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French Onion Mac & Cheese

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3.7 from 3 reviews

If you like French onion soup and baked mac and cheese, this dish combines the two and makes a delicious dinner – especially during the holidays.

Ingredients

Scale

For the onions:

  • 2 lbs. of yellow onions
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • 2 tablespoons sherry wine vinegar

For the mac and cheese:

  • 1 lb. cavaptappi or similar-shaped pasta
  • 16 ozs. Gruyère cheese, grated (reserve about 1/4 cup for topping the baguette slices)
  • 8 ozs. extra-sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided (6 tablespoons for the mac and cheese and 2 tablespoons for greasing the baking pan and buttering the baguette slices)
  • 1 quart whole milk
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 small baguette cut into 1/4″ thick slices, buttered on one side.

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Thinly slice all of the onions.
  3. In a deep, large pan or skillet, melt 2-3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the onions, salt, and pepper to taste.
  4. Cover the onions with a lid and let them cook for about 5 minutes or until softened, stirring once ot twice. 
  5. Remove the lid and continue cooking over medium-high heat, stirring often, for about 20-25 minutes, or until they turn a deep golden brown. When the onions look dry, add 2 tablespoons of water at a time, scraping up any brown pieces sticking to the bottom of the pan. You’ll need to add water a few times to prevent the onions from burning. 
  6. Once the onions are a deep golden brown, deglaze the pan with 2 tablespoons of sherry wine vinegar, scraping up any brown pieces in the pan, and set aside.
  7. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt and a tablespoon of vegetable oil to the water.
  8. While you’re waiting for the water to boil, heat the milk in a saucepan, being careful to just get it hot. You don’t want it to boil or scald.
  9. Cook the pasta until it is very al dente. Be careful not to overcook the pasta, as it will continue to cook when baking in the oven.
  10. In another large pot, melt 6 tablespoons of butter and add the flour. Cook for a couple of minutes while whisking. Whisk in the hot milk and cook for another couple of minutes, and remove from heat. 
  11. Off the heat, add both cheeses, salt, pepper, and nutmeg, and mix thoroughly. 
  12. Add the cooked pasta to the milk and cheese mixture and stir. Add the onions and continue stirring until well combined.
  13. Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish and bake for approximately 30 minutes.
  14. Remove the mac and cheese from the oven, and add the buttered baguette slices on top of the pasta. Now, top the baguette slices with the reserved Gruyère cheese.
  15. Place the mac and cheese under the broiler for a few minutes until the cheese and bread are slightly browned on top.
  16. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves, and serve!

Find it online: https://mostlovelythings.com/french-onion-mac-cheese/