Best 7 French Onion Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary journey with our French Onion Macaroni and Cheese, a delectable dish that masterfully blends the rich flavors of caramelized onions and creamy cheese. This comfort food classic is elevated with a hint of French sophistication, making it perfect for both casual gatherings and special occasions. Discover the secrets behind achieving the perfect caramelized onions, the ideal cheese combination for a velvety sauce, and the secret ingredient that adds a touch of umami to this unforgettable dish. This comprehensive guide also includes a vegetarian variation, ensuring that everyone can savor the exquisite flavors of this French-inspired macaroni and cheese.

Let's cook with our recipes!

FRENCH ONION MACARONI AND CHEESE



French Onion Macaroni and Cheese image

This outrageously good macaroni and cheese fuses two classic comfort foods into one dish. Caramelizing onions can be a time-consuming affair, but here, the process is sped up by using high heat and and a little water to prevent scorching. The sauce is made with a combination of Gruyère, to remind you of French onion soup, and white Cheddar, to make it melty and smooth. Instead of topping the dish with a dusting of diminutive bread crumbs, it's dotted with Gruyère toasts that become melty and crisp after a few minutes under the broiler. (You'll want to slide a sheet pan underneath before baking, in case some of the sauce bubbles over.) This is over-the-top richness at its best.

Provided by Ali Slagle

Categories     dinner, casseroles, pastas, main course, side dish

Time 1h

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Kosher salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the pan
2 pounds yellow or Vidalia onions, peeled, halved and thinly sliced
5 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more thyme leaves for garnish
1 fresh or dried bay leaf (optional)
Black pepper
1 pound cavatappi or elbow pasta
1 baguette, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 garlic clove
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
16 ounces Gruyère, grated (about 5 cups)
12 ounces white Cheddar, grated (about 4 cups)

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. (If you're planning to bake the macaroni and cheese in a baking dish instead of a skillet, butter 9-by-13-inch baking dish or other 3-quart casserole.)
  • Meanwhile, in a deep, large (12-inch) ovenproof skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions, thyme sprigs and bay leaf, if using, and season with salt and pepper. Cover with a lid, baking sheet or foil and cook, stirring once or twice, until the onions are softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Uncover and continue to cook on medium-high, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. If the onions look dry, add a few tablespoons of water at a time to prevent them from burning, scraping up any browned bits that are stuck to the bottom of the skillet. (You will need to do this several times.)
  • While the onions are cooking, heat the oven to 450 degrees. Cook the pasta in the boiling water until 2 minutes shy of al dente; drain and set aside. Rub one side of each baguette slice with garlic.
  • When the onions are a deep golden brown, discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf and deglaze the skillet with the vinegar until evaporated, scraping up browned bits as you go, about 30 seconds. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. When melted, add the flour and cook, stirring, until the flour begins to stick to the bottom of the pan and has turned a light golden brown, about 3 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking often.
  • Reserve 1 cup of the Gruyère. Carefully add the remaining Gruyère and all the Cheddar to the caramelized onion mixture and carefully stir until melted. If your pan is big enough, add the cooked pasta and stir to combine, or combine the sauce and pasta in the prepared dish.
  • Spread the pasta mixture in an even layer in the prepared dish, then top with the baguette slices, garlic-side up. Sprinkle the toasts with the reserved 1 cup Gruyère and season with pepper. Place the skillet or dish on a sheet pan and bake until bubbly and brown in spots, 10 to 15 minutes. If you like a crispier top, broil for a few minutes. Let cool slightly, then garnish with fresh thyme leaves.

