French Onion Pasta

Craving warm, cozy flavors? This divine pasta meal combines some beloved elements of the classic French onion soup with chewy rigatoni. Introducing French Onion Pasta…a lovely dish with big, beautiful flavors!

This French onion pasta recipe features rigatoni tossed with in a creamy white wine sauce loaded with caramelized onions and Swiss cheese. Everything is cooked in just one pot (pasta included!) and ready under 30 minutes!

One-Pot French Onion Pasta

After sharing this French Onion Mac and Cheese recipe that was obviously a nod to my love for French onion soup, I was again inspired by TikTok to create a one-pot creamy French onion pasta.

This French onion pasta recipe features rigatoni pasta (but you can use any type of pasta ) tossed in a creamy and cheesy sauce loaded with flavors of French onion soup.

Caramelized onions is a key ingredient that ignites the depth of flavors in that silky sauce. It is savory with hints of sweetness thanks to the caramelization.

That yummy sauce also features Swiss cheese, another notable ingredient that brings the creaminess to the sauce and and reminds us why we love French onion soup so much.

We make the caramelized onion white wine sauce in a large skillet, and throw in the uncooked pasta and cooking it all in one pot! That’s right! No need to cook the pasta separately.

My Italian friends may cringe at that thought, but think of this as an easy way to get some tasty pasta on the table under 30 minutes with minimal dishes to clean 🙂 .If you are looking for more authentic Italian pasta check out this lasagna and pasta pomodoro recipe instead!

We make creamy French onion pasta often on busy weeknights because it’s a no-fuss, low-stress dinner that I can get on the table in under 30 minutes. And everybody clean it off their plates because it is so good. 🙂

Kitchen Tools

Here are a few kitchen equipment and appliances round up to make your cooking experience easier:

• Large skillet or sauté pan with a lid: A wide, deep skillet that is at least 12-inch in diameter allows for better caramelization of onions and will give you enough space for adding the pasta.

Ingredients

To make this French onion soup pasta, you will need the following ingredients:

• onions – duh! This is French onion pasta after all. 😉 I typically use sweet onions but white or yellow onions work as well.
• butter – use unsalted butter so that you can control the level of salt in the creamy caramelized onion sauce. Of all the fat options (cooking oil, vegetable oil, olive oil etc), I prefer butter for this French onion pasta because it is richer in flavor and makes a big difference in the sauce.
• white wine – a splash of white wine in the sauce brings some complexity in the sauce, similar to the key notes of a French onion soup. Use dryer white wine such as Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
• beef broth or beef stock – another main ingredient in French onion soup. To make this dish vegetarian, use vegetable broth or vegetable stock instead.
• garlic – always a must for the best flavor! I highly recommend using fresh over garlic powder for optimal flavor. Mince garlic cloves to release maximum flavor.
• heavy cream – this is the rich base of our sauce that brings creaminess to it. For a lower fat option, use half and half – consistency will be less creamy if using half and half.
• Swiss cheese – Gruyere is another good choice. Sometimes I use both because I love the combination of both of these cheeses together.
• rigatoni pasta – you can use other pasta shapes but rigatoni or any short pasta is my favorite for this French onion pasta.

How to Make It

Cooking up this creamy French onion soup pasta is easier than it looks. Caramelizing the onions takes the longest and does require a bit of patience….but trust me, it will all be worth it!

Caramelizing Onions

The first thing we’ll want to do is to caramelize the onions because it takes a little while for them to create that rich, caramelized flavor.

Melt butter in a deep, large skillet, then add diced onion. Cook the onions on medium low heat/ low heat until they turn brown and softened. Don’t rush this process and burn the onions!

Once onions are softened and translucent (this will take ~7-10 minutes if you cook it on medium low), add garlic.

Add a splash of white wine into pan and using a spatula deglaze the pan by scrubbing any browned bits mix. These lovely browned bits are loaded with flavor and will enhance our French onion pasta!

Once the white wine reduces and has been absorbed into the onions (about 2 minutes of cooking time), slowly pour in beef broth and gently mix.

Add uncooked pasta into the beef broth mixture (no need to cook pasta beforehand!)

Stir then cover with a lid. Lower the heat and let it cook based on package instructions.. This typically takes 9-11 minutes to cook, depending on size and shape of pasta.

Once it is done, remove lid and add heavy cream and shredded cheese.

Gently stir and let it boil for a minute or two, or until pasta sauce reaches desired consistency.

If you prefer the pasta sauce thicker, you can also switch off the heat and let it sit for a few minutes. It will thicken slightly.

Taste the sauce and add more salt and black pepper to taste if you like.

At the end pasta should be coated in the the creamy white wine cheese sauce, and you’ll find small chunks of caramelized onions in every bite.

Ah, it makes me want hop in a cozy little comfy spot, curl up in my blanket while soaking up every bite of this delicious bowl of creamy French onion pasta!

Variations and Modifications

Here are a few ways you can modify this French Onion Pasta dish:

• Cheese substitute: For a different flavor, consider using Gruyere, mozzarella, Parmesan, or cheddar cheese in addition to or instead of the Swiss cheese.
• Wine alternatives: If you’d rather avoid wine, chicken broth or extra beef broth can also be used.
• Adding herbs: Fresh thyme, oregano, parsley can be added when making the sauce (before adding uncooked pasta) for another dimension of flavor.
• Addition of protein: Feel free to add in already cooked and shredded chicken, shrimp, ground beef or ground turkey to increase protein. You’ll want to add it at the end after pasta is full cooked.
• Make it lighter: Use a lighter non-dairy milk or half and half instead of heavy cream and reduce cheese if you are trying to lower the calorie intake. However, the result will be less creamy and the sauce will be less thin than it already is (the sauce even with heavy cream isn’t super thick because we didn’t use flour to thicken the sauce).
• Breadcrumbs: Want some extra texture? Sprinkle the tops with some breadcrumbs. This will be reminecence of the bread in French onion soups.
• Make it gluten free: Use gluten-free pasta, which has higher protein content.

Storage and Reheating

Storage: Place French Onion Pasta in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Reheating: When reheating leftover pasta, add a splash of milk or broth to reach desired creamy consistency before microwaving. Stir halfway through the reheating process to ensure even heating.

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More Delicious Pasta Recipes

• Creamy Pesto Gnocchi
• Pasta Pomodoro
• Spinach Lasagna
• Classic Lasagna with Béchamel Sauce
• Spicy Rigatoni