French Onion Pasta Bake (Printable)

Cheesy baked pasta with caramelized onions and a creamy, aromatic sauce for a cozy meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 10.5 oz short pasta such as rigatoni or penne

→ Onions

02 - 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon sugar
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Flavorings

08 - 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
09 - 1/2 cup dry white wine
10 - 2 cups low-sodium beef or vegetable broth
11 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
12 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Sauce and Cheese

13 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
14 - 1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
15 - 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
16 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Topping

17 - 1/3 cup grated Gruyère cheese
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish measuring approximately 8x12 inches.
02 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water for 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter with olive oil. Add onions, salt, and sugar. Cook, stirring frequently, for 20 to 25 minutes until deep golden and caramelized.
04 - Add minced garlic and thyme to the caramelized onions. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Pour in dry white wine, scraping the bottom of the skillet to deglaze. Cook until wine reduces by half, approximately 3 minutes.
06 - Stir in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes. Season with freshly ground black pepper to taste.
07 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and remove from heat.
08 - In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, caramelized onion mixture, Gruyère cheese, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Mix thoroughly.
09 - Pour pasta mixture into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining Gruyère cheese over the top.
10 - Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden and bubbling.
11 - Allow dish to rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The deep, sweet caramel from slow-cooked onions transforms simple pasta into something restaurant-worthy.
  • It's a one-dish dinner that feels fancy enough to impress but honest enough to make on a Tuesday night.
02 -
  • Don't skip the caramelization step by turning up the heat, it's the foundation of this entire dish and rushing ruins it.
  • Undercooking the pasta is crucial because it finishes cooking in the oven, and mushy pasta will ruin everything else you've worked for.
03 -
  • Toast fresh thyme briefly in the butter before adding onions to deepen its flavor and make it sing.
  • Use Gruyère as your primary cheese, it's the one that makes this taste refined rather than ordinary.
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