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French Onion Mac And Cheese served on a plate with a crispy topping and fresh parsley.

French Onion Mac And Cheese

Smiling woman with glasses and dark hair, professional portrait for Baked Bree website.Diane Goodman
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American Fusion
Servings 8 servings
Calories 760 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 large yellow onions thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon salt divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper divided
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 pound rigatoni or cavatappi
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 12 ounces shredded Gruyère cheese
  • 12 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • Fresh parsley chopped (for garnish)

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with the olive oil.
    Melting butter and olive oil in a stainless steel skillet for French Onion Mac And Cheese.
  • Add the sliced onions to the skillet.
    Sliced onions in a stainless steel pan, ready for cooking or caramelizing. Perfect for savory recipes and flavorful dishes.
  • Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper.
    Thinly sliced onions in a stainless steel skillet, seasoned with salt and black pepper.
  • Cook the onions over medium-low heat, stirring often, until they are golden brown and caramelized, about 40 minutes.
    Caramelizing sliced yellow onions in a skillet for French Onion Mac And Cheese.
  • Stir in the fresh thyme leaves during the last few minutes of cooking. Set aside.
    Stirring fresh thyme leaves into caramelized onions in a skillet for French Onion Mac And Cheese.
  • While the onions are cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente.
    Cooking cavatappi pasta for French Onion Mac And Cheese.
  • Drain the pasta and set it aside.
    Creamy cooked cavatappi pasta in a stainless steel strainer on a light gray countertop.
  • Preheat your oven to 425°F.
  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.
    Melting butter in a red saucepan for French Onion Mac And Cheese.
  • Add the flour and whisk constantly for 2 minutes to make a roux.
    Whisking flour and melted butter to make a roux for French Onion Mac And Cheese.
  • Slowly whisk in the whole milk until the mixture is smooth.
  • Stir in the dry mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce, remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper.
    Creamy sauce with black pepper in a red-handled skillet.
  • Keep cooking the sauce, stirring frequently, until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon, around 5 minutes.
    Stirring the creamy sauce for French Onion Mac And Cheese in a red pot.
  • Take the sauce off the heat. Set aside 1/4 cup of grated cheddar cheese for topping. Then, stir in the rest of the shredded Gruyère and cheddar cheeses until fully melted and smooth. Adjust salt and pepper as needed.
    Stirring shredded cheddar and Gruyère cheeses into the creamy sauce for French Onion Mac And Cheese.
  • Combine cooked pasta, caramelized onions, and cheese sauce in a large bowl. Mix well to coat evenly.
  • Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Pour the mixture into the dish and spread it evenly.
    Pouring French onion mac and cheese into a white baking dish.
  • Sprinkle the panko breadcrumbs evenly over the top of the pasta, followed by the remaining cheese.
    Creamy macaroni and cheese casserole with shredded cheddar cheese on top.
  • Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly. Remove foil during the last 5 minutes of baking to help brown the top.
    French Onion Mac And Cheese baked in a white casserole dish with a golden-brown topping.
  • Let the mac and cheese cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.
    Cheesy baked pasta casserole with breadcrumbs and fresh herbs, served in a white baking dish.

Nutrition

Calories: 760kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 35gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 23gSodium: 1020mgFiber: 2g
Keyword French Onion Mac and Cheese
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