French Onion Mac and Cheese
Updated Nov 13, 2025, Published on Oct 17, 2022
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French Onion Mac and Cheese is a rich and cozy recipe that combines two comfort food classics. Creamy mac and cheese meets the flavors of French onion soup with slow-cooked onions, fresh thyme, Gruyère, and cheddar, all topped with golden panko breadcrumbs. It’s hearty, indulgent, and absolutely delicious.
Looking for more ways to enjoy French onion flavors? Try my Viral One Pot French Onion Pasta or One Pan French Onion Orzo.
🐝 Quick Look: French Onion Mac and Cheese
- ⏱ Prep Time: 20 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 1 hour
- ⏳ Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- 🍽 Serves: 4
- ⚡ Calories: ~932 per serving
- 🍳 Cook Method: Stovetop, broil to finish
- 🧂 Main Ingredients: Onions, thyme, pasta, cheddar, Gruyère
- 👩🍳 Flavor Profile: Rich, cozy, caramelized onions, nutty cheese, creamy sauce
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy to moderate. Mostly hands-off onion caramelizing.
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Why You'll Love this Mac and Cheese Recipe
- Rich and cheesy: A creamy roux-based sauce with plenty of Gruyère and cheddar makes every bite indulgent. If you love the consistency of the sauce, you'll also enjoy my Baked White Cheddar Mac and Cheese recipe.
- Deep French onion flavor: Slow-cooked onions, fresh thyme, and a splash of sherry give the mac and cheese a savory, soup-inspired richness. Try my One Pot French Onion Pasta for more French onion soup flavor.
- Golden, crispy topping: Buttery panko and extra cheese broil into a bubbly, crunchy crust.
- Crowd-pleasing and impressive: Perfect for holidays, dinner parties, or any time you want a cozy and elevated comfort food meal. Pair with Air Fryer Pistachio Honey Brussels Sprouts at your holiday table.
- Make-ahead friendly: Assemble in advance and broil just before serving.
Table of Contents
Recipe Ingredients
See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients with exact quantities.
- Onions: Caramelizing the onions takes extra time but are worth it! Sweet, golden onions bring the signature French onion soup flavor. Yellow onions are best for caramelizing.
- Gruyère Cheese: Nutty and melty. Gruyère balances the sharpness of cheddar and is essential for that French onion soup taste.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Light and airy crumbs that crisp up beautifully when broiled with extra cheese for a golden topping.
French Onion Mac and Cheese FAQ's
The key is slowly caramelizing the onions until they are deep golden brown. This builds sweetness, richness, and that classic French onion flavor. Butter, a splash of sherry or white wine, beef broth, and fresh thyme add even more depth.
Caramelized onions, high-quality cheese like Gruyère, toasted breadcrumbs, and fresh herbs instantly elevate mac and cheese. Broiling the top until golden and using a blend of cheeses also make it feel more gourmet.
Gruyère is classic for French onion flavor, and cheddar adds sharpness and creaminess. I used the Caramelized Onion Cheddar from Trader Joe's for even more caramelized onion flavor.
I used pasta shells because they hold onto the sauce really well. Other good options are cavatappi, elbow macaroni, or rotini. Any short shape with curves or ridges works great.
Yes. You can assemble the mac and cheese up to 1 day in advance without the breadcrumb topping. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Add the topping just before broiling so it stays crisp.
Other Recipes with French Onion Flavors
French Onion Mac and Cheese
Equipment
- Dutch Oven or large heavy bottom pot
- Oven Safe Crocks or use a baking dish
Ingredients
Caramelized Onions
- 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- 3 Yellow Onion, thinly sliced (use 2 onions if large)
- 1 pinch Kosher Salt
- 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme
- ¼ cup Sherry
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
Mac and Cheese
- 8 ounces Pasta, I used shells
- 4 tablespoons Butter
- ¼ cup All Purpose Flour
- 1 ½ cups Whole Milk
- ¼ teaspoon Dry Mustard
- ½ teaspoon Cayenne
- ¼ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon Reduced Sodium Beef Base, optional (add extra salt if omitting)
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded (I used Trader Joe's Caramelized Onion Cheddar Cheese)
- 1 cup Gruyère Cheese, shredded
Topping
- 2 tablespoons Butter, melted
- 1 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne
- ¼ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup Gruyère Cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
Instructions
Caramelized Onions
- Start the onions: Heat olive oil and butter in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and a big pinch of salt. Stir, cover, and cook for 5 minutes.
- Caramelize: Reduce heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden. Add thyme sprigs halfway through.
- Deglaze: Add the sherry and scrape up any browned bits. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and cook until the liquid reduces. Remove and discard the thyme sprigs.
Mac and Cheese
- Cook the pasta: While the onions caramelize, boil the pasta 1 minute less than package directions. Drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
- Make the roux: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 minutes until lightly golden. Slowly whisk in the milk. Add dry mustard, cayenne, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and beef base (if using). Increase heat to medium-high and whisk constantly for 3 to 5 minutes until thickened.
- Add the cheese: Remove from heat and stir in the cheddar and Gruyère until melted and smooth.
- Combine: Stir the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce. Add a splash of pasta water if the sauce needs thinning. Fold in the caramelized onions.
Topping and Assembly
- Make the topping: Preheat broiler. Mix the melted butter with panko, cayenne, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble: Spoon the mac and cheese into oven-safe crocks or a baking dish. Add the breadcrumb topping, then extra cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan. Finish with cracked pepper.
- Broil: Broil for 3 to 5 minutes, watching closely, until golden and bubbly. Serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Caramelizing the onions: Take your time with this step for the best French onion flavor. Cook the onions low and slow until deep golden brown, stirring occasionally.
- Cheese: For the creamiest sauce, use freshly shredded cheddar and Gruyère. Pre-shredded cheese can make the sauce grainy. Add the cheese off the heat and stir until fully melted.
- Pasta: I used pasta shells because they hold onto the sauce well. Cavatappi, elbow macaroni, or rotini also work.
- Bakeware: If you don’t have oven-safe crocks, bake in a 2–3 quart baking dish (such as a casserole dish or 9×13 pan).
- Broiling: Broil for 3-5 minutes, watching closely. The topping can brown quickly.
- Make Ahead: Assemble up to 1 day ahead (without the panko topping), cover tightly, and refrigerate. Add the topping just before broiling so it stays crisp.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through, or microwave in short bursts. Add a sprinkle of extra cheese or breadcrumbs before reheating if you want to refresh the topping.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was so delicious! Best mac and cheese I’ve ever had!
This hasn’t even come out of the oven yet and i’ve never been so compelled to write a 5 star review! I tried the little but that was stuck to my spoon and it was INCREDIBLE. The instructions also were super easy to follow. I cook and bake a lot and usually have some sort of hiccup with the recipe and have to tweak but this came out amazing as is!d
WOW thank you so much for this nice comment! I’m so happy to hear the first bite was so good. I hope the final dish comes out perfectly for you!
This recipe is delicious. Mine didn’t look as beautiful as yours, but definitely a crowd pleaser
This recipe was incredible! I saw it on Tiktok and knew I had to try it. It was very easy to follow, and I really appreciated all the steps and how it explained how to multitask. The mac and cheese turned out PERFECT. Definitely will have to try the other recipes- and probably make this one again.
Wow thank you so much for this comment and taking the time to try out and review this recipe! I hope you find some more recipes you love!