toast, then add some more Cheese….
Here is where you can put it under the Broiler for a couple minutes or…..just spoon Broth with a bit more Chicken onto the Cheese to get it melting.
Make sure to use enough broth to soak well into the Bread.
Hits the spot.?

I use about 2/3 of the small single serve Bottles of Chardonnay
This is the result using the Air Fryer lid Vs browning in the frying pan…the result is less handling of the Chicken. This was 12 min …I recommend 15.
This is after pressure cooking and NPR…notice the amount of liquid.
To reduce the soup, turn the pot off and back on to Sauté Hi for about 10-15 min.
Remove the Skin and bones from the Chicken, and break it up into bite sized type pieces. Do not shread.
Soup has been reduced.
Rich broth!
add the Chicken back into the Broth
bring the Soup to a Boil and then turn the Pot Off so that the Chicken doesn’t over cook. You can turn the pot to Keep Warm if you want.
Ready to serve.
This is another batch… toast, butter, add cheese and keep warm in 130° oven, just warm enough so that the cheese doesn’t melt too much.

No Potato, Potato Salad. Low Carb

In this recipe I use Cauliflower AND a package of Shiritake Noodles. It can also be made substituting the Shiritake Noodles for Cauliflower.

NOTE: Disclaimer. Some people have reported gastrointestinal issues when consuming Shiritake noodles. Use your own discretion. Do not consume 4 packages (3 servings ea) like someone did..that individual ended up in the hospital.
Many people also experience intestinal upset with things like kidney beans due to the lectins which can be toxic to some. I have also heard reports of people experiencing gastrointestinal upset when using OLEAN and products that are cooked in it.
If you are sensitive to the Shiritake Yam Noodle, (miracle Noodles) then substitute the Noodles for 2- 1” thick slices of Cauliflower . It will still be delicious and low carb.

Don’t Crucify me on this one!?
It’s weird, yes, but guess what… It works…… for us anyway since we are trying to do low carb. If your like us and miss Potato Salad and Macaroni Salad, then maybe this is a solution for you too.
My motto, enough Mayo and anything is good right..
Just kidding.
It doesn’t take any more than normal Potato Salad.
The twists are Cauliflower….(no big surprise on that right)
But that’s not all.. the real surprise is the UNCOOKED Shiritake Noodles, chopped up a bit fine bit not as fine as rice.? who woulda thunk!
Soo, no Potatoes, Potato salad….everything else is the same, Mayo, scallion, eggs, celery salt and pepper.

Makes about 4 cups

1 pkg Shiritake Noodles, drained, rinsed and drained again really well. and wrung out between paper towel lined regular kitchen towel.
1 c ish chopped celery
1/4 tsp celery seed
2 small scallions chopped
1/3- 1/2 c Mayo…ish
Salt and pepper to taste
2-3 boiled eggs chopped
1 tsp Parsley chopped fine
Paprika to taste sprinkle on top.
1” slice of cauliflower cooked in the IP for 1 min QR Chopped up like potato pieces.


If you don’t have an IP (Instant Pot) you can steam the Cauliflower for a couple minutes or just microwave it for about 1 min till it still has a little crunch. Or blanch it’s for a couple min..
You do need to taste it and add more salt and pepper.
Here is my Original recipe for reference.. tweek it as you like.

Pierogies.. Deconstructed..Easy IP and Air Fryer.

Who would think that Noodles/Dumplings mixed with Mashed Potatoes and Cheese could be so good! Much like Mac n Cheese in a sense, as it is pure comfort food is perfect to serve with Beef, Chicken or Pork Ribs. Deconstructed makes a day long process fast, easy and with the addition of using Instant Mashed Potatoes is perfect for when you just want to make things super no brainer simple.
[It would also be easy to just make real mashed potatoes and noodles together in the Instant Pot as PIP. This particular recipe is for simple Simon, ….but in that case, You would just do the Noodles in the bottom with their liquid and the Potatoes in a lotus steamer at the same time. 4 min is the perfect amount of time to cook both. You could be mashing up your potatoes while the noodles soak up the rest of the broth. ]

This is the simple recipe.
Makes 2 large servings

1-single serve cup of Instant Mashed Potatoes. Regular Butter flavor
1 Tbsp Butter for the Potatoes
About 1/2 c Half and Half (Enough to fill to here line plus a Tbsp)
2 scallions Chopped.
3/4 c grated Cheese divided…(1/2 c and 1/4 c)

4 Oz Wide or spiral Egg Noodles.
1 1/2 c Water.
1 tsp Low Sodium Better than Bullion Chicken .
Pepper to taste.
1 Tbsp Butter (yes more.. this is for the noodles)

Pour the 1 1/2 c Water into the Instant Pot stainless liner, and add 1 of the Tbsp of Butter, the Noodles and Better than Bullion low sodium Chicken .
Use a small 2 cup stainless steel bowl or something that fits in the pot as PIP (pot in pot).
Add your trivet (preferably long legged), right down in with the Noodles, Water, and bullion.
Take the Cup of instant Mashed Potatoes and fill it with Half and Half to the fill to here line plus add a Tbsp more, add the Butter, Cheese and Scallions, and stir just to mix together. Pour that mixture into a small stainless steel bowl suitable for PIP (pot in pot). Fit the small bowl down onto the trivet as shown.
set the time for 4 min and then allow for 2 min NPR. Remove the Mash Potatoes and stir the Noodles…if they have not absorbed all of the liquid, put the Potatoes back in, and just set the lid back on for a couple of minutes more so the Noodles absorb liquid.
Take out 1/2 cup of the Noodles out. Dont use these. Set aside to use later, or give them to a kid?
At this point, you can just gently fold/mix the Potatoes together with the Noodles and sprinkle with Pepper, add the 1/4 c grated Cheese on top and serve immediately.
OR.
Butter 2 individual sized oven proof bowls or small Au gratin dishes.
Split the Deconstructed Pierogies between the two dishes. Sprinkle the 1/4 c cheese between the two as well. Place under the Broiler for about 5 min until cheese is melted, and the tops are slightly browned. Garnish with Pepper, and or Parsley and serve immediately.

You can also make these early, dish up into individual servings, cover and refrigerate for later. Just pull them out and place in a preheated 400°-425° Oven or Air Fryer for 10 min, uncover, check for doneness, turn Oven or Air Fryer to Broil and Broil until brown and bubbly.

Make sure to add the Cheese. (Not shown)
Mix the Cheese in to the Potato mixture.
the Noodles may need a little time to soak up the liquid after they are cooked.
Don’t over mix.
Gently fold Noodles into Potatoes.
This is how I like to serve them but you can serve right out of the pot.
The last 1/4 c bit of cheese can be sprinkled right on top before serving out of the pot, or like this before setting them under the broiler or Air Fryer.

To reheat in the Duo Crisp or Oven..turn and Preheat to 400° Bake or Roast.
bake for 10 min and then turn it off and back on to Air fry or Broil, and let them brown for 5 min more.. until the cheese is melted and turning Brown. The temp should be bubbly hot.