French Onion Pasta

Combine two favorites: French onion soup and creamy pasta.

By
Julie & Amy Luxemberg
Vibing Vegans
Julie & Amy Luxemberg
Sisters Julie & Amy Luxemberg are self-taught vegan chefs, recipe developers, and content creators.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated May 06, 2024
Vibing Vegans
French onion pasta in a pot

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

I grew up ordering French onion soup in a bread bowl from Panera—I was enthralled with the “you pick two” deal in its heyday. The soup always felt so fancy with its cheesy topping, rich broth, and deep flavor profile. The ingredients are simple but the result is complex and delicious. Since I’ve been obsessed with developing one-pot pasta lately, French onion soup in pasta form seemed like a no-brainer.

Sweet and tender caramelized onions are the star of this dish, and they’re enhanced with fresh thyme, white wine, and beef broth. The orecchiette pasta cooks directly in the seasoned broth, adding some starchiness and thickness to the sauce. It’s finished with a splash of cream and melty Gruyère cheese. 

The whole thing comes together in less than an hour and I’ve made it at least once a week for the past month. It’s the perfect Sunday dinner.

French onion pasta in a pot at a table

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Time-Saving Tips for Caramelizing Onions

  • Use a large pot: A Dutch oven works well, so the onions have more surface area and cook faster.
  • Don’t skip the salt: Salting the onions helps to draw out moisture faster so they can begin caramelizing sooner.
  • Adjust the heat accordingly: Raise the heat for faster caramelization (but watch carefully and stir often) and lower the heat if the onions brown too quickly.

Make It Vegetarian or Vegan

It’s easy to make this recipe vegetarian or vegan with just a few swaps:

  • Use low-sodium vegetable broth instead of beef broth 
  • Omit the Worcestershire or use a vegetarian version
  • Omit the butter and use 1/4 cup olive oil 
  • Swap the heavy cream for coconut cream
  • Replace the Gruyère with a vegan Swiss cheese 
French onion pasta in a bowl at a table setting with another serving in the background, a small bowl of grated cheese, and a glass of water

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

One Pot Pastas

French Onion Pasta

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 55 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings

Orecchiette may be substituted for other short pasta—the cooking time will change based on the package instructions.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced 1/4-inch thick

  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

  • 5 cloves garlic, chopped

  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

  • 3/4 cup dry white wine

  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth

  • 1 cup water

  • 2 bay leaves

  • 1 pound dried orecchiette pasta

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream

  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 cup grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese (about 3.2 ounces), plus more for serving

  • Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Method

  1. Sweat and caramelize the onions:

    Place a Dutch oven or large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil and butter. Once the butter has melted completely, add the onions and salt. Cook until the onions soften and release most of their liquid, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. 

    Reduce the heat to medium and sauté for another 15 to 25 minutes, or until the onions are deeply caramelized. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir frequently so the onions don’t burn.

    onions sauteed in the pot for French onion pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    slightly caramelized onions in a pot for French onion pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    fully caramelized onions in a pot for French onion pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  2. Add the aromatics and deglaze:

    Add the garlic and fresh thyme. Mix and cook until the garlic is fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the white wine and use a wooden spoon to scrape and deglaze the bottom of the pot.

    pot deglazed with white whine for French onion pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  3. Cook the pasta:

    Add the beef broth, water, and bay leaves. Cover with a lid and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the pasta and simmer, uncovered, until al dente, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure the pasta doesn’t stick to the pan and is always mostly submerged in liquid.

    beef broth, herbs, and pasta added to pot with the caramelized onions for French onion pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    pasta stirred while cooking in a pot for French onion pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    cooked French onion pasta in the pot

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  4. Stir in the heavy cream, Worcestershire, and cheese:

    Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the heavy cream, Worcestershire, and grated cheese. Remove the bay leaves and season with salt and pepper, to taste. The sauce will thicken as it cools a bit. Top with more cheese before serving.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

    heavy cream and cheese added to the pot of French onion pasta

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    One-pot French onion pasta

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    servings of French onion pasta in two bowls at a table setting with a small bowl of grated cheese, another bowl with fresh thyme, and a glass of water

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
365 Calories
19g Fat
31g Carbs
13g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 365
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 9g 46%
Cholesterol 40mg 13%
Sodium 590mg 26%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 13g
Vitamin C 4mg 20%
Calcium 220mg 17%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 221mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.