French Onion Spaghetti
French Onion Spaghetti
Ingredients
For the French Onion Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 yellow onions, halved then sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup cognac
- 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
For the Spaghetti
- 1/2 pound spaghetti
For Garnish
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, or as needed
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs, chopped (thyme, Italian parsley, or chives)
Instructions
- 1
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, add the olive oil and butter. Heat over medium heat until the butter is melted and bubbling.
⏱️ 2 min
- 2
Add the sliced yellow onions, salt, and black pepper to the pan. Add the fresh thyme sprigs. Stir to coat the onions.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, for 20-25 minutes, or until they are deeply golden brown and caramelized. This step is crucial for developing the rich flavor.
⏱️ 25 min
- 4
Deglaze the pan by pouring in the cognac. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Allow the cognac to cook down for 1-2 minutes.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Stir in the sherry vinegar and Worcestershire sauce.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Pour in the beef stock and bring the sauce to a simmer. Allow it to reduce slightly and thicken for about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce is creamy and emulsified. Remove the thyme sprigs.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
While the sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti according to package directions in a separate pot of generously salted boiling water until al dente.
⏱️ 10 min
- 9
Using tongs, transfer the al dente spaghetti directly from the boiling water into the pan with the French onion sauce.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Add about 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta water to the pan. Toss the spaghetti with the sauce and pasta water until the spaghetti is well coated and all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Add more pasta water, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, if the sauce seems too thick.
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
Serve the French Onion Spaghetti immediately in bowls. Garnish generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped herbs.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
French Onion Spaghetti
For the French Onion Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 yellow onions, halved then sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup cognac
- 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
For the Spaghetti
- 1/2 pound spaghetti
For Garnish
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, or as needed
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs, chopped (thyme, Italian parsley, or chives)
Instructions
- 1
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, add the olive oil and butter. Heat over medium heat until the butter is melted and bubbling.
⏱️ 2 min - 2
Add the sliced yellow onions, salt, and black pepper to the pan. Add the fresh thyme sprigs. Stir to coat the onions.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, for 20-25 minutes, or until they are deeply golden brown and caramelized. This step is crucial for developing the rich flavor.
⏱️ 25 min - 4
Deglaze the pan by pouring in the cognac. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Allow the cognac to cook down for 1-2 minutes.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Stir in the sherry vinegar and Worcestershire sauce.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Pour in the beef stock and bring the sauce to a simmer. Allow it to reduce slightly and thicken for about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce is creamy and emulsified. Remove the thyme sprigs.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
While the sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti according to package directions in a separate pot of generously salted boiling water until al dente.
⏱️ 10 min - 9
Using tongs, transfer the al dente spaghetti directly from the boiling water into the pan with the French onion sauce.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Add about 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta water to the pan. Toss the spaghetti with the sauce and pasta water until the spaghetti is well coated and all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Add more pasta water, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, if the sauce seems too thick.
⏱️ 2 min - 11
Serve the French Onion Spaghetti immediately in bowls. Garnish generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped herbs.
⏱️ 1 min