This pasta version of French Onion Soup makes a simple, delicious comfort meal full of onion flavor and gooey melted cheese. Sweet onions are caramelized in olive oil and butter to form the base of the sauce.
Caramelized Onions Add Tons of Flavor
It takes at least 30 minutes to get onions truly caramelized and really maximize their flavor so don’t rush this part. They can easily be made a day or two in advance if you need to get a quick weeknight meal on the table.
Additional Flavorings
A packet of dry onion soup mix is added for even more onion flavor. I always like a little sherry and thyme in my onion soup so I add them in here too.
I use beef broth for the sauce because I think it adds a stronger flavor, but you could use chicken broth instead, or even vegetable broth. To add some protein, I mixed in some shredded rotisserie chicken, but it is totally optional.
Easy Clean-up
The whole dish gets assembled in the pan you cook the sauce in and then broiled to melt the cheese on top. I transferred it to a casserole dish, but if your pan is oven-safe, you could just put the pan in the oven.
Broil it until it gets crispy brown spots. That’s always my favorite part of French Onion Soup. 🙂
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Storage
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days and can be reheated in the microwave.
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Try These Other Amazing Pasta Recipes:
- Creamy Angel Hair Pasta with Bacon and Shrimp
- Creamy Rotel Pasta with Sausage
- Mardi Gras Pasta
- Creamy Lemon Shrimp Pasta
- Italian Sausage Rigatoni with Spicy Cream Sauce
- Tuscan Chicken Pasta
- Thai Chicken Pasta
- Spicy Tomato Cream Pasta
French Onion Pasta
Ingredients
- 3 cups dry penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 medium sweet onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can beef broth
- 2 tablespoons dry sherry or Marsala wine
- 1 packet dry onion soup mix
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 1/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, optional
- 1/2 cup shredded swiss cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta to al dente according to package directions.
- Heat olive oil and butter over medium-low heat in a large pan. Add onions and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with salt and sugar and cook another 15 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Sprinkle flour over onions and stir to mix in. Turn heat up to medium. Cook 30 seconds and then gradually whisk in beef broth.
- Add sherry, onion soup mix, half-and-half, and thyme and simmer until thickened.
- Stir in chicken and cooked pasta.
- Transfer to a lightly greased casserole dish. (If your pan is oven-proof, there’s no need to transfer. Just sprinkle the cheese on top.) Sprinkle both cheeses on top.
- Place casserole dish (or pan) in oven and broil until the cheese is melted and golden brown in spots.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published Oct 18, 2015.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
French onion pasta? This is absolutely brilliant, Christin! I love french onion soup and can only imagine how amazing this pasta is! It looks incredible!
What?? This pasta is sheer genius, Christin! I was only recently introduced to how awesome french onion soup is and I’m kinda hooked! This pasta is going on the menu—all that cheeeeese!
Love al that savory goodness and all. that. cheese! Pinning 🙂
French onion pasta??? I LOVE french onion soup but have never thought to turn it into something like this! This sounds delicious!
Love French onion soup, so I would definitely love this pasta dish! Looks delicious – loving the flavours. Great recipe, thanks for sharing Christin!
OMG, I want to face plant right into the entire baking dish of this french onion pasta! This looks super creamy and absolutely delish! I love allllll of this, including the little touches of Sherry and thyme! Just perfect, my dear! Pinned! Cheers!
Lovely french pasta, I enjoy the cheese with onion at the same recipe.
Mmm.. looks so creamy! Nice pasta dish.
This pasta sounds amazing, Christin! French onion soup is my favorite, so I can only imagine how delicious this pasta must be. Just perfect!
I love french onion soup, and making these flavors into a pasta dish was just brilliant!