Description
A comforting twist on French onion soup turned into a creamy pasta dish. Caramelized onions, savory broth, and melted Gruyere create a rich and satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
- 3 large yellow or sweet onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter (or olive oil)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (optional, for balance)
- 1 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp dried thyme (or 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves)
- ½ cup dry sherry or white wine (for deglazing)
- 2 cups beef broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or crème fraîche / half-and-half)
- 1 ½ cups shredded Gruyere cheese (plus more for topping)
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, orecchiette, or farfalle)
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat butter (and olive oil if using) in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-low heat.
- Add sliced onions and 1 tsp salt. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until deeply caramelized (30–45 minutes).
- Deglaze the pan with sherry or wine, scraping up browned bits.
- Stir in beef broth and let simmer 5 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Add cream, thyme, pepper, and 1 cup Gruyere. Stir until cheese melts and sauce is creamy.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain.
- Toss pasta with onion-cheese sauce until well coated.
- Transfer to bowls, top with remaining Gruyere. Optional: broil 1–2 minutes until bubbly.
- Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
Protein Add-In: Mix in sautéed mushrooms, chicken, or sausage.
Healthier: Use half-and-half or milk instead of cream, or swap pasta for whole wheat.
Make Ahead: Caramelize onions up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French-inspired, American comfort food
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (¼ of recipe)
- Calories: 585 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg