French Onion Soup Pasta Recipe
Prepare to fall in love with your new favorite comfort food! This French Onion Soup Pasta Recipe takes the iconic flavors of deeply caramelized onions, savory broth, rich béchamel, and cheesy goodness, and marries them perfectly with tender pasta and a crispy baguette topping. Imagine everything you crave about French onion soup, wrapped up in pasta form: it’s hearty, decadent, and luxuriously creamy, with amazing texture in every bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of the French Onion Soup Pasta Recipe comes from everyday ingredients coming together in an extraordinary way. Each one plays a vital role, whether adding flavor, texture, aroma, or that irresistible cheesy crust.
- Baguette: Thinly sliced to create the crunchiest homemade breadcrumbs that echo the classic soup’s signature toast.
- Olive Oil: Essential for caramelizing onions and lending depth to every layer of this dish.
- Salt: Like any classic French recipe, salt draws out the onions’ flavors and brings balance to the sauce.
- Pepper: Adds a subtle heat that makes all the other flavors pop.
- Oregano: A fragrant herb that adds a subtle earthiness to the breadcrumb topping.
- Cavatappi Macaroni: Its curly shape perfectly grabs onto creamy sauce and onions (penne or fusilli work nicely too).
- Onions: The star! You’ll need plenty, sliced thinly and caramelized low and slow for deep, sweet flavor.
- Beef Broth: This brings rich, savory notes that echo the classic soup base.
- Heavy Cream: Delivers ultra-creamy béchamel with dreamy texture.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated for salty, nutty, melty depth.
- Flour + Water: For thickening the béchamel into a luscious sauce.
- Sugar: Just a bit helps coax out ultra-sweetness from the onions (completely optional if you’d like to skip).
- Fresh Parsley: A little green for brightness and flavor in each bite.
- Garlic Powder: Boosts the savory quotient without fuss.
- Smoked Paprika Powder: Adds gentle smokiness and beautiful color.
- Nutmeg: This is the secret to béchamel’s warmth and depth—you only need a pinch!
How to Make French Onion Soup Pasta Recipe
Step 1: Slice and Caramelize the Onions
Thinly slice all five onions into long, even strips. The trick to a deeply flavored French Onion Soup Pasta Recipe is patience—sauté the onions slowly with olive oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Stir occasionally for 30 to 40 minutes, letting them turn golden and sweet without burning. For even more sweetness or if you’re pressed for time, sprinkle in the sugar halfway through. Your kitchen will smell heavenly!
Step 2: Add Beef Broth and Finish Caramelizing
When the onions are richly golden and beginning to stick to the pan, pour in the beef broth. Let it simmer for 10 minutes, scraping up all the flavorful bits from the bottom. This step not only deglazes but infuses the onions with deep savory notes, anchoring the dish’s signature soup flavor.
Step 3: Prepare the Creamy Béchamel Sauce
Remove the caramelized onions and set them aside. Using the same skillet, make your béchamel: over low-medium heat, melt a little butter, sprinkle in the flour, and whisk until smooth and bubbly. Gradually add the heavy cream, stirring constantly. If the sauce gets lumpy, whisk in ice-cold water (a handy trick!) until it’s silky again.
Step 4: Season and Enrich the Sauce
Stir in two-thirds of your luscious caramelized onions, then add salt, pepper, chopped parsley, and grated Parmesan. This is where the sauce takes on that unmistakable French onion soup flavor—creamy, savory, aromatic, and just a little nutty from the cheese.
Step 5: Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook your cavatappi just shy of al dente (about 1-2 minutes less than the package suggests), since it will finish cooking in the oven with all that delicious sauce.
Step 6: Mix Pasta and Sauce
Drain the pasta, reserving a little of the cooking water. Toss the noodles with the béchamel-onion mixture until every curl is coated in golden, creamy goodness. If needed, add a splash of pasta water to loosen the sauce.
Step 7: Assemble with Breadcrumbs
Transfer everything to a baking dish. Scatter the reserved caramelized onions over the top, then pile on homemade breadcrumbs made from the baguette slices tossed with olive oil, oregano, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and a pinch of nutmeg for complexity.
Step 8: Bake Until Golden and Crisp
Slide the dish into a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven. Bake, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes, until the top is bubbling, crisp, and deeply golden. This finishing step captures the soul of both baked pasta and French onion soup’s classic gratinée top.
