Peel and slice onions to about 1/8-inch thick — thin enough to cook quickly, thick enough to avoid scorching. Yellow or Spanish onions work best. Limit to 2 large onions per 12-inch Skillet to prevent steaming. Have your fat ready and keep a splash of water, broth, or wine nearby to deglaze if needed.

Heat a Skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add butter, oil, or a mix and let it shimmer. Add sliced onions in large handfuls, stirring for 1–2 minutes per batch until they begin to soften — this prevents overcrowding. Once all onions are in, season with a pinch of salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring every few minutes, for 8–12 minutes total until soft, translucent, and lightly golden. To speed up softening, add 1/4 to ½ cup water or broth and cover; steam wilts the onions in a few minutes. Remove the lid once liquid evaporates and continue cooking uncovered. If the pan looks dry, deglaze with a splash of water, broth, or wine, scraping up any browned bits. Don't crank the heat — high heat burns the outside before the onions cook through.

Peel and slice onions to about 1/8-inch thick — thin enough to cook quickly, thick enough to avoid scorching. Yellow or Spanish onions work best. Limit to 2 large onions per 12-inch Skillet to prevent steaming. Have your fat ready and keep a splash of water, broth, or wine nearby to deglaze if needed.

Heat a Skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add butter, oil, or a mix and let it shimmer. Add sliced onions in large handfuls, stirring for 1–2 minutes per batch until they begin to soften — this prevents overcrowding. Once all onions are in, season with a pinch of salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring every few minutes, for 8–12 minutes total until soft, translucent, and lightly golden. To speed up softening, add 1/4 to ½ cup water or broth and cover; steam wilts the onions in a few minutes. Remove the lid once liquid evaporates and continue cooking uncovered. If the pan looks dry, deglaze with a splash of water, broth, or wine, scraping up any browned bits. Don't crank the heat — high heat burns the outside before the onions cook through.

Secure the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to Sealing. Select Pressure Cook (or Manual) on High Pressure and set the timer for 3 minutes. The pot will take about 8–10 minutes to come to pressure before the countdown begins.