BACON MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH BÉCHAMEL SAUCE AND CHEDDAR FRENCH FRIED ONION CRUST RECIPE



BACON MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH BÉCHAMEL SAUCE AND CHEDDAR FRENCH FRIED ONION CRUST RECIPE image

Categories     Cheese     Pasta     Bake     Dinner     Lunch     Winter

Yield 5

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 teaspoon salt
1 lb. elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons TWISTED Bacon, Dijon Mustard & Green Onion Butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
16 oz. sharp cheddar, shredded
16 oz. Velveeta, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
6 oz (1 can) French's Cheddar French Fried Onions, crushed
9 strips of bacon
Béchamel Sauce Ingredients
3 tablespoons TWISTED Bacon, Dijon Mustard & Green Onion Butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk, heated
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce
5 oz parmesan cheese, grated

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter or spray a 3-quart glass or ceramic baking dish with non-stick spray. To make the Béchamel Sauce, melt the TWISTED Bacon, Dijon Mustard & Green Onion Butter in a medium saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Slowly add the heated milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 4 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Remove from heat and add salt, pepper, parmesan and Tabasco. Stir until the cheese in melted. Cover and set aside. Cook the bacon until just crispy and set aside to cool. Boil a large pot of water; add 1 tsp salt and the macaroni. Cook for approximately 5 minutes until the macaroni is very al dente. Drain the noodles and return to the pot. Immediately add the butter, garlic and Béchamel Sauce. Toss well. Place 1/3 of the macaroni in the baking dish. Evenly top with 1/3 of the shredded cheddar, 1/3 of the Velveeta and 3 slices of bacon broken into small pieces. Repeat until all noodles, bacon and cheese are in the pan. Top with the crushed French fried onions. Bake for 35 - 45 minutes or until the top is beginning to brown. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving

FRENCH ONION MACARONI AND CHEESE SOUP



French Onion Macaroni and Cheese Soup image

During our first test in the Kitchens, our tasters thought this mash-up soup was just a big bowl of macaroni and cheese but the French onion soup hidden underneath the golden cheesy topping was a warm and welcome surprise. Make your soup ahead; once cooled, it can be frozen for up to 1 month.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     appetizer

Time 2h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
4 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced (about 14 cups)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 bay leaves
2 to 3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 cup dry white wine
4 cups low-sodium beef broth
4 ounces elbow macaroni (1 cup)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 3/4 cups shredded gruyere
1 3/4 cups shredded sharp yellow Cheddar
2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs

Steps:

  • For the soup: Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add half of the onions and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Top with the remaining onions and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few more grinds of pepper. Add the bay leaves and thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until all of the liquid evaporates the onions are very soft and just begin to turn golden, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  • Add the white wine, bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, until almost completely evaporated, about 6 minutes. Pour in the beef broth and 1 cup water, bring to a high simmer and cook until the soup has reduced to 5 cups, 30 to 40 minutes. Season with salt and a few grinds of pepper. Remove the bay leaves and thyme. Either keep warm on a low burner or cool completely, refrigerate and reheat later. (The soup can be made and refrigerated up to 2 days in advance or frozen for up to 1 month).
  • For the mac 'n' cheese: Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until smooth, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk and reserved pasta water and stir until thick, about 4 minutes. Stir in 1 cup each of the cheeses, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; stir until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the cooked pasta until coated. Let cool slightly, stirring frequently.
  • Preheat the oven to broil. Place the soup crocks on a rimmed baking sheet and divide the hot soup among the crocks, filling about three-quarters of the way. Top each with a quarter of the mac 'n' cheese (some will sink into the soup, which is fine). Evenly sprinkle with the remaining cheeses and the panko. Broil until the cheese is melted and golden brown in spots, 2 to 3 minutes (the soup will bubble and some may spill out). Serve hot.

FRENCH ONION SOUP MACARONI AND CHEESE



French Onion Soup Macaroni and Cheese image

From Food Network's Ultimate Recipe Showdown- Comfort Foods. This wonderful recipe was submitted by Brett Greenberg. While it looks wonderful and got lots of oohs and ahs from the judges, as written, this is an artery-clogging heart stopper! Using low fat ingredients in the bechamel sauce would be an easy way to lighten this up.

