Description
A comforting fusion of French onion soup and mac & cheese, featuring caramelized onions, a rich cheesy sauce, and a golden breadcrumb topping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (dry)
- 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 ½ cups shredded Gruyère cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 2-quart baking dish and set aside.
- Cook macaroni in salted boiling water until just under al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and sauté the onions over medium-low heat for about 25 minutes until deeply golden. Add garlic and thyme, cooking for 1 more minute.
- Push onions aside in the skillet, melt remaining butter, then add flour. Stir constantly to create a roux.
- Gradually whisk in beef broth and milk. Cook until the mixture thickens.
- Season with salt and pepper, remove from heat, and stir in Gruyère, mozzarella, and cheddar until melted.
- Mix cooked pasta into the cheese sauce. Transfer everything into the greased baking dish.
- Toast breadcrumbs in olive oil until golden and sprinkle them on top of the pasta mixture.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until the top is bubbly and golden.
- Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Undercook pasta slightly to avoid mushiness after baking.
- Prepare onions a day ahead to save time.
- Blend cheeses for optimal flavor and melt.
- Use fresh shredded cheese for best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 670mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: french onion mac and cheese, cheesy baked pasta, comfort food, fusion recipe, caramelized onion pasta