French Onion Mac And Cheese (Printable)

Creamy pasta with sweet caramelized onions, three melted cheeses, and golden breadcrumb topping

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
02 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Pasta

03 - 10 oz elbow macaroni or short pasta

→ Dairy & Cheese

04 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
05 - 1 tbsp olive oil
06 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
07 - 2 cups whole milk
08 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
09 - 1 1/2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated
10 - 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
11 - 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

→ Other

12 - 1/2 cup dry white wine
13 - 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
14 - 1/2 tsp salt, plus more to taste
15 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
16 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

→ Topping

17 - 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
18 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
19 - 1/4 cup Gruyère cheese, grated
20 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - In a large skillet, heat 3 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced onions, thyme, and 1/2 tsp salt. Cook, stirring frequently, for 20-25 minutes until deeply caramelized and golden brown. Lower heat as needed to prevent burning.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add white wine and Worcestershire sauce, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Simmer until mostly evaporated, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set caramelized onions aside.
04 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until just al dente according to package directions. Drain well and set aside.
05 - In the same skillet (wipe clean if necessary), melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until lightly golden. Gradually whisk in milk and cream, stirring constantly until mixture thickens, 3-5 minutes.
06 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in Gruyère, cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses until completely melted and smooth. Season with black pepper.
07 - Fold caramelized onions and drained pasta into the cheese sauce, mixing well to coat everything evenly.
08 - Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer.
09 - In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and grated Gruyère cheese. Mix until evenly combined.
10 - Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the pasta. Bake for 20 minutes until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling around the edges. Let rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with fresh parsley and serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The way three kinds of cheese melt together into something that clings to every single curve of pasta
  • Caramelized onions bring a natural sweetness that balances all that rich creaminess
  • That crispy panko topping creates the most satisfying crunch against the soft pasta beneath
02 -
  • Caramelizing onions properly takes time, rushing them means missing out on all that deep sweetness
  • The sauce thickens as it bakes, so make it slightly more loose than you think you need
  • Letting it rest for five minutes after baking makes serving so much easier
03 -
  • Use the largest skillet you have, more surface area means onions caramelize faster and more evenly
  • Grate all your cheese before you start cooking anything, multitasking while melting cheese leads to lumps

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