Provided by SusieQusie

Categories     Cheese

Time 2h

Yield 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk or 2 cups half-and-half
salt & freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces gruyere cheese, grated
3 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated
2 tablespoons butter, plus
1 tablespoon butter (or nonstick spray)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
3 large white onions, thinly sliced
6 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons honey
salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 cup dry sherry
2 cups beef stock
8 sprigs fresh thyme leaves
1 lb pasta, cooked al dente (elbow macaroni, ziti, or fusilli work well)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Topping: Combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl and set aside.
  • Bechamel Sauce: Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over low heat in a medium saucepan. Add the flour and stir to combine. Stir constantly, for about 3 minutes.
  • Increase heat to medium and whisk in the milk or half-and-half, adding a little at a time and cook until thickened, about 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Lower heat, season with the salt and pepper and add Gruyere and mozzarella cheeses. Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Set aside.
  • French Onion "Soup:" Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter and olive oil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan. Add onions, cover, and cook 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
  • Remove cover, add garlic and honey, and continue to cook uncovered, stirring frequently, until onions are caramelized, about 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and a generous amount of pepper.
  • Remove pot from heat and add sherry. Return to heat and stir to remove browned bits from bottom of pan. Cook over low heat until sherry is reduced by half, then add stock and thyme and cook until almost all liquid is evaporated. Remove from heat.
  • Grease a 3-quart baking dish or casserole with the last tablespoon of butter or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Combine cooked pasta with onion "soup" mixture and bechamel sauce, and stir well to combine.
  • Transfer pasta to baking dish and sprinkle with bread crumb/Parmesan topping.
  • Bake until top is golden brown and cheese is bubbly, about 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 713, Fat 27.4, SaturatedFat 15.3, Cholesterol 75.2, Sodium 538.6, Carbohydrate 65.9, Fiber 2.9, Sugar 12.6, Protein 23.8

FRENCH ONION MACARONI AND CHEESE



French Onion Macaroni and Cheese image

Make and share this French Onion Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.

Provided by threeovens

Categories     Penne

Time 40m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 tablespoons butter
2 large onions, sliced very thin
1 teaspoon ground thyme
1 bay leaf
salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 lb penne rigate
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup milk
nutmeg, freshly grated
3/4 lb gruyere cheese or 3/4 lb swiss cheese, shredded

Steps:

  • Heat a skillet over medium high heat and cook onions, thyme, and bay leaf in butter for 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper, lower heat and cook until onions are browned, about 10 to 15 minutes, transfer to a plate, discard bay leaf.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add pasta and cook until al dente; drain and return to pot.
  • Melt 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet over medium heat.
  • Whisk in flour for about a minute, then whisk in chicken stock and milk and bring to a boil.
  • Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg, lower heat and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in cheese to melt.
  • Combine onions and cheese sauce with pasta and toss.

FRENCH ONION MACARONI AND CHEESE



French Onion Macaroni and Cheese image

Categories     Pasta     Casserole/Gratin     Dinner     Bake

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 tablespoons Unsalted butter, plus more for greasing pan
2 pounds Yellow or Vidalia onions, peeled, halved, and thinly sliced
5 sprigs Fresh thyme
1 Bay leaf (optional)
1 pound Cavatappi or elbow pasta
1 Baguette, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 clove Garlic
2 tablespoons Sherry vinegar, white wine vinegar, or red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons All-purpose flour
4 cups Whole milk
16 ounces Gruyere, grated (about 5 cups)
12 ounces White Cheddar, grated (about 4 cups)

