French Onion Mac and Cheese

This French onion mac and cheese uses a lot of ingredients. The recipe might seem intimidating at first, but don’t worry, you can more than handle it. In fact, most of the cooking here is simply melting and stirring, and then letting your oven do the heavy lifting. The only hard part of making this French onion mac and cheese recipe is waiting for it to hurry up and bake as your home starts to fill with amazing aromas.

If you love mac and cheese and have been looking for a way to dress it up in a more adult style, then you have absolutely found it with this recipe. Were you served this dish at a fine dining restaurant, you would send your compliments to the chef. So now let’s get you, the chef in our story, to work gathering those ingredients.

French Onion Mac and Cheese Ingredients

• Olive oil: Use two generous tablespoons of olive oil for frying the onions.
• Butter: Two tablespoons of butter add richness to the onions.
• Onions: Use white or yellow onions, thinly sliced.
• Cider vinegar: Cider vinegar and apple cider vinegar are indeed the same thing, so you can use whatever you have in the pantry.

Mac and Cheese:

• Uncooked elbow macaroni: As portioned out here, you’ll use an entire pound of uncooked elbow macaroni.
• Butter: A quarter cup of butter means a whole lot of flavor.
• All-purpose flour: All-purpose flour helps to ensure that the mac and cheese has the proper consistency.
• Milk: You must use whole milk for this recipe; 2% or skim milks are just too thin.
• Beef broth: We recommend reduced sodium beef broth, but you could also use a flavorful vegetable broth if you’re trying to keep this dish vegetarian-friendly.
• Swiss cheese: The shredded Swiss cheese delivers plenty of flavor and melts well to help with the texture.
• Gruyere cheese: The shredded Gruyere cheese does just the same thing as its Swiss counterpart.
• Worcestershire sauce: Just a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce is all you need to take the flavors up a notch.
• Garlic powder: While it can be tempting to go heavier on the garlic powder, we recommend that you stick with a 1/4 teaspoon or it might overwhelm some of the other ingredients.
• Thyme: Dried thyme adds a savory, herbal element to the flavor profile.
• Parmesan cheese: The Parmesan cheese is always best if freshly shredded. You’ll add it to the dish right before baking.
• French-fried onions: The French-fried onions are optional, but their wonderful crunch really is a welcome element.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the onions until tender

Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions; cook until tender, 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the vinegar, salt and pepper; continue cooking until the onions are golden brown and very soft, 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 2: Preheat the oven and cook the pasta

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400°F, then cook the macaroni according to package directions. Once cooked, drain it and set the noodles aside.

Step 3: Combine and melt the cheese

In a large sauce pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Then add the flour, whisking until the mixture is smooth. Then gradually add in the milk and broth and bring the blend to a simmer. Cook until the liquids have thickened, which will take three to four minutes, whisking occasionally. Then, stir in the Gruyere and Swiss cheeses, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, garlic powder and thyme, and mix until the cheeses have melted. Then, stir in the cooked macaroni.

Step 4: Bake the mac and cheese

Transfer everything in the pot to a greased 13×9-inch baking dish. Place dollops of caramelized onions on top of the mac and cheese, using a knife to swirl them around evenly. Sprinkle on the Parmesan and then bake the dish until the cheese is bubbly and the edges are golden brown, which will take 20 to 25 minutes. If desired, top the mac and cheese with french-fried onions and bake the mac and cheese for an additional two to three minutes.

French Onion Mac and Cheese Variations

• Add some wine: Adding about a half cup of white wine to the pan as you melt the cheeses will add more depth and complexity to this mac and cheese.
• Spice it up: A generous sprinkling of red pepper flakes will add a wonderful touch of heat to this dish.
• Sprinkle on bread crumbs: A generous layer of bread crumbs sprinkled over the mac and cheese after the parmesan will create a wonderful crust over the top of this dish.

How to Store French Onion Mac and Cheese

You can store this mac and cheese in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four days. It’s best reheated in a pan with a bit of broth and oil added, though you can always use the microwave as well.

Can you freeze French onion mac and cheese?

Yes, you can, you can freeze this mac and cheese for up to three months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating it.

French Onion Mac and Cheese Tips

What should I serve with this mac and cheese?

As this is a rich and rather heavy dish, the best counterpart is going to be a fresh green salad.

What should I do if I don’t have Gruyere cheese?

If need be, you can use an additional cup of shredded Swiss and a half cup of mozzarella to make up for the Gruyere.

Can I use a different pasta?

Yes, but you should definitely use one that is on the smaller side, such as a shell noodle.