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spooning french onion soup pasta.
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5 from 2 votes

Cheesy One-Pot French Onion Soup Pasta

This pasta brings all the rich, comforting flavours of classic French onion soup into a creamy, cheesy one-pot dish.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: French-Inspired
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 350 g pasta shells, rigatoni, or fusilli work well
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 medium–large white onions thinly sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves crushed
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 100 ml white wine
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp balsamic glaze or balsamic vinegar
  • 700 ml beef stock
  • 250 ml water
  • 200 ml double cream
  • 1 handful Gruyère cheese grated
  • Optional: a little grated Parmesan or mozzarella for extra meltiness

Instructions

  • Heat the butter and olive oil in a large pan over a medium–low heat. Add the sliced onions and a pinch of salt and cook gently for around 30 minutes, stirring often, until they are deep golden and caramelised.
  • Add the garlic and thyme, and cook until fragrant, around 2 minutes. Pour in the white wine and let it bubble for a minute to cook off the alcohol.
  • Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and balsamic glaze.
  • Add the pasta, beef stock, and water. Stir well and bring to a simmer.
  • Cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring often, until the pasta is cooked and most of the liquid has absorbed.
  • dd the double cream and a large handful of Gruyère, stirring together. Season with salt and black pepper.
  • Preheat your grill (or heat your broiler). Top with the remaining Gruyère (and a little Parmesan or mozzarella if using).
  • Place the pan under the grill for 5 or so minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
  • Bring the dish straight to the table and serve hot, ideally with crusty bread and a crisp green salad.
  • The video below will help with this recipe.

Video

Notes

Scroll up for a step by step guide on how to make French onion soup pasta.
To store: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days. 
To reheat: Reheat gently on the hob with a splash of stock or cream, stirring until hot. You will lose the crispy top this way but if you reheat in the oven, you'll dry it out too much.
To freeze: For best results, freeze before adding the cream and cheese topping. Cool completely, portion, and freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge. Reheat slowly, then stir through cream and top with cheese before grilling.
Make ahead: you could make the whole dish in the morning, and then just reheat and make it crispy in the evening when ready to serve. To make sure it's fully heated through, I would undercook the pasta for 1-2 mins in the pan in the morning then place it in the oven like a pasta bake at 200c for 10-15 minutes until bubbling and hot. 

Nutrition

Calories: 693kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 447mg | Potassium: 770mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 930IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 2mg