Description
Indulge in Hearty French Onion Pasta with Braised Beef & Caramelized Onions, a comforting dish that beautifully marries the classic flavors of French onion soup with hearty pasta. This recipe features tender braised beef and sweet caramelized onions topped with gooey cheese, making it an ideal choice for family dinners or cozy gatherings. The one-pot preparation not only simplifies cooking but also ensures the pasta absorbs all the rich, savory flavors. With each bite, you’ll experience a delightful mix of textures and tastes that will leave your taste buds craving more. Perfect for any occasion, this dish is sure to impress your guests and satisfy your hunger.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ pounds beef stew meat
- kosher salt & ground black pepper, to season
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup dry red grape juice
- 2 medium carrots, sliced into 2–3 large pieces
- 1 medium yellow onion, quartered
- 1 head garlic, halved crosswise
- 10–12 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 4 cups beef stock / beef broth
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 large sweet onions, thinly sliced
- ½ cup dry apple juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- 8 ounces cavatappi or short pasta of choice
- 8 ounces gruyère cheese, shredded (approx. 2 cups)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Season beef with salt and pepper.
- Brown beef in olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Transfer to a plate.
- Deglaze pot with red grape juice, then add back beef, carrots, onions, garlic, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and beef stock. Bring to a boil before covering and transferring to the oven for 2 – 2½ hours until tender.
- Remove beef, shred it and strain the braising liquid, adjusting as needed to yield about 3½ cups.
- Caramelize onions in butter over medium heat until golden brown; deglaze with apple juice.
- In a skillet, combine reserved braising liquid with fresh thyme; simmer and add pasta until al dente.
- Fold in shredded beef and top with gruyère cheese; bake until melted.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approximately 250g)
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 100mg