Step 9: Serve and Savor
Bring the French Onion Soup Pasta Recipe straight to the table while it’s bubbling and aromatic. Top with more parsley for a fresh contrast and plenty of extra Parmesan if you wish!
How to Serve French Onion Soup Pasta Recipe
Garnishes
A finishing sprinkle of chopped parsley adds brightness, and a little extra freshly grated Parmesan cheese ups the savory oomph. If you have it, a little drizzle of good olive oil over the crispy top is divine. Serve with cracked black pepper for a little bite.
Side Dishes
This French Onion Soup Pasta Recipe is hearty enough for a meal on its own, but pairs beautifully with a simple leafy salad tossed in mustard vinaigrette, roasted vegetables, or a cluster of grapes for a refreshing flourish at the table.
Creative Ways to Present
For date night or dinner parties, try baking the pasta in individual ramekins for personal servings—each bubbling portion will have its own golden crust. You could also serve in a cast-iron skillet for rustic charm or slice thick pieces like a casserole for a family-style feast.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftovers of this French Onion Soup Pasta Recipe keep beautifully for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Let the dish cool completely, then transfer to airtight containers. The flavors actually get even richer as they meld together!
Freezing
If you want to prepare ahead, you can freeze the unbaked pasta mixture (hold off on the breadcrumb topping until you’re ready to bake). Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before adding breadcrumbs and baking.
Reheating
To reheat, bake the pasta in a 350°F oven, covered with foil to retain moisture, for about 20 minutes or until heated through. Uncover for the last few minutes to re-crisp the top, or heat single servings in the microwave if you’re in a hurry.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of pasta?
Absolutely! While cavatappi is perfect for catching all that creamy sauce, penne, fusilli, or rigatoni work just as well. Choose a shape with ridges or curls to maximize all that flavor in every bite.
Is it possible to make this vegetarian?
Yes! Just swap the beef broth for vegetable broth and use vegetarian Parmesan or another hard cheese. You’ll still get plenty of umami from the caramelized onions and cheese.
Can I make the onions ahead of time?
Definitely. Caramelize the onions up to three days in advance and store them in the fridge. This makes assembly much quicker on a busy night and intensifies the dish’s flavor.
What can I use if I don’t have heavy cream?
You can use half-and-half, whole milk, or a plant-based cream if you prefer. Just be mindful that a lighter cream produces a slightly thinner sauce, but it’ll still be delicious.
Can I add meat to this dish?
Sure! Shredded rotisserie chicken or crumbled cooked sausage blend in beautifully. Stir them into the sauce along with the pasta for an even heartier French Onion Soup Pasta Recipe.
Final Thoughts
If you love classic French onion soup and crave the comfort of a bubbling baked pasta, the French Onion Soup Pasta Recipe is pure magic—cozy, flavorful, and destined to be a family favorite. Try it out, and you might just find yourself making it again and again!
Print
French Onion Soup Pasta Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This French Onion Soup Pasta recipe combines the rich flavors of caramelized onions, creamy béchamel sauce, and al dente pasta for a comforting and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
For Caramelized Onions:
- 5 Onions (thinly sliced)
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 1/2 cup Beef Broth
For Béchamel Sauce:
- 3 cups Heavy Cream
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 1 tbsp Flour
- 3 tbsp Water
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese (grated)
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Pepper
- Fresh Parsley (chopped)
For Pasta:
- 300 g Cavatappi Macaroni
- 1/2 Baguette (for breadcrumbs)
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tbsp Smoked Paprika Powder
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: Sauté onions in olive oil until caramelized. Add sugar and beef broth if needed.
- Prepare Béchamel Sauce: Melt butter, whisk in flour, then gradually add heavy cream. Stir in caramelized onions and season.
- Cook Pasta: Boil pasta until nearly al dente. Combine with béchamel sauce.
- Bake: Transfer pasta to a dish, top with remaining onions and breadcrumbs. Bake until golden.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- For a vegetarian option, use vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
- You can customize the flavors by adding herbs like thyme or rosemary.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 39g
- Saturated Fat: 23g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: French Onion Soup Pasta, Caramelized Onions, Béchamel Sauce, Comfort Food
