Easy French Onion Pasta
A comforting twist on classic French onion soup, this pasta dish features tender noodles enveloped in a silky sauce, caramelized onions, and fragrant herbs.
Ingredients
Pasta and Main Ingredients
- 8 oz 8 oz pasta of your choice (fettuccine or penne work well)
- 2 medium 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 Tbsp 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 Tbsp 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 cups 3 cups low-sodium beef or vegetable broth
- 1 tsp 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or ½ tsp dried thyme)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 1 cup 1 cup grated Gruyère cheese (or Swiss cheese)
- Optional: fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
Cooking the Pasta
- Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving about a cup of pasta water for later use.
Caramelizing the Onions
- In a large skillet, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the sliced onions. Stir occasionally and let them cook for about 15 minutes, or until they are golden brown and fragrant.
Combining Ingredients
- When the onions are nicely caramelized, pour in the broth and add the thyme. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let it cook for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir in the cooked pasta, mixing well to coat the noodles in the broth and onions. If the mixture seems dry, add a small amount of the reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
Finishing Touches
- Remove the skillet from heat and sprinkle the grated Gruyère cheese evenly over the pasta. Cover the skillet for a few minutes, allowing the cheese to melt and become gooey.
- Once the cheese has melted, give everything a gentle stir and serve warm. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
For added flavor, consider adding a splash of white wine to the onions while they caramelize. This recipe can also be made vegetarian by substituting vegetable broth for beef broth. Consider topping with crispy fried shallots or extra herbs for added texture and flavor.