French Onion Pasta

When you crave the rich flavor of French onion soup but don’t really want soup, French onion pasta is a delicious compromise. Everything happens in one pot: caramelizing the onions, cooking the pasta and finishing the dish with melted cheese. That’s a lot of flavor and a filling meal—with just one dish to wash!

This French onion pasta recipe is one of our tastiest one-pot pasta recipes that could be served as a pasta side with meaty main dishes or even on its own as an entree.

What is French onion pasta?

French onion pasta is a viral internet dish that captures the flavor of classic French onion soup by beginning with deeply caramelized onions. The recipe also includes flavorful ingredients like beef broth, thyme and white wine. Typical pasta methods call for cooking the pasta separately in boiling water, but in this recipe, the noodles are cooked with the other ingredients. That means every bite of the pasta is infused with the rich flavors.

French Onion Pasta Ingredients

• Yellow onions: This common onion is a good choice for caramelizing, although sweet onions are sometimes used. Regardless of the type of onion you choose, they should be sliced into thin rings.
• Olive oil: The best olive oil brands for sauteing don’t need to break the bank. Use your favorite high-quality one to slowly cook the onions.
• Butter: When melted and blended with the olive oil, butter adds flavor and color to the caramelized onions.
• Minced garlic: If you don’t have a garlic press, you can easily mince fresh garlic for this recipe with a kitchen knife or a mini food processor.
• Fresh thyme: Look for sprigs of fresh herbs in the produce aisle. Better yet, plant an easy kitchen garden now for vibrant herbs anytime you want them.
• White wine: Choose a dry white wine like pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc to add acidity and flavor to this French onion pasta recipe.
• Beef broth: Beef broth is a classic ingredient in French onion soup. Store-brand or homemade beef broth, instead of salted water, is used as the cooking liquid for the pasta in this recipe.
• Sherry vinegar: If sherry vinegar isn’t available, substitute other types of vinegar such as red wine, rice or champagne vinegar.
• Seasonings: There are so many flavorful ingredients in this recipe, that only salt and pepper are necessary.
• Gruyere cheese: This creamy, nutty Swiss cheese variety is the traditional kind used to top French onion soup. It’s one of the best cheeses for melting, making it perfect for this French onion pasta recipe.
• Orecchiette: This pasta name means “little ears” in Italian. The cup shape of tiny orecchiette pasta scoops up the sauce and onions in every bite.
• Half-and-half cream: A splash of half-and-half cream near the end of the cooking time gives this pasta dish a creamy finish. Heavy whipping cream will also work in a pinch.
• Worcestershire sauce: A little Worcestershire sauce deepens the savory flavor of French onion pasta, since it’s made with anchovies and tamarind.

Directions

Step 1: Caramelize the onions

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Heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat in a large stock pot or Dutch oven. When the butter is melted, add the thinly sliced onions and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and toss everything together. Reduce the heat to medium-low and slowly cook the onions for about 25 to 30 minutes, stirring often until they’re cooked down and a deep caramel brown color.

Step 2: Deglaze the pot

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Stir in the minced garlic and fresh thyme leaves and cook for one to two minutes. Then, pour in the white wine. Simmer it with the onions for another minute or two, stirring and scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

Step 3: Add the pasta and stock

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Add the remaining salt, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper to the pan, then add the orecchiette pasta. Pour in enough of the beef stock to just cover the pasta, and set the rest aside. Raise the heat to medium. Simmer the pasta, stirring often to keep it from sticking to the bottom.

Step 4: Cook the pasta

Once the liquid is fully absorbed, stir in an additional splash of beef stock. Continue to simmer and add more beef stock little by little until the orecchiette is cooked to al dente, about 10 to 13 minutes.

Editor’s Tip: The pasta is cooked risotto-style: Add more broth little by little, then let the pasta cook and absorb liquid before adding more. This method results in tender pasta with a sauce that’s creamy instead of soupy. If you run out of beef broth, add water a little at a time to finish cooking the pasta.

Step 5: Finish the sauce

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Stir in the sherry vinegar. Pour the warmed half-and-half into a liquid measuring cup and add a scoop of the pasta liquid to it to temper it.Stir the cream mixture back into the pasta. Simmer the orecchiette for another 30 seconds, then pull the pan off the heat when the pasta is saucy, but not liquidy.

Step 6: Add cheese and serve

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Stir the shredded Gruyere cheese into the pasta until it’s melted. Spoon the pasta into shallow serving bowls and garnish it with fresh thyme leaves and black pepper. Serve it while it’s hot.

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French Onion Pasta Variations

• Try other pasta shapes: While we like cup-shaped orecchiette, French onion pasta can also be made with short types of pasta like rigatoni, rotini or shells.
• Use a vegetable broth: Make a vegetarian French onion pasta by using boxed or homemade vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
• Add mushrooms: Add sliced cremini or oyster mushrooms to the caramelized onions and saute them for several minutes before deglazing the pan. This will add a little more heartiness to the dish.

How to Store French Onion Pasta

Leftover French onion pasta can be stored for several more days of deliciousness. Let the pasta cool completely, then transfer it to a tightly sealed glass storage container. Store the pasta in the fridge.

How long does French onion pasta last?

When chilled in an airtight container, your French onion pasta will last for up to four days.

How do you reheat French onion pasta?

You can reheat French onion pasta in a pan over medium heat. Add a splash of beef broth or water to help loosen it up. Gently stir the pasta, onions and sauce for several minutes until it’s heated through. You can also reheat the pasta in a loosely covered dish in the microwave. Heat it in 30-second bursts, stirring each time until the pasta is warm.

French Onion Pasta Tips

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What can you serve with French onion pasta?

The beefy, savory flavor of one-pot French onion pasta makes it a versatile recipe that can serve as a side or even as a co-star to your main dish. Try sides of French onion pasta with roast beef or glazed meatloaf. To turn the pasta into the main part of the meal, top portions with sliced, cooked kielbasa, smoked sausage or steak kabobs.

How do you keep orecchiette from sticking together?

Because of their cup shape, orecchiette tend to stick together during cooking, and those clumps can end up undercooked. One way to keep pasta from sticking together is to run your hands through the dry pasta before adding it to the cooking liquid to break apart any clumps. During cooking, watch for stuck-together pieces; when you see them, use a large spoon to break them apart.