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. (If you're planning to bake the macaroni and cheese in a baking dish instead of a skillet, butter 9-by-13-inch baking dish or other 3-quart casserole.)
  • Meanwhile, in a deep, large (12-inch) ovenproof skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions, thyme sprigs and bay leaf, if using, and season with salt and pepper. Cover with a lid, baking sheet or foil and cook, stirring once or twice, until the onions are softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Uncover and continue to cook on medium-high, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. If the onions look dry, add a few tablespoons of water at a time to prevent them from burning, scraping up any browned bits that are stuck to the bottom of the skillet. (You will need to do this several times.)
  • While the onions are cooking, heat the oven to 450 degrees. Cook the pasta in the boiling water until 2 minutes shy of al dente; drain and set aside. Rub one side of each baguette slice with garlic.
  • When the onions are a deep golden brown, discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf and deglaze the skillet with the vinegar until evaporated, scraping up browned bits as you go, about 30 seconds. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. When melted, add the flour and cook, stirring, until the flour begins to stick to the bottom of the pan and has turned a light golden brown, about 3 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking often.
  • Reserve 1 cup of the Gruyère. Carefully add the remaining Gruyère and all the Cheddar to the caramelized onion mixture and carefully stir until melted. If your pan is big enough, add the cooked pasta and stir to combine, or combine the sauce and pasta in the prepared dish.
  • Spread the pasta mixture in an even layer in the prepared dish, then top with the baguette slices, garlic-side up. Sprinkle the toasts with the reserved 1 cup Gruyère and season with pepper. Place the skillet or dish on a sheet pan and bake until bubbly and brown in spots, 10 to 15 minutes. If you like a crispier top, broil for a few minutes. Let cool slightly, then garnish with fresh thyme leaves.

FRENCH ONION MACARONI AND CHEESE



French Onion Macaroni and Cheese image

Feast your eyes on this mac and cheese recipe,it's french onion soup style,it filled with caramelized onions,french onion dip and onion rings,it's great on pot roast and baked fish.

Provided by raymond spencer

Categories     Pasta Sides

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 bag(s) frozen onion rings
2 c shredded parmesan cheese,divided
1 (12 ounce) package dried macaroni
1 packet french onion soup mix
1/2 c margarine
1 large vidalia onion,diced
3/4 c chopped red onion
3/4 c light brown sugar
1/2 c panko bread crumbs
FRENCH ONION CHEESE SAUCE
1 1/2 c milk
3/4 c french onion dip
1 (8 ounce) cream cheese,softened
1/2 c half and half
3/4 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 c shredded monterey jack cheese
1 c shredded swiss cheese

Steps:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 375 F.Lightly grease a 9x13- inch baking dish.Add frozen onion rings and 1 cup parmesan cheese;mix well.
  • 2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.Add macaroni and cook for 8 to10 minutes or until al dente;drain.Add french onion soup mix on macaroni and toss together.
  • 3. Meanwhile,melt the margarine in a medium skillet over medium heat.Stir in the onions and saute for 3 minutes until it begins to soften.Add brown sugar and continue cooking until the onions are caramelized for 5 minutes.
  • 4. To make French Onion Cheese Sauce:in a large saucepan,combine milk,french onion dip,cream cheese,half and half,sharp cheddar,monterey jack and swiss cheese.Stir in over medium-low heat,simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.
  • 5. Add onion mixture and macaroni,continue stirring until blended.
  • 6. Pour into the prepared baking dish.Sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese and bread crumbs over the macaroni mixture.
  • 7. Bake in preheated oven until bubbly and brown,about 30 minutes.Remove from the oven and allow to stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Tips:

  • Use a good quality cheese. A sharp cheddar or Gruyère will give the macaroni and cheese a rich, flavorful taste.
  • Don't overcook the macaroni. It should be al dente, or slightly firm to the bite.
  • Make sure the onion is caramelized before adding it to the macaroni and cheese. This will give it a deep, sweet flavor.
  • Season the macaroni and cheese to taste. Salt, pepper, and garlic powder are all good options.
  • Top the macaroni and cheese with a breadcrumb topping. This will give it a crispy, golden crust.

Conclusion:

French onion macaroni and cheese is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. With its rich, flavorful cheese sauce, caramelized onions, and crispy breadcrumb topping, this dish is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a new macaroni and cheese recipe, give this one a try. You won't be disappointed!

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