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This French onion pasta puts the sweet, bold, savory flavors of French onion soup into a cheesy, creamy comfort food. All cooked in one pot for easy indulgence!
Forget the mac and cheese and go for something exciting this week—yes, this week!
This French onion soup pasta recipe is so easy, you can pull it off even on a busy weeknight.
Enjoy the deep, rich flavors of French onion soup in a one-pot pasta dish.
The only hard part?
Waiting for the onions to caramelize!
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Big flavor, no extra dishes!
Our Dutch oven chicken pot pie and Instant Pot spaghetti and meatballs prove that one-pot meals can satisfy your cravings with minimal mess.
Why You’ll Love This French Onion Soup Pasta Recipe
- This French onion pasta is one of those pasta dinners you can make on a hectic weeknight or when the kitchen is busy during the holidays. It’s all done in one pot and doesn’t need constant attention!
- This one pot French onion soup pasta recipe brings together the cheesy, savory, and sweet flavors of French onion soup in a creamy, cozy pasta dish.
- This creamy onion pasta can be packed with extras or adjusted with your favorite cheese, pasta, or seasonings.
Ingredients
Yellow onions – Remember to cook your onions slowly until golden brown!
Unsalted butter – This adds richness and helps the onions caramelize.
White wine and dry sherry – To bring out the classic flavor of traditional French onion soup.
Rigatoni – Use any pasta shape that will catch all that rich, creamy sauce.
Beef broth and Worcestershire sauce – The savory foundation of this easy French onion pasta. You can also use vegetable broth.
Heavy cream – Adds body to the sauce.
Parmesan cheese – Read on to see other types of cheese that work well in this easy French onion soup pasta!
Salt and black pepper – Feel free to customize your French onion soup pasta recipe with your favorite herbs, spices, and seasonings.
Fresh thyme – Fresh is best for that earthy flavor that balances the sweetness of the French onion pasta.
Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Creamy Onion Pasta
Cheese
Who says one-pot meals can’t feel fancy?
For this one-pot French onion pasta recipe, try stirring in gruyere cheese or burrata cheese for extra sophistication!
Pasta
This creamy French onion pasta recipe is a comfort food you can easily tweak. Besides rigatoni, shells, or penne pasta work just as well.
Add-Ins
Turn this one-pot French onion pasta recipe into a low-effort special dinner by adding mix-ins like crispy prosciutto on top or sliced cremini mushrooms stirred into the sauce to complement the slow-caramelized onions.
Tips For Making This Recipe
Use Yellow Onions
This French onion soup pasta recipe is best made with yellow onions. They caramelize beautifully without turning mushy or scorching too quickly!
Be Patient
Cook your onions low and slow. Caramelization takes at least 30 minutes, and rushing the process can leave you with bitter, burnt onions.
Stir Occasionally
Stir the onions occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot. If needed, add a tablespoon of water to loosen them and lift up any browned bits.
One Pot French Onion Pasta Recipe FAQs
Why is my one-pot French onion pasta too watery, and how do I fix it?
If your French onion soup pasta is a bit watery, let it simmer uncovered for a few minutes to thicken the sauce.
Which type of white wine to use in this French onion soup pasta recipe?
Just like in a classic French onion soup, the best wine for this creamy pasta dish is dry white wine. You can’t go wrong with Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to balance the sweetness of the caramelized onions!
How to caramelize onions without burning them?
The trickiest part of this creamy French onion pasta recipe is making sure the onions don’t darken too quickly and start sticking to the pot. Keep the heat low, add a splash of broth to loosen the fond, and use a wide pot so the onions cook evenly and caramelize at the right pace.
Can you caramelize the onions in advance?
Absolutely. If you want to jumpstart this French onion pasta recipe, caramelize the onions up to 3 days ahead, then let them cool and refrigerate until you are ready to use them.
How to store French onion pasta?
This is the ultimate comfort food to add to your weeknight dinner rotation! Just transfer the pasta to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. To reheat, add a splash of broth and warm it on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Freezing is not recommended for this creamy onion pasta since the sauce can split once thawed!
More Delicious Lazy Dinners
- Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Skillet Bacon Mac and Cheese
- Instant Pot Chicken Bites
- Chicken Teriyaki Pineapple Bowl
- Marry Me Chicken
I found this recipe for One Pot Braised Beef that I HAVE to try!
Yay! You have made it this far, and I am so glad! Hey – If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below.
French Onion Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 large yellow onions, sliced thinly
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1/4 cup dry sherry
- 1 lb rigatoni
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan (plus extra for serving)
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Fresh thyme
Instructions
- Gather all your ingredients.
- Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the sliced onions and cook until softened, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the onions until they caramelize, about 30 minutes. Stir from time to time so they do not burn or stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Pour in the white wine and sherry. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes, scraping up the flavorful bits from the bottom of the pot as the wine reduces slightly.
- Add the pasta, broth, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and thyme. Stir everything together and bring it to a boil.
- Give the pot one more stir, then reduce the heat. Cover and simmer until the pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and remove the thyme sprigs.
- Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan until the pasta is creamy and well combined.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Serve warm with extra thyme and Parmesan on top. Enjoy your French onion pasta!
Notes
- Do not stir the onions too often so they can caramelize nicely. Stir them every few minutes just to keep them from burning. But if the onions start to burn, lower the heat and add a bit of water.
- The onions are perfectly caramelized once they’re jammy. They will also go from translucent to deep amber in color.Â
- When deglazing the pot, it’s important to remove the bits at the bottom because they can burn and ruin the taste of your French onion pasta. Interestingly, once you loosen these bits, they will also enhance the flavor of your dish!
Nutrition
PIN FOR LATER!
