# French Onion Mac and Cheese

This recipe is a comforting combination of French onion soup and macaroni and cheese.

- Total time: 60 min
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Soup
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 5 to 6 Spanish onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 5 to 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 to 3 thyme leaves, from sprigs
- 0.25 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 quart beef stock or bone broth
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1 lb favorite pasta
- 8 oz Swiss cheese
- 8 to 10 oz Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs

## Instructions

1. Thinly slice 5 to 6 Spanish onions.
2. In a heavy bottom pot over low heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
3. Add all of your sliced onions to the pot and stir every few minutes using a wooden or bamboo spoon.
4. After about 10 minutes, use the sliced onions to scrub up any sugars and onion bits (fond) sticking to the bottom of the pot.
5. When the fond can no longer be scrubbed up with onions, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to dissolve and pick up the brown bits. Repeat this process as needed.
6. While onions are caramelizing (which will take about 45 minutes to an hour), in a pot of boiling salted water, add about a pound of your favorite pasta and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
7. Once onions are caramelized, add 5 to 6 minced garlic cloves and the leaves from a few sprigs of thyme.
8. Stir in the garlic and thyme, then immediately add 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar.
9. Reduce the vinegar for a couple of minutes until it smells nice and sweet.
10. Strain the pasta.
11. Add 2 cups of heavy cream and a pinch of black pepper to the onion mixture.
12. Add 1 quart of beef stock or bone broth and a pinch of kosher salt.
13. Let the mixture come to a simmer, then remove from the heat.
14. Grate about 8 ounces of Swiss cheese and 8 to 10 ounces of Parmesan cheese.
15. In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups of panko breadcrumbs with about a third of the grated cheese.
16. To the remaining cheese, add the French onion sauce and the barely cooked pasta.
17. Mix everything together and transfer into a deep 9x13 pan.
18. Top generously with the cheesy breadcrumbs.
19. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are nice and toasty.

## Equipment

- heavy bottom pot
- wooden or bamboo spoon
- grater
- deep 9x13 pan

## Tips

- Caramelizing onions for 45 minutes to an hour is crucial for flavor.
- When scrubbing fond from the pot, add a tablespoon or two of water to dissolve brown bits.
- When grating cheese, switch to the palm of your hand when close to the grater for safety.
- Don't throw away Parmesan rind; steep it into marinara sauce or soups.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/567031686356369
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/0b2bb0aa-f8e2-4d65-bf70-80761e2aba90
- Extracted: 2026-03-21

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt