Skip to main content
Epicurious

Caramelized Onion Pasta

4.4

(61)

A speckled white plate with caramelized onion pasta and a black fork on the side.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens

All you need for this outrageously tasty dinner is a bag of onions, a couple cloves of garlic, some dried pasta, and cheese. Caramelizing sliced onions in a little butter and olive oil turns them sweet and yielding, almost luscious. Pasta water and Parmesan do double duty, adding salt and depth while the creamy sauce forms.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    55 minutes

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 lb. onions (about 3 large), thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more
12 oz. linguine or other long pasta
4 oz. Parmesan, finely grated (about 1 cup), divided, plus more for serving
½ cup parsley, finely chopped (optional), plus more for serving
Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oil and butter in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium until butter is melted. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until very tender and deeply golden brown, about 30 minutes. (Stop before the onions become dry and shriveled.) Add red pepper flakes (if using) and 1 1/2 tsp. salt. Remove pot from heat.

    Step 2

    Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta cooking liquid.

    Step 3

    Add pasta and 1 cup pasta cooking liquid to onion mixture and stir to combine. Add a small handful of cheese and stir until melted. Repeat with remaining cheese, adding more pasta cooking liquid as needed to create a glossy sauce that coats the pasta. Stir in parsley (if using).

    Step 4

    Divide pasta among bowls. Top with Parmesan, parsley, and a few cranks of pepper.

TagsPastaLinguineOnionRoot VegetableVegetableParmesanCheeseDairyMainDinnerNut FreeVegetarianEasyEpicurious

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Extra-Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo
Do you need heavy cream to make fettuccine Alfredo? Debatable. Will it be delicious? Undeniable.
Leeks With Sumac, Parm, and Pine Nuts
This side dish is flavorful enough to also serve as a main course.
Tortellini in Preserved Lemon Brodo
A quick-fix dinner thanks to store-bought tortellini and chicken broth.
Mentaiko Spaghetti
In this wafu pasta recipe from author Sonoko Sakai, the only cooking involved is boiling spaghetti.
Broccolini, Balsamic, Burrata, Amen
On this melty toast, the burrata comes in at the end, but it’s most definitely the star.
Microwaved Tofu With Butter and Soy Sauce
This custardy and comforting tofu comes together in minutes, all thanks to your microwave. Serve with rice or bread for an easy meal.
Angel Hair Bibimguksu
Gochujang creates a sauce that delivers the perfect balance of spice, tang, and sweetness.
Smoked Mackerel Udon
Chewy noodles, tinned fish, and hardy greens in an umami broth.