French Onion Mac and Cheese

Total Time Prep: 1 hour 10 min. Bake: 20 min.
Yield 16 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
French onion mac and cheese is surprisingly complex and rich in flavor thanks to all the cheese, the onions and more.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3 medium onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • MAC AND CHEESE:
  • 1 pound uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2-1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 cup reduced-sodium beef broth
  • 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
  • 1-1/2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup french-fried onions, optional

Directions

  1. Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions; cook until tender, 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in vinegar, salt and pepper; continue cooking until onions are golden brown and very soft, 10-15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain; set aside.
  3. In a large sauce pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour, whisk until smooth. Gradually add in milk and broth; bring to a simmer. Cook until thickened, 3-4 minutes, whisking occasionally. Stir in Gruyere, Swiss, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, garlic powder and thyme; mix until cheeses have melted. Stir in cooked macaroni.
  4. Transfer mixture to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Place dollops of caramelized onions on top of mac and cheese; use a knife to swirl around. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake until cheese is bubbly and edges are golden brown, 20-25 minutes. If desired, top with french-fried onions; bake an additional 2-3 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

3/4 cup: 273 calories, 14g fat (7g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 419mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 11g protein.

With garlic, thyme and caramelized onions, this smooth and creamy mac and cheese has everything you love about French onion soup. It's baked to perfection with Gruyere, Parmesan and Swiss cheeses. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Recipe Creator

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