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Dinner

French Onion Mac and Cheese

This comforting dish blends the deep flavor of caramelized onions with creamy, melty cheese pasta.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 French American· July 17, 2026
French Onion Mac and Cheese
dailyrecipesbook.com
Prep
15 minutes
Cook
45 minutes
Total
1 hour
Serves
6

French onion soup is a classic favorite, and mixing those sweet, savory onions into a rich mac and cheese is pure magic. It is the ultimate comfort food for cold evenings when you want something extra cozy for dinner.

My top tip is to take your time with the onions. Cooking them slowly over low heat brings out a natural sweetness that you just cannot rush, so grab a glass of wine and let them brown perfectly while you prep the rest of the meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese
  • 1 cup shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni, cooked al dente
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. 1

    Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.

  2. 2

    Add the sliced onions and cook them slowly for about 20 minutes until they are soft and golden brown.

  3. 3

    Stir in the garlic and thyme, cooking for one more minute until fragrant.

  4. 4

    Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up all the tasty browned bits from the bottom.

  5. 5

    Whisk in the flour and cook for two minutes to remove the raw flour taste.

  6. 6

    Slowly pour in the beef broth and heavy cream while whisking constantly to keep the sauce smooth.

  7. 7

    Simmer the sauce for 5 minutes until it thickens, then stir in most of the cheese until melted.

  8. 8

    Fold the cooked pasta into the sauce and season with salt and pepper.

  9. 9

    Transfer everything to a baking dish, top with the remaining cheese and breadcrumbs, and broil for 3 to 5 minutes until the top is golden and bubbly.

💡 Tips

Leftovers stay delicious in the fridge for up to three days. Cover the dish with foil when reheating in the oven to keep the pasta from drying out. You can serve this as a main meal with a crisp green salad on the side.

#comfort food#pasta#cheesy#dinner#vegetarian

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