French Onion Mac and Cheese
Made a French onion mac and cheese that’s giving all the cozy, savory vibes. The base is a classic béchamel loaded with Gruyère and mozzarella, layered with slow-cooked caramelized onions in beef stock, and tossed with pasta until glossy and rich. Finished it off with more onions for that extra depth. Perfect for a chilly night, dinner party side, or just because you want mac and cheese to be the main event.
PREP TIME: 10 MINS COOK TIME: 40 MINS TOTAL TIME: 50 MINS
Ingredients
For the caramelized onions
- 3 white onions, thinly sliced
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 1 1/4 cups beef stock
For the base
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 1/2 cups whole milk
- 3/4 cup Gruyère cheese, grated
- 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 16 ounces pasta
Instructions
In a large pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 to 40 minutes until the onions are deeply golden and caramelized.
Stir in the beef stock and thyme. Turn the heat to medium-high and cook for another 10 minutes, letting most of the liquid reduce. Set the onions aside.
In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until a paste forms and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Simmer for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens.
Remove the sauce from the heat. Stir in about two-thirds of the caramelized onions, the Gruyère, mozzarella, Dijon mustard, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Set the sauce aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until just al dente. Reserve about half a cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
Return the pasta to the pot or a large pan. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and mix well. If the sauce feels too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it.
Top with the remaining caramelized onions.
Enjoy!
