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    Bites with Bri » Side Dish » French Onion Mac & Cheese

    French Onion Mac & Cheese

    Published: May 11, 2023 by Brianna May · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This French Onion Mac and Cheese has all of the flavors of a classic French onion soup. The caramelized onions add a touch of sweetness. It is super cheesy and cooked from start to finish in one pot.

    Up close image of french onion mac and cheese in black skillet.

    I have seen French onion pasta recipes all over TikTok and after my French Onion Chicken Bake went viral a few months back, I was inspired to create this French onion macaroni and cheese recipe. 

    Instead of topping the pasta with sliced baguette or breadcrumbs, I finished it with the canned crispy fried onions to really drive home the onion flavor.

    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients & Substitutions
    • How to Make French Onion Mac & Cheese
    • Recipe Serving Suggestions
    • Expert Tips & Variations
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Side Dish Recipes
    • French Onion Mac & Cheese

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • Inspired by French onion soup - This recipe is flavored with caramelized onions, white wine, thyme, and cheese, just like a traditional French onion soup. 
    • Decadent - This dish is super rich and hearty. Total comfort food!
    • Creamy - The evaporated milk is the perfect base for the cheese sauce. 
    • Cheesy - This mac and cheese has 3 different types of cheese, gruyere, mozzarella, and white cheddar. 
    • One pot - This recipe is made in ONLY one pot. No need to transfer the pasta to a casserole dish if your pan is stovetop & oven-safe pot or pan. 
    • No roux - The starches from the pasta will thicken the sauce. 
    • Different - This dish is a fun way to deviate from a classic macaroni and cheese. 

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Overhead image of ingredients needed for french onion mac and cheese.
    • Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
    • White Wine: I recommend an inexpensive bottle of sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio. You can also use additional beef broth instead of wine to omit alcohol. If you omit the wine, add 1-2 teaspoons dijon mustard for some acidity. 

    Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.

    How to Make French Onion Mac & Cheese

    Quick Overview

    • Caramelize onions. 
    • Cook pasta. 
    • Add cheese & crispy fried onions. 
    • Bake.

    Step by Step Instructions

    A 6 photo collage showing the beginning assembly of french onion mac and cheese.

    Don’t rush the onions. They will need about 45 minutes to caramelize.

    Step 1: In an oven & stovetop safe deep large skillet, add the butter, onions, salt, sugar, and pepper over medium-high heat.

    Step 2: Sauté for about 15 minutes until the onions start to turn golden brown. Deglaze the pan with about ⅓ of the wine.

    Step 3: Sauté for another 30 minutes, deglazing the pan twice more with the remaining wine (every 15 minutes). After 45 minutes, the onions should have reduced significantly in volume and be a deep brown color. See photos above.

    Step 4: Reduce to medium-low heat. Add the garlic and thyme. Sauté for about 1-2 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

    A 6 photo collage showing the final assembly of french onion mac and cheese.

    Undercook the pasta by 1-2 minutes. It will finish cooking in the oven.

    Step 5: Stir in 2 cups of broth, milk, worcestershire, and the pasta. Increase to medium heat and bring to a light boil. Cook and stir occasionally for about 10 minutes.

    Step 6: Stir in the remaining cup of broth.

    Step 7: Continue cooking for about 5-10 minutes or until the pasta is almost cooked through. If the pasta seems dry at any point, add a broth splash. Taste and add salt if needed.

    Step 8: Remove the pasta from the heat and stir in about 2 cups of the cheese.

    Step 9: Sprinkle the remaining cheese and crispy onions on top.

    Step 10: Bake for 10-15 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

    Recipe Serving Suggestions

    Garnish this pasta with parmesan cheese, more cracked black pepper, and fresh thyme. 

    I recommend serving this mac and cheese with a simple protein, like my Cast Iron Chicken Breasts. 

    Expert Tips & Variations

    • Carmelize the onions. The most time consuming part of this recipe is caramelizing the onions. It takes about 45 minutes and cannot be rushed. It is so worth it though!
    • Do not cook the pasta all the way through. I recommend tasting the pasta to check the doneness and salt level. You want the pasta to still be a bit chewy and undercooked because it will finish cooking in the oven. This will ensure it comes out al dente, instead of mushy. Add another pinch of salt if needed at this point as well. 
    • Add broth as needed. If you prefer a saucier pasta, add more broth as the pasta boil. If you prefer it thicker, then do not add as much. 
    Overhead image of french onion mac and cheese in black skillet pan.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is the cheesiest cheese for mac and cheese?

