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This One Pot Creamy French Onion Pasta Bake is the ultimate cold weather comfort food. Think French onion soup, with the addition of pasta, a creamy sauce, and melty Gruyere cheese. The secret to this one-pot pasta is a little bit of wine, to keep those classic French onion soup flavors we love so much. This pasta dish is great any night of the week but is also perfect for your next dinner party. Every last bite is delicious…everyone LOVES a GOOD cheesy baked pasta…especially when caramelized onions are involved. This dish will be your new go-to when serving family and friends over the holidays…and other times throughout the year too.
It’s that time of year when all I want to be cooking, eating, and sharing with you is comfort food recipes. As I type this, I’m looking out my NYC window to freezing cold rain. The question I keep asking myself is, when will the rain turn to snow? I’m channeling my mom and little sister (snow dance please!) and putting out the positive thoughts for snow. Because what’s more magical than a snowy NYC in December? It’s going to happen. I will document it for you all.
Regardless of rain or snow, December days call for only the best comfort foods and easy dishes that we can feed our friends and family. When I return home from New York, I’ll only have a week or so until the bulk of my family members start arriving for the Christmas holiday. With that in mind, I’ve been working to come up with some creative recipes to feed everyone this year. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over my many years of serving large groups, it’s that pasta dishes are key.
Most everyone enjoys pasta and what I love about a baked pasta is that I can prepare everything in advance if need be. This pasta is extra special though…if you love French onion soup, you will absolutely love this pasta bake. It has all the rich flavors you get in a bowl of steaming French onion soup. But made better with the addition of pasta and a touch more cheese. You simply cannot go wrong.
Here are the details.
Start with the onions. They need to be deeply caramelized, just as you do when making French onion soup. My secret to the best caramelized onions? Butter, a touch of honey, and in today’s case…dry red wine.
The butter is used for obvious reasons…fat, flavor, and deliciousness. The honey helps to cook and caramelize the onions faster. I always find these ingredients to be key when trying to achieve the perfect caramelized onions.
Now, the wine. Use a dry red wine. Cabernet Sauvignon is pretty traditional in most French onion soups, so I wanted to carry those flavors over into this pasta. You’ll cook about half of the wine into the onions. This not only helps the onions to caramelize quickly and evenly, it also infuses the onions with incredibly rich flavor.
If you prefer not to cook with wine, I recommend using about half a cup of pomegranate or cranberry juice when caramelizing the onions. For the remaining amount of wine called for (another half cup), use chicken or vegetable broth.
Once the onions have deeply caramelized, add mushrooms, garlic, and fresh thyme. Cook all together until the mushrooms have caramelized. Add the broth and dry pasta right into the pot. I know it may seem odd, but trust me, it works. Just bring the mix to a boil and cook until the pasta is al dente. Cooking the pasta together with the sauce only takes a few minutes and saves you from having to break out another pot. It’s my secret to keeping pasta recipes simple and easy.
When the pasta has cooked, add the cream and a little cheese. Transfer everything to the oven and bake until the cheese on top is melty and golden and everything looks and smells delicious.
The best thing about one pot recipes?
Everything starts in one pot, and ENDS in the very same pot. YES. Dishes be gone!! Granted, I tend to transfer my dishes to a baking dish for a prettier look, but if using an oven safe pot, you can bake this right in the very same pot you started with.
One and done and so easy. It’s just what’s needed this time of year, easy dinners that are incredibly delicious.
Serve this with…
Since this is such a hearty pasta, I love serving this with a bright salad. This pretty salad is always my favorite (I leave the chickpeas off when serving this as a side salad).
Of course, you can also add some bread, which is never a bad idea in our house.
With that, you’ll have a complete dinner that will be great any night of the week. My recommendation? Serve this up on the next super cold night when you’re craving a steaming bowl of soup…but also a plate of mac and cheese. This pasta is soup and mac and cheese in one. It’s creamy, cheesy, and swirled with caramelized onions. So…it’s insanely GOOD!
If you make this One Pot Creamy French Onion Pasta Bake, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
watch the how to video:
One Pot Creamy French Onion Pasta Bake.
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 515 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2-3 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 cup dry red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 2 cups cremini or wild mushrooms, sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves (or 2 teaspoons dried thyme)
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth (use vegetable broth, if vegetarian)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (use soy sauce, if vegetarian)
- 2 leaves bay leaves
- 1 pound of your favorite short cut pasta
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper using more or less to your taste
- 1 1/4 cups heavy cream, whole milk, or canned coconut milk
- 1/3 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese (optional)
- 2 cups shredded gruyere cheese
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 2. Melt the butter, onions, and honey together in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until softened, about 5 minutes. At this point, you want to slowly add 1/2 cup of the wine, 1/4 cup at a time, until the wine cooks into the onions. Continue to cook another 8-10 minutes until you've used the 1/2 cup of wine and the onions are deeply caramelized. 2. Add the garlic, mushrooms, thyme, and season with salt and pepper, cook another 3-4 minutes. Add the remaining 1/2 cup wine, the broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and the pasta. Bring the mixture to a boil. Stir frequently until the pasta is al dente and the broth has been absorbed, about 8-10 minutes. Stir in the cayenne, cream, gorgonzola, if using, and 1/2 cup gruyere cheese. Remove from the heat.3. If needed, transfer the pasta to a baking dish. Top with the remaining gruyere cheese.4. Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is lightly browned on top. Cool 5 minutes before serving. Serve with fresh thyme. Enjoy!
