French Onion Pasta

Name: French Onion Pasta (Single Pot)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tbsp butter; 2 yellow onions, thinly sliced; salt, to taste; 1/8 cup sherry; 1/4 cup dry white wine; 5 sprigs fresh thyme; black pepper, to taste; 8 oz rigatoni pasta, uncooked; 3 cups beef broth; 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce; 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated; 1/4 cup half-and-half; Additional parmesan cheese, for serving

French Onion Pasta combines caramelized onions and beef broth into a rich, savory sauce that clings to rigatoni in a single-pot meal. The wine and thyme deepen the flavor profile while keeping prep and cleanup minimal.

🌍American 🏷️French onion 🏷️Pasta 🏷️One-pot 🏷️Rigatoni Caramelized onion

🏷️

🏷️Beef broth

-0:00

TikTok

Total

45 min

Servings

2

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$25–$41

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

-0:00

TikTok

Ingredients

2 tbsp butter
2 yellow onions, thinly sliced
salt, to taste
1/8 cup sherry
1/4 cup dry white wine
5 sprigs fresh thyme
black pepper, to taste
8 oz rigatoni pasta, uncooked
3 cups beef broth
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 cup half-and-half
Additional parmesan cheese, for servingoptional

13 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, melt the butter.
2
Add the thinly sliced yellow onions and a generous pinch of salt.
3
Cover and cook for 5 minutes to allow the onions to soften.
4
Remove the lid, lower the heat, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are deeply caramelized.
5
Deglaze the pot with the sherry and white wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
6
Add the fresh thyme sprigs and season to taste with salt and pepper.
7
Stir in the uncooked rigatoni, followed by the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce.
8
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and has absorbed most of the liquid.
9
Once the pasta is cooked, remove and discard the thyme sprigs.
10
Turn off the heat. Stir in the grated parmesan cheese and half-and-half until a creamy sauce forms.
11
Serve immediately, topped with additional grated parmesan cheese if desired.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Don't skip the initial caramelization: low, patient heat brings out the onions' natural sweetness and deepens the sauce flavor.
Add the uncooked pasta directly to the broth and let it absorb the liquid while cooking—this releases starch and thickens the sauce naturally.
Taste and adjust salt after the pasta absorbs the broth; beef broth can be salty, so season gradually.
Finish with a knob of cold butter and parmesan off heat to create a silky, cohesive sauce.

Substitutions

Beef broth → chicken or vegetable broth (flavor will be lighter; add 1 tsp soy sauce for umami depth)
Sherry → additional dry white wine or apple cider vinegar (1 tbsp vinegar for acidity)
Fresh thyme → 1 tsp dried thyme or 2 bay leaves (use half the amount of dried)
Rigatoni → pappardelle, egg noodles, or fettuccine (avoid thin shapes that break in the sauce)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of broth or water to restore creaminess.

Common Questions

How long does it take to caramelize the onions?

Caramelizing onions typically takes 15–20 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until they're deep golden and sweet. Don't rush this step; it's the flavor foundation.

Can I make this ahead?

Yes. Cook the pasta separately, caramelize the onions, and prepare the sauce. Store separately in the fridge up to 3 days, then combine and warm gently on the stovetop before serving.

What wine can I use instead of sherry and white wine?

Substitute both with 1/3 cup dry white wine alone, or use chicken broth if you prefer to skip alcohol entirely. The dish will be slightly less complex but still delicious.