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Easy French Onion Pasta Recipe

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4.3 from 64 reviews

This Easy French Onion Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish combining caramelized onions, herbs, and creamy gruyere cheese with perfectly cooked pipe rigate pasta, all made effortlessly in an Instant Pot for a rich and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Butter and Aromatics

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 medium yellow onions, sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ tbsp chopped thyme
  • 6 sage leaves, chopped

Liquids and Broth

  • 2 tbsp beef broth (for initial cooking)
  • 1 ¾ – 2 cups beef broth (for pasta cooking)
  • ¼ cup apple cider (can substitute dry white wine or additional broth)
  • ⅓ cup heavy cream

Other Ingredients

  • ⅛ tsp baking soda
  • 10 oz dry pipe rigate pasta (also called lumache or shellbows)
  • 4 oz freshly shredded gruyere cheese
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Start Sautéing Onions: Turn your Instant Pot to high sauté mode. Once preheated, add the butter and let it melt. Add the sliced onions and season with kosher salt, then stir to combine. Pour in 2 tbsp of beef broth, seal the Instant Pot, and set it on high pressure cook mode for 5 minutes. When done, manually release the pressure.
  2. Caramelize Onions: Strain off excess liquid from the onions, then return them to the pot on high sauté mode. Sprinkle baking soda over the onions and sauté for approximately 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes. If the onions start to burn at any point, deglaze the pot with a small amount of beef broth. By the end, the onions should be deeply caramelized, soft, and mushy.
  3. Add Herbs and Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic, chopped sage, and thyme, and cook for one more minute to release their aromas. Then deglaze the pot with the apple cider, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom to enhance the flavor.
  4. Add Pasta: Add the dry pipe rigate pasta to the pot and stir to coat it in the onion and herb mixture.
  5. Cook Pasta Under Pressure: Pour in the beef broth, ensuring the pasta is mostly submerged. Adjust broth quantity as needed depending on your Instant Pot size and pasta shape. Seal the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure mode for a calculated time using the formula: (package cook time ÷ 2) – 1 minute. For example, if the pasta package says 10 minutes, cook for 4 minutes. Manually release the pressure when finished.
  6. Finish with Cream and Cheese: Stir in the heavy cream to combine. Gradually add the shredded gruyere cheese, stirring until it melts fully into the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional kosher salt and black pepper as desired. Serve immediately and enjoy your creamy, onion-infused pasta!

Notes

  • Pipe rigate pasta works best due to its shape holding the sauce well, but other small pasta shapes like lumache or shellbows can be used.
  • Caramelizing onions with baking soda helps speed up the process and enhances sweetness.
  • If you prefer a vegetarian version, substitute beef broth with vegetable broth and omit the gruyere cheese or use a plant-based cheese alternative.
  • For additional flavor, garnish with fresh thyme or sage leaves before serving.
  • The cooking time for pasta under pressure varies by variety; use the formula suggested to avoid overcooking.

Find it online: https://justsosavory.com/easy-french-onion-pasta-recipe/