If you’re a fan of French onion soup, just wait until you try this French onion pasta! I’m obsessed with this incredible mashup!
Caramelized onions get simmered with garlic, thyme, and white wine. Then, they’re tossed with rigatoni in a creamy, cheesy sauce you’ll love. It’s a bowl of pure coziness!
And even though it tastes totally decadent, it’s so easy to make.
I love curling up with a big bowl of this pasta when I need some TLC!
Why You’ll Love This French Onion Pasta
I adore this dish for so many reasons. Here are just a few:
- Pure Comfort: It’s the ultimate cozy satisfying meal. It warms you from the inside out.
- One-Pot Wonder: It comes together in a single pot, so cleanup is a breeze!
- Viral Sensation: This dish went viral on TikTok. See what all the hype is about!
- Affordable Luxury: It’s made with simple, inexpensive ingredients, yet it feels like a splurge.
Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need to make this pasta:
- Rigatoni or Other Short Pasta: Ridged pasta captures the rich sauce best.
- Butter: The creamy foundation of the dish.
- Olive Oil: It’s used with butter to saute the onions.
- Yellow Onions: They form the flavorful backbone of the dish.
- Garlic, Fresh Thyme Leaves, Salt, and Pepper: It’s the perfect flavor blend for the sauce.
- Dry White Wine: It deglazes the pan and adds acidity to balance the richness.
- Worcestershire Sauce: It brings an umami depth to the sauce.
- Low-Sodium Beef Broth: The base of the tasty sauce.
- Heavy Cream: It helps create a luxurious, velvety texture.
- Gruyère Cheese: It brings the classic French onion soup flavor.
- Chopped Fresh Parsley, for Garnish: To add a pop of color and extra flavor.
How to Make French Onion Pasta
Don’t be intimidated by this dish! It’s actually pretty simple. Just follow these steps:
- Caramelize the onions. Melt the butter and olive oil in a large pot. Add the sliced onions and salt, and cook until deeply caramelized, about 30-40 minutes.
- Add the aromatics. Stir in the garlic, thyme, and white wine. Simmer until the wine is mostly evaporated.
- Cook the pasta. Add the Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, water, and pasta to the pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the pasta is al dente and the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- Finish the dish. Turn off the heat and stir in the heavy cream and Gruyère cheese until melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot. Garnish the French onion pasta with chopped parsley and extra Gruyère. Serve immediately.
Tips for the Best French Onion Pasta
These tips take this pasta over the top!
- Go low and slow. Take your time caramelizing the onions over low heat. It can take up to 40 minutes.
- Preserve your pasta water. Reserve some before draining in case you need to thin the sauce.
- Splurge on the cheese. Opt for high-quality cheese for the best flavor and texture in the dish.
- Give it a finishing touch. If desired, place the finished pasta under the broiler for a few minutes. It’ll give you a golden-brown, bubbly cheese topping.
- Try some fun variations. Try adding cooked chicken, bacon, or mushrooms. Use vegetable broth and skip the dairy to make it vegan. Or experiment with different pasta shapes.
How to Store
If you have leftover pasta, you can enjoy it at a later date with these storage tips:
To Store: Keep the pasta in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
It’ll absorb the sauce as it sits, so you may need to add a splash of broth or water when reheating.
To Freeze: Let the dish cool completely. Then, transfer to freezer-safe containers or bags, removing as much air as possible before sealing.
You can freeze French onion pasta for up to 3 months. However, the texture of the pasta and sauce will change once thawed and reheated.
To Reheat: Gently rewarm in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally and add a bit of broth or water to loosen the sauce if needed.
You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds.
More Pasta Dinners You’ll Love
Broccoli Cheddar Mac and Cheese
Rattlesnake Pasta
Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
Easy Pasta Primavera
French Onion Pasta
6
servings10
minutes55
minutes475
kcalThis delicious French onion pasta is too good to miss! It’s a creamy, one-pot meal the entire family will love.
Ingredients
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
3 cups low-sodium beef broth
1 cup water
12 oz rigatoni or other short pasta
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Melt the butter with the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and 1 tsp salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are very soft and deeply caramelized, about 30-40 minutes.
- Add the garlic and thyme and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits. Let simmer until the wine is mostly evaporated.
- Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, water, and pasta. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, until the pasta is al dente, and the liquid is mostly absorbed about 15 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the heavy cream and Gruyère until the cheese is melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve the French onion pasta hot, garnished with chopped parsley and extra Gruyère if desired.
Can you please recommend a wine for cooking?
Hi, Sandra!
I typically just use a nice Pinot Grigio. 🙂