French Onion Mac and Cheese

French Onion Mac and Cheese combines sweet caramelized onions with a creamy Gruyère cheese sauce and is topped with buttered toasted panko breadcrumbs.

Course pasta side, side

Cuisine American, French American

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Prep Time 1 30

Cook Time 20

Total Time 1 50

Servings servings

Calories 528kcal

Author Beth Pierce

Ingredients

French Onion Mac and Cheese

4 large yellow onions, sliced in half and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
16 ounces large elbows
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2½ cups whole milk
14 ounces Gruyere cheese, shredded
kosher salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Crumb Topping

1½ tablespoons butter, unsalted or salted
¾ cup Panko breadcrumbs
2 cloves garlic, minced

Instructions

Heat the butter and olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook for about 45-60 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until they turn rich golden brown. If they are browning too fast, reduce the heat. Reserve half the caramelized onions.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta al dente and drain well.
Melt 1½ tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the breadcrumbs and brown for 2-3 minutes, shaking the pan frequently. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and shake it a couple more times while the pan is hot.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Reduce the heat to low on the skillet with the caramelized onions. Sprinkle them with flour and cook for 2 minutes while stirring.
Slowly add the milk and cook until slightly thickened. Slowly stir in the shredded cheese until melted and smooth. Stir in the cooked pasta. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Top with the reserved caramelized onions and the panko breadcrumb mixture. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the microwave at reduced power for short increments until warm.

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