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Easy French Onion Pasta Bake – Creamy, Cheesy Comfort Food

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A creamy and cheesy pasta bake infused with deeply caramelized onions, aromatic thyme, and rich Gruyère. This French Onion Pasta Bake delivers classic French onion flavors in a comforting, bubbly casserole form.

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

Scale
  • 10.5 oz short pasta (rigatoni or penne)
  • 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 2 cups low-sodium beef or vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup grated Gruyère cheese (for topping)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease an 8×12-inch baking dish.
  2. Cook pasta in salted boiling water for 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, salt, and sugar. Cook 20–25 minutes until deeply caramelized.
  4. Add garlic and thyme; cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Deglaze with white wine, scraping the pan, and cook until reduced by half (about 3 minutes).
  6. Stir in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer 5 minutes and season with black pepper.
  7. Reduce heat to low, stir in heavy cream, and remove from heat.
  8. In a large bowl, combine pasta, onion mixture, Gruyère, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
  9. Transfer to baking dish and top with remaining Gruyère.
  10. Bake 15–20 minutes until golden and bubbling. Rest 5 minutes, garnish with parsley if desired, and serve.

Notes

  • Use vegetable broth for a fully vegetarian version.
  • Try Swiss or provolone as alternative cheeses if desired.
  • Author: lily
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: French
  • Diet: Vegetarian