French Onion Pasta

Name: French Onion Pasta with Gruyère
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced; 1 lb spaghetti; 2 tbsp avocado oil; 5 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp fresh thyme; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 2 cups beef broth; 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 1/4 cup heavy cream; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1 cup freshly grated Gruyère cheese; salt, to taste; black pepper, to taste; 1 cup reserved pasta water; 2 tbsp butter; 1 tbsp chopped chives, for garnish

French Onion Pasta is a creamy, sophisticated dish that transforms caramelized onions and beef broth into a rich sauce for spaghetti, finished with Gruyère and Parmesan cheese. It captures the deep, savory essence of French onion soup in pasta form.

🌍French 🏷️French onion pasta 🏷️Pasta 🏷️Caramelized onion 🏷️Gruyere Comfort food

🏷️

🏷️Dinner

-0:00

dianakonfederatonTikTok

Total

1h 15m

Servings

4

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$29–$48

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by dianakonfederat

-0:00

dianakonfederatonTikTok

Ingredients

4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
1 lb spaghetti
2 tbsp avocado oil
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh thyme
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups beef broth
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup freshly grated Gruyère cheese
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
1 cup reserved pasta water
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp chopped chives, for garnishoptional

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Instructions

1
Thinly slice the onions.
2
Heat avocado oil in a large pan over medium-low heat. Add the sliced onions and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until deeply caramelized. This process can take about 45 minutes.
3
While the onions caramelize, cook spaghetti according to package directions. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water.
4
Once the onions are caramelized, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
5
Stir in the fresh thyme.
6
Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir to combine. Cook for about one minute to cook out the raw flour taste.
7
Pour in the beef broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Then, stir in the Worcestershire sauce.
8
Reduce the heat and stir in the heavy cream, followed by the grated Parmesan and Gruyère cheeses. Stir until the cheeses are melted and the sauce is smooth.
9
Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
10
Add the cooked spaghetti to the pan with the sauce.
11
Pour in the reserved pasta water and add the butter. Stir everything together until the pasta is well-coated and the sauce is creamy.
12
Serve immediately, garnished with fresh chopped chives if desired.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Slice onions uniformly and keep heat at medium-low during caramelization to avoid scorching; patience yields sweeter, deeper flavor.
Deglaze the pan with beef broth after caramelizing to capture all the flavorful brown bits stuck to the bottom.
Whisk flour into the onion mixture before adding broth to create a smooth, silky sauce without lumps.
Reserve pasta water and add 1–2 tablespoons to the sauce if it becomes too thick; starch helps it cling to the noodles.

Substitutions

Avocado oil → butter or olive oil (note: butter adds richness; use 3 tbsp for same cooking properties)
Spaghetti → pappardelle or fettuccine (note: wider noodles catch sauce better)
All-purpose flour → cornstarch at 2 tsp (note: creates glossier sauce; whisk with cold broth first)
Fresh thyme → dried thyme at 1 tsp or fresh sage (note: adjust dried herb amounts downward due to concentration)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftover pasta and sauce separately in airtight containers for up to 3 days. Reheat sauce gently on the stovetop with a splash of broth to restore creaminess; add fresh pasta or warm cooked pasta before serving.

Common Questions

How long does it take to caramelize the onions?

Caramelizing 4 large onions typically takes 30–40 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring frequently to prevent burning and develop deep brown color.

Can I make this dish ahead?

Yes. Prepare the onion and broth sauce up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate separately. Cook pasta fresh just before serving, then combine and warm through.