    I recommend using a mixture of cheese for mac and cheese. A cheese like gruyere or white cheddar adds a delicious sharp flavor, while a cheese like mozzarella adds stringiness.

    More Side Dish Recipes

    • What To Serve With Lasagna Soup - 18 BEST Side Dishes
    • Easy Garlic Rosemary Focaccia Muffins
    • What To Serve With Turkey Breast - 20 Best Sides
    • 25 Easy Christmas Potato Recipes (Side Dishes)

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    If you try this recipe, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and/or comment! I always appreciate your feedback. Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook & Instagram.

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    4.25 from 4 votes

    French Onion Mac & Cheese

    This French Onion Mac and Cheese has all of the flavors of a classic French onion soup. The caramelized onions add a touch of sweetness. It is super cheesy and cooked from start to finish in one pot.
    Servings8 people
    Prep10 minutes minutes
    Cook1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
    Total1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Brianna May

    Equipment:

    • Cheese Grater with Handle
    • Shallow Dutch Oven
    • Electric Can Opener

    Ingredients:

    • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 2-3 medium yellow onions, sliced thinly
    • 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt*
    • ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
    • freshly cracked black pepper
    • ⅔ cup dry white wine*
    • 6 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
    • 3 - 3 ½ cups beef broth
    • 1 12- ounce can evaporated milk
    • 1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce
    • 8 ounces short cut pasta
    • 6 ounces 1 ½ cups mozzarella, shredded
    • 4 ounces 1 cup gruyere cheese, shredded
    • 4 ounces 1 cup sharp white cheddar, shredded
    • 1 heaping cup crispy fried onions, like French’s

    Instructions:

    • In an oven & stovetop safe deep large skillet, add the butter, onions, salt, sugar, and pepper over medium-high heat.
    • Sauté for about 15 minutes until the onions start to turn golden brown. Deglaze the pan with about ⅓ of the wine.
    • Sauté for another 30 minutes, deglazing the pan twice more with the remaining wine (every 15 minutes). After 45 minutes, the onions should have reduced significantly in volume and be a deep brown color. See photos above.
    • Reduce to medium-low heat. Add the garlic and thyme. Sauté for about 1-2 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
    • Stir in 2 cups of broth, milk, worcestershire, and the pasta. Increase to medium heat and bring to a light boil. Cook and stir occasionally for about 10 minutes.
    • Stir in the remaining cup of broth.
    • Continue cooking for about 5-10 minutes or until the pasta is almost cooked through. If the pasta seems dry at any point, add a broth splash. Taste and add salt if needed.
    • Remove the pasta from the heat and stir in about 2 cups of the cheese.
    • Sprinkle the remaining cheese and crispy onions on top.
    • Bake for 10-15 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

    Notes:

    • Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
    • White Wine: I recommend an inexpensive bottle of sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio. You can also use additional beef broth instead of wine to omit alcohol. If you omit the wine, add 1-2 teaspoons dijon mustard for some acidity.
    • Carmelize the onions. The most time consuming part of this recipe is caramelizing the onions. It takes about 45 minutes and cannot be rushed. It is so worth it though!
    • Do not cook the pasta all the way through. I recommend tasting the pasta to check the doneness and salt level. You want the pasta to still be a bit chewy and undercooked because it will finish cooking in the oven. This will ensure it comes out al dente, instead of mushy. Add another pinch of salt if needed at this point as well. 
    • Add broth as needed. If you prefer a saucier pasta, add more broth as the pasta boil. If you prefer it thicker, then do not add as much.

    NUTRITION:

    Calories: 427kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 1091mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g
    Did you make this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention or tag @bites.with.bri_ or use the hashtag #biteswithbri
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    Comments

    1. Bobbi Lloyd

      June 17, 2023 at 8:58 am

      2 stars
      I followed your recipe to the T and it came out very salty. So added sliced up raw potatoes in hopes they will draw out the salt

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Bri!

    I am a recipe developer, food photographer, blogger. My goal is to teach you how to cook, not just follow my recipes. I love to cook with bold flavors that are still family friendly. My hubs is a picky eater and all of these recipes are approved by him, so I am sure you and your family will love them too. Learn more about Bri >>

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