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Ultimate One-Pot Creamy French Onion Pasta

A spoonful of penne noodles covered in melted, stringy cheese being lifted from a bowl of rich french onion pasta.
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You can capture the rich, savory flavor of classic French onion soup in this easy, creamy pasta dish. This recipe uses a one-pot method to minimize cleanup, making it a perfect, comforting weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 cup dry white wine (optional, substitute with more broth)
  • 1 pound dried pasta (like penne or rotini)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes until the onions are deeply caramelized and sweet. Do not rush this step; this builds the main flavor.
  2. Stir in the dried thyme and minced garlic. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Pour in the beef broth and white wine (if using). Bring the mixture to a simmer and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Let it simmer for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
  4. Add the uncooked, dry pasta to the pot. Stir well to submerge the pasta in the liquid.
  5. Bring the liquid back to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent the pasta from sticking. The pasta should be tender and most of the liquid absorbed.
  6. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream, Gruyère cheese, and Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Season with black pepper and additional salt if needed.
  7. Serve immediately in bowls, topping each serving with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Enjoy this minimal cleanup dinner.

Notes

  • For the deepest onion flavor, use high-quality beef broth. This recipe relies on the broth for much of its savory depth.
  • If you skip the wine, add 1 cup of extra beef broth at the beginning to ensure the pasta has enough liquid to cook through.
  • Gruyère cheese melts beautifully and provides the classic French onion soup taste. Do not substitute it entirely if you want the authentic flavor profile.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://yummagnet.com/french-onion-pasta-one-pot-creamy-recipe/