French Onion Pasta Recipes

CARAMELIZED ONION PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium until butter is melted. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until very tender and deeply golden brown, about 30 minutes. (Stop before the onions become dry and shriveled.) Add red pepper flakes (if using) and 1 1/2 tsp. salt. Remove pot from heat.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta cooking liquid.
• Add pasta and 1 cup pasta cooking liquid to onion mixture and stir to combine. Add a small handful of cheese and stir until melted. Repeat with remaining cheese, adding more pasta cooking liquid as needed to create a glossy sauce that coats the pasta. Stir in parsley (if using).
• Divide pasta among bowls. Top with Parmesan, parsley, and a few cranks of pepper.

FRENCH ONION PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and shallots and cook and stir until onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in brown sugar well. Continue to cook over medium heat until well caramelized, 45 to 60 minutes. Stir occasionally, being sure to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
• While onions cook, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain. Set aside and keep warm.
• Bone chicken and cut meat into chunks.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Add flour, thyme, and garlic to the caramelized onions. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Add Marsala wine, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Add beef broth. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking continually until thickened, about 10 minutes. Add Greek yogurt and mix well.
• Stir pasta, chicken, and mozzarella cheese into the sauce. Mix thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into an oven-safe dish. Top with Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh thyme for fancier presentation at serving.

ONE-POT FRENCH ONION PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in the olive oil in a large, shallow broiler-safe pot over medium heat.
• Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the sugar, garlic and 2 large pinches salt. Cover and cook, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes to prevent scorching, until the onions are golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes total.
• Meanwhile, place the beef marrow bones on a large, rimmed baking sheet and toss lightly with the cooking oil. Roast the bones until the edges are browned and the marrow is soft and has begun to separate from the bone, about 12 minutes.
• Use tongs to transfer the marrow bones to the pot with the caramelized onions. Tie together the bay leaf and thyme with kitchen twine. Add the herb bundle to the pot and season with pepper. Add the brandy and sherry and cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot to remove any browned bits and cook off the raw alcohol flavor, about 2 minutes. Add the beef stock and bring to a boil.
• Once the mixture is boiling, season with freshly cracked black pepper. Stir in the dried pasta and cook, adding more stock as needed, until the stock reduces, the marrow releases into the sauce and the pasta is al dente and glazed in the sauce, 9 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the broiler to high.
• Remove and discard the herb bundle and marrow bones from the pot. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Top the pasta with the provolone and Swiss cheese (see Cook's Note). Broil until bubbly, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle with the sliced chives and enjoy!