This french onion mac and cheese is a decadent twist on macaroni and cheese plus french onion soup. Caramelized onions, gruyere cheese sauce, fresh thyme and pasta come together in this baked dream of a side dish!

Just when you thought mac and cheese couldn’t get any better… 

I present to you: french onion mac and cheese!

Deeply caramelized onions. Silky gruyere cheese sauce with lots of garlic and thyme. Tender noodles swimming in the velvety cheese and baked until perfect. 

Oh my word. How does something this delicious even exist?! 

I have french onion-ed many many things. Almost all the things. But never mac and cheese! Which seems absolutely wild considering if anything would benefit from a whole host of caramelized onions, noodles and cheese. 

Inquiring minds want to know: are you a mac and cheese-on-Thanksgiving family, or not? We are a no-mac family on Thanksgiving. It’s never been a dish we’ve served. I might have made a version once or twice right after I had Max, but it’s never been a staple on our (very) traditional Thanksgiving table.

However, I know for many of you that it is a staple! 

Since it’s not one of the classic dishes on our table, I feel like I can change it up. While my family may go crazy if I make flavored mashed potatoes or a different kind of vegetable, the mac and cheese is up for grabs. It means that I can experiment and serve something fancy and fun.

And ridiculously decadent and delicious. 

This is that once-a-year recipe. The indulgent side dish you share on a super special occasion!

This is how I make it!

I use one large pan. You can do this in a dutch oven – I like to use my large le creuset braiser. 

First, I make caramelized onions. This will take a long time. Like, over one hour. You don’t have to babysit the onions the entire time, but you do want to stir them often. Adding a few splashes of water off and on will help them not burn. 

Once the onions are caramelized, I transfer them to a dish. I use that same pan to make the cheese sauce! I use a combination of gruyere and parmesan cheeses.

At some point in between these two things, I cook the pasta. It’s easy, done and ready to go.

When the cheese sauce is ready, I add the pasta into it. Then I add the caramelized onions. Another big sprinkle of cheese on top. 

Finally, I finish things off with a big breadcrumb sprinkle and a few extra caramely onions on top.

Then it’s time to bake! 25 to 30 minutes in the oven is all you need. Bake it until bubbly and cheese and melty and oh my goodness.

There should be a french onion mac and cheese candle!

This is a crazy good side dish. Even a fun main dish with a big greens salad. And it serves many people, because it’s rich and decadent. Great for the holiday season!

Caramelly crispy onions on top are all mine! (more…)

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