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french onion pasta recipe

🧅 French Onion Pasta Recipe Card

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings: 5 servings
Calories: 540
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 large yellow onions thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tsp fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried
  • ½ cup dry white wine optional, can use extra broth
  • 4 cups beef broth low sodium recommended
  • 1 lb pasta rigatoni, penne, or fusilli work well
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 ½ cups shredded Gruyère cheese or Swiss
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh parsley chopped (for garnish)

Method
 

Caramelize Onions:
  1. Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add onions, sugar, and salt. Cook slowly, stirring often, until deep golden brown and caramelized (about 20–25 minutes).
Flavor Base: Stir in garlic and thyme. Cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Deglaze with white wine (if using), scraping up browned bits.
    Cook Pasta: While onions cook, boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
      Make Sauce: Add beef broth to the caramelized onions. Simmer 5 minutes. Stir in heavy cream, Gruyère, and Parmesan until smooth and cheesy.
      1. Combine: Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat, adding splashes of reserved pasta water if needed for creaminess.
      Serve: Garnish with parsley and extra cheese. Serve hot, with crusty bread for the ultimate comfort food experience.

        Notes

        Caramelizing onions low and slow is key — don’t rush this step.
        Use Gruyère for that authentic French onion flavor, but mozzarella or Swiss can work too.
        For a “baked French onion soup” vibe, transfer pasta to a baking dish, top with extra cheese, and broil until bubbly.
        Add mushrooms or shredded beef for extra heartiness.