French Onion Pasta Bake (Printable Version)

Caramelized onions and creamy cheeses meld with pasta in a savory baked dish.

# 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

# Directions:

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

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It tastes like someone spent all day in the kitchen, but you'll actually have dinner on the table in an hour.
  • Those golden, jammy onions paired with melted cheese and pasta create a comfort that feels both familiar and unexpectedly luxurious.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep or feeding yourself on a busy week.
02 -
  • Don't rush the caramelization, because that's where all the depth comes from, and those onions transform from sharp and pungent into something sweet and almost jammy.
  • If your oven runs hot, check the bake at the 12-minute mark because the top can brown faster than the inside gets heated through.
03 -
  • Use a cheese grater that feels good in your hand and grate your own cheese from a block, because pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that can make your sauce grainy instead of silky.
  • If your baking dish is smaller than called for, your bake will bubble over, so either use a slightly larger dish or pour some of the mixture into a separate small vessel.
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