Oh my! Onions and mushrooms are my favorite combo! This is soooo delicious! A definite keeper! I knew it would be good because your creamy French onion and mushroom soup was so yum! 🙂 I had some prosciutto which you One Pot French Onion Pasta,(trying next time) had it, so I figured it would be delicious!
Hi Maribeth,
Fantastic!! 🍁🍂 I am delighted to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for making it and sharing your review! xT
I pinned this recipe years ago and forgot about it! I am now learning how to cook and asked my husband to pick 5 recipes for the week. To my surprise he picked this one! I was surprised because 1. He hates soup so he probably never had French onion soup. 2. He is a meat eater. If I serve him anything without meat I need to be prepared lol!
Anywho, I followed this recipe to the T and I ame extremely impressed. Unfortunately I didn’t purchase any bread but I will tomorrow for our leftovers! I also think I will add less chicken broth as my dish came out a bit liquid-y. Nonetheless, this will most definitely be in rotation.
Hey there,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, I am thrilled to hear that it was enjoyed! xx
Hi there, just wondering about how far in advance I could make this, and then heat up? Is that possible with this recipe?
Thank you!
Hey Lindsay,
Sure, I would make through the point of baking and then bake when you are ready to serve. I hope you love this recipe, let me know how it turns out! xx
Do you need the honey? I haven’t tried the recipe yet, but I think the onions would be sweet enough for my tastes.
Hi Erin,
You can skip the honey if that is what you prefer:) I hope you love this dish! xx
Really delicious. I did add some ingredients: boxed diced tomatoes, chicken, spinach and parmesan cheese (instead of gorgonzola).
Hi Mimi,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was tasty, thanks a lot for making it! xxT
I make French onion soup with beef broth. Have you used to beef broth in this recipe successfully?
Hi Katherine,
Sure, beef broth would also work well for you here! I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
I made this casserole in the dead middle of summer in North Carolina, and I regret nothing! Impeccable flavor as I followed the recipe to a T! The creamy cheesy wine sauce was unlike anything I’ve ever had! I’m not even a huge fan of mushrooms but I already know this is going to be in rotation at our house. Thanks for, yet again, another homerun recipe!
Hey Gillian,
Wonderful! I am so excited to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks for trying it out! xx
Is this something that could potentially be made ahead and frozen and reheated? Thank you!
I came here thinking this exact same thing. I wonder how it would do in the freezer.
Hi Erin,
That should work well for you!! I hope you love the recipe:) xx
Hey Lindsay,
Totally, just freeze right before baking and then you can bake from frozen:) I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Since the Pandemic I haven’t received your newsletter. I really like your recipes and would like to get them again..
Thanks for your time, Jim
Hi Jim,
So sorry to hear this. Please send an email to contact@halfbakedharvest.com so someone from my team can help you out!! Have a great weekend:) xx
We’ve been using this recipe for years. It’s more involved than a lot of the other stuff we do mid-week – but SO worth it. Veggie too! (or can be), Seriously delicious.
Hey Dave,
Happy Friday!! I am so glad you have been enjoying this recipe, thanks for making it so often! xT
This is legitimately one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. A comforting crowd pleaser perfect for cozy cold nights, indulgent and so delicious. I come back to it again and again- just divine!
Hey Hannah,
That’s great!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for making it! xxT
I LOVE this recipe. So full of flavor and tastes so indulgent, but came together easily.
Hey there,
Fantastic! Thanks so much for trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it was a winner!! xTieghan
Another hit! This was so delicious! The aromas it gave off while making this made my mouth water! I didn’t add the Gorgonzola since my young daughter was eating this but will include it next time I make this! I did add a little extra Gruyère because I am from Wisconsin and love cheese. 🙂 This is a keeper!
Hey April,
Happy Wednesday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a go!! ☘️Tieghan
Out of all of Tieghan’s recipes, this is the one I make the most. I’ve made it probably 20 times since she released the recipe and it’s incredible every time. I’ve left out the mushrooms before, other times the Gorgonzola depending on who I’m feeding. You can easily half this recipe and it’s a perfect winter date night meal. Also, if you’re low on broth, just add more wine and vice versa—it still works!
Hey Catherine,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xxT
Hi! I do t know why but this recipe found it’s way to me via random pop-up, and I happened to have all the ingredients on hand (which is rare for me but i took it as a sign). I halved the recipe and made it for an “indulge Sunday dinner” and it was outta sight! Loved it. Now I need to check out all the other recipes on here. Plus the one-pot advantage needs no up sell! Thanks!
Hey there,
Wonderful!! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for giving it a go:) xTieghan
This was amazing! Topped with a dollop of sour cream, fresh parsley and braised short ribs… the pasta was still the star of the show! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hey Katherine,
Awesome!! Love to hear this recipe was a winner, thanks for making it. Have the best week:) xT
Can this be made ahead?
Hey Marina,
Totally, just make up until the point of baking, cover and keep in the fridge, and then bake as instructed. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan