Today's French Onion Mac and Cheese recipe has got your name written ALL over it, and I'm happily handing it to you! You're welcome! 🙂
Ever wish you could make a mac and cheese recipe that you'd become famous for? You know, the one your friends and family would consider your signature dish? Look no further.
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Table of Contents Found Here
- The ingredient list:
- Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- How this recipe came to be:
- The key to making perfect caramelized onions and how long does it take?
- Additional pasta shape suggestions:
- Can gluten-free pasta be used in this recipe?
- Can this macaroni and cheese recipe be made in advance?
- Praises from people who've made this recipe:
- Can this baked French onion mac and cheese be frozen?
- What's up with the addition of apple cider vinegar? Is this ingredient necessary?
- How do I reheat this French onion mac and cheese?
- Popular BBQ side dish recipes to complete your backyard entertaining.
- Printable Recipe Card
- French Onion Mac and Cheese
- Please comment if you've made this recipe.
The ingredient list:
*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.
- Sweet Onions (4), sliced
- Avocado Oil (or other light-colored oil)
- Butter
- Cooked Pasta (I used small shells)
- Fresh Thyme Sprigs
- Monterey Jack Cheese
- Cheddar Cheese
- Mozzarella Cheese
- All-Purpose Flour
- Milk (I used 2%)
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Salt and Pepper
Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- Large Pasta Pot
- Large Skillet
- Spatula or Wooden Spoon
- Box Grater or Cheese Grater
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Cutting Board
- Chef's Knife
- 13 x 9 Baking Dish
- Serving Spoon
How this recipe came to be:
This delicious pasta dish is a mashup of a recipe I've been making for years and years called Lovin' Onions, and a traditional baked macaroni and cheese recipe using a basic roux as the base, and then adding lots and lots of cheese!
If you love sweet caramelized onions and creamy macaroni and cheese, then you're going to absolutely flip your lid for this baked French onion mac and cheese casserole! You have my word on it!!
Click to Check out my latest and greatest Kudos Kitchen tasty BBQ side dishes recipe roundup.
The key to making perfect caramelized onions and how long does it take?
- The longer you cook the onions, the sweeter and the deeper golden brown color they become.
- To start the onions the heat under the pan should be medium-high. Once the onions have started to brown, reduce the heat to medium and continue caramelizing until your desired doneness.
- Don't season the onions right away. Wait until they start to get some color (about 5 minutes) before seasoning. Adding salt at the beginning of caramelizing will bring out the water in the onions and they won't get off to a good start.
- Don't stir often. Let the pan do the work and leave the onions cook, unattended, for periods of 7-10 minutes without stirring.
- From start to finish, for deeply caramelized onions, the process should take roughly 30 minutes.
Additional pasta shape suggestions:
You can use whatever pasta shape you love the most. A standard elbow shape is probably the most popular for a macaroni and cheese recipe, but why not switch things up a little by using a rotini (corkscrew), farfalle, fusilli, orecchiette, cavatelli, or cavatappi?
Just as long as you choose a pasta shape that will trap and carry all that wonderful cheesy caramelized onion sauce into your mouth, you'll be all set!
To learn more about fun and unique pasta shapes including all the nutritional information you need, check out the site Pasta Fits.
Can gluten-free pasta be used in this recipe?
Sure thing! It's totally your call what type of pasta you choose to use in this recipe.
Cook your chosen pasta according to the package directions, and carry on with the written recipe from there.
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Can this macaroni and cheese recipe be made in advance?
Yes, yes, and yes!!
As with all pasta dishes (at least I haven't heard of any that don't comply with this rule), they only get better after they've had a chance to sit for a day or two.
Cover the casserole dish well (cool it fully, first) and you can refrigerate this for up to 2 days before reheating and serving.
Leftovers can be stored in airtight containers for up to 5 days, but it's highly doubtful that they'll last that long!
Praises from people who've made this recipe:
"I've always read that the first time you make a recipe, follow it exactly as written, then tweak as you see fit. I made this yesterday as written, and I found no tweaking necessary! It was fabulous!!!" - @edjucat via YouTube
"Made this with GF pasta and it was incredible!!!" - A
"Renee, this is genius! Loved every bit of this recipe, never thought of adding caramelized onions to mac and cheese. Thank you for sharing!" - H
Can this baked French onion mac and cheese be frozen?
Heck yeah!!!
Might I suggest (if you're not feeding a crowd), that you divide this casserole in half and freeze some for another time?
Or, why not double the recipe, to begin with, eat one casserole now, and freeze one for later!
This is a great dish to bring to a pot-luck, back yard BBQ, church supper, or to surprise someone with a fuss-free meal just because you're that kind of super nice person.
What's up with the addition of apple cider vinegar? Is this ingredient necessary?
In my mind, YES! Please don't leave it out!
The apple cider vinegar will cut through the heavy richness of the cheese sauce and bring a nice balance to the completed dish.
Don't worry. The vinegar brightens and lightens the entire dish without adding a vinegary taste.
I do hope you'll trust me on this! It will take your French Onion Mac and Cheese from fine to FAMOUS!!
How do I reheat this French onion mac and cheese?
Reheating from the refrigerator -
- Allow the mac and cheese to sit on the counter for 30 minutes at room temperature while preheating the oven to 350-degrees.
- Bake the casserole for 30 minutes, covered, and 10 minutes uncovered.
- Serve and enjoy.
Reheating from the freezer -
- Preheat the oven to 350-degrees for 30 minutes.
- Place the frozen casserole in the oven (covered) and bake for 70 - 90 minutes.
- Stir and check if the casserole is heated through.
- Uncover, and continue to bake for an additional 30 minutes until the mac and cheese is melted, golden and bubbly.
Popular BBQ side dish recipes to complete your backyard entertaining.
When you make today's recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did.
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Printable Recipe Card
French Onion Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
For the caramelized onions:
- 3 large sweet onions sliced
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or other light colored oil
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1½ teaspoon coarse salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the cheese sauce:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or other light colored oil
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese cubed or shredded
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese cubed or shredded
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- pinch coarse salt
- pinch black pepper
- 1 pound pasta cooked and drained according to the package directions
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit
To make the pasta:
- Cook the pasta just shy of the package directions. Drain. Stir in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, set aside, and keep warm.
To make the caramelized onions:
- In a large heavy bottom skillet over medium-high heat, add the avocado oil and the sliced onions. Stir well to coat the onions in the oil. Allow the onions to cook without stirring for approximately 5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the salt, pepper, and thyme to the onions and stir well. Continue to cook the onions, stirring only occasionally, until the onions are deeply caramelized and golden brown (approximately 20-25 minutes).
- Remove the onions to a bowl and discard the thyme sprigs. Set the onions aside.
To make the cheese sauce:
- Melt the oil and butter in the same large skillet, over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring occasionally for 1-2 minutes.
- Add half of the milk to the butter-flour mixture (roux) and stir well to combine. Add the remaining milk to the skillet and stir well until the mixture thickens.
- Season the thickened sauce with a pinch of salt, a pinch of pepper. Add the cubed and shredded cheddar, jack, and mozzarella cheese to the skillet, and stir continually until the cheese is completely melted and creamy.
- Add the apple cider vinegar to the cheese sauce along with the caramelized onions, and the cooked and drained pasta. Stir well to combine.
- Spoon the French onion macaroni and cheese evenly into a 4-quart casserole dish that has been prepared with cooking spray.
- Bake the casserole in a preheated oven, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until the cheese lightly golden and bubbly.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's baked French Onion Mac and Cheese Casserole recipe as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!
Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen on my site, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact me. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back with you just as soon as I possibly can!
Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Susan says
What a great mix of cheeses to make this macaroni and cheese so dang good! It looks so creamy and delicious.
Gina says
This mac and cheese was incredible!
Toni says
I really can't wait to try this! Looks and sounds so good!
Renée says
Thank you, Toni. You're going to love it!
Lindsay Cotter says
Amazing flavors going on! Epic comfort food!
Renée says
Thank you, Lindsay! I love that word, epic! LOL
Hadia says
Renee, this is genius! Loved every bit of this recipe, never thought of adding caramelized onions to mac and cheese. Thank you for sharing!
Renée says
Thank you so much, Hadia! It is my pleasure to bring you something delicious! Enjoy!!
Renee
Shiho says
OMG! this is the macaroni cheese that I am going to take our block party!! Thank you <3
Alyssa says
Made this with GF pasta and it was incredible!!!
Renée says
Awesome! Glad to hear it, Alyssa!!
Liz says
Oh, Renee! I love, love all the gooey cheese AND caramelized onions! My idea of the best mac and cheese ever!
Renée says
It's definitely crazy good, Liz. Thanks so much!!