Best 6 Fried Onion Topped Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

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Welcome to a culinary delight that combines the comforting flavors of macaroni and cheese with the crispy, savory goodness of fried onions. This classic dish is elevated with a delightful blend of spices and a creamy cheese sauce, making it a perfect comfort food for any occasion.

In this comprehensive guide, you'll embark on a culinary journey with a collection of delectable macaroni and cheese recipes, each offering unique variations and flavors to tantalize your taste buds. From the classic Southern-style macaroni and cheese with its rich, gooey texture to the adventurous Cajun macaroni and cheese with its spicy kick, these recipes cater to every palate.

Get ready to indulge in a symphony of cheesy goodness as you explore recipes that showcase different types of cheese, from the sharp cheddar to the creamy brie, each adding its own distinct character to the dish. Discover innovative ways to incorporate tantalizing ingredients like crispy bacon, tender chicken, and sautéed vegetables, transforming your macaroni and cheese into a hearty and satisfying meal.

Whether you prefer a traditional baked macaroni and cheese with its golden-brown crust or a quick and easy stovetop version, this collection has something for every home cook. With step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and mouthwatering images, these recipes will guide you in creating a perfect macaroni and cheese that will steal the show at your next gathering.

So, prepare your taste buds for a delightful journey as you explore a world of macaroni and cheese recipes, each offering a unique symphony of flavors and textures. Let the irresistible aroma of fried onions lead you into a culinary adventure that will leave you craving for more.

Let's cook with our recipes!

FRENCH ONION "SOUP" MAC AND CHEESE



French Onion

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h55m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk or half-and-half
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces Gruyere, grated
3 ounces mozzarella grated
2 tablespoons butter, plus 1 tablespoon (or nonstick spray)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 large white onions, thinly sliced
6 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons honey
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup dry sherry
2 cups beef stock
8 sprigs fresh thyme leaves
1 pound 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. Reduce sherry 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.

FRENCH ONION BAKED MAC AND CHEESE



French Onion Baked Mac and Cheese image

This elevated take on a traditional Thanksgiving side combines the sweetness of caramelized onions with the creamy tang of two kinds of cheese. The crunchy French fried onion topping -- everyone's favorite Thanksgiving garnish -- adds the perfect counterpoint to all that creaminess.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h10m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
4 onions, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 cup white wine
1 beef bouillon cube
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
3 cups milk
1 pound sharp yellow Cheddar, grated (about 4 cups)
1 pound Gruyere, grated (about 4 cups)
One 6-ounce container French fried onions
Chopped chives, for topping

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just slightly softened, about 6 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and rinse under cold water.
  • Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, sprinkle with the thyme, sugar and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until dark brown, about 20 minutes. Add the wine and bouillon cube and stir to dissolve the bouillon. Cook until the liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
  • Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, mustard powder and cayenne. Cook, whisking constantly, until smooth and slightly golden, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk. Cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce begins to boil and thicken, about 7 minutes; remove from the heat. Stir in the Cheddar and 2 cups of the Gruyere until fully melted. Stir in the pasta, adding the reserved pasta water as needed to make a creamy sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small bowl in the microwave. Brush a 9-by-13-inch metal baking dish with the melted butter. Spread half the pasta mixture in the prepared dish. Top with the onion mixture in an even layer, then cover with the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining Gruyere.
  • Bake until heated through and just bubbling, about 20 minutes. Top with the French fried onions and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with the chives before serving.

FRENCH ONION MAC AND CHEESE



French Onion Mac and Cheese image

An upscale mac and cheese! Don't skimp on the cheese! It makes the mac and cheese taste amazing!

Provided by Libbie Remmel

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 40m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
2 large onions, very thinly sliced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup beef broth
1 cup milk
1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg, or to taste
¾ pound shredded Gruyere cheese

Steps:

  • Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onions, thyme, and bay leaf in the butter for 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until onions are browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a plate and discard the bay leaf. Reserve the skillet.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, melt remaining butter in the reserved skillet over medium heat. Whisk in flour for 1 minute, then whisk in beef broth and milk and bring to a boil; season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in Gruyere cheese until melted.
  • Drain macaroni and toss with onion and sauce until well combined.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 633.5 calories, Carbohydrate 64.8 g, Cholesterol 86 mg, Fat 28.2 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 29.4 g, SaturatedFat 16.4 g, Sodium 372.4 mg, Sugar 6.3 g

FRIED ONION TOPPED MACARONI AND CHEESE



Fried Onion Topped Macaroni and Cheese image

I loved using the fried onions on top of a lot of things and as breading. I made this recipe and it was so good and comforting. It's a dish the whole family loves. I sneak in the cream of mushroom soup in this one and just tell my husband it's the fried onions if he comes across any pieces of mushrooms. He didn't know the...

Provided by Annamaria Settanni McDonald

Categories     Other Main Dishes

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 can(s) cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c milk
1/2 tsp mustard
1/8 tsp seasoned pepper
1 1/2 c elbow macaroni, cooked
2 c shredded cheddar cheese
1 c finely crushed french fried onions

Steps:

  • 1. In a greased 2 quart baking dish, blend soup, milk, mustard and seasoned pepper.
  • 2. Stir in macaroni and 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese.
  • 3. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
  • 4. Remove from oven and add additional shredded cheese and fried onions and bake for another 10 minutes.
  • 5. Enjoy!

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.

FOUR CHEESE MACARONI



Four Cheese Macaroni image

The epitome of comfort: Creamy mac and cheese with melty Mexican-Style cheese shreds and a crunchy SHAKE 'N BAKE topping.

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Macaroni & Cheese

Time 30m

Yield 8 servings, about 1 cup each

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 pkt. SHAKE 'N BAKE Seasoned Panko Seasoned Coating Mix
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1-1/2 pkg. (8 oz. each) KRAFT Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese (3 cups)
4 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup flour
1/8 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)
1-1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Combine first 3 ingredients in medium bowl. Stir in 1 cup cheese.
  • Cook macaroni as directed on package, omitting salt. Meanwhile, melt butter in large saucepan on low heat. Stir in flour and red pepper; cook and stir 2 min. or until bubbly. Gradually stir in milk; cook on medium heat 3 to 5 min. or until mixture comes to boil, stirring constantly. Stir in sour cream; simmer on low heat 3 to 5 min. or until thickened. Add remaining cheese; cook and stir 2 min. or until melted.
  • Drain macaroni. Add to sauce; stir to evenly coat. Spoon into 8 (1-cup) baking dishes sprayed with cooking spray; sprinkle with cheese mixture.
  • Bake 10 min. or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 500, Fat 23 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 65 mg, Sodium 530 mg, Carbohydrate 55 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 5 g, Protein 19 g

Tips:

  • Use a good quality cheese. This will make a big difference in the flavor of the macaroni and cheese. A combination of sharp cheddar and Parmesan cheese works well.
  • Cook the macaroni al dente. This means that it should be cooked through but still have a slight bite to it. Overcooked macaroni will make the dish mushy.
  • Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the sauce. This will help to prevent the sauce from becoming too thin.
  • Season the sauce to taste. Add salt, pepper, and other spices to taste. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little heat.
  • Top the macaroni and cheese with fried onions. This will add a delicious crunch and flavor to the dish.

Conclusion:

Fried onion-topped macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With the tips provided in this article, you can make the best fried onion-topped macaroni and cheese that you have ever tasted.

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