The BEST French Onion Pasta EVER!
The BEST French Onion Pasta EVER! is a medium French recipe that serves 10. 520 calories per serving. Recipe by The Salted Pepper on YouTube.
Prep: 10 min | Cook: 1 hr 27 min | Total: 1 hr 52 min
Cost: $26.96 total, $2.70 per serving
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp Ghee (Can substitute with unsalted butter (same amount) or 2 tbsp butter + 2 tbsp olive oil)
- 3 lb Sweet Onions (Peel and slice into half‑inch pieces; about 4‑5 onions)
- 1 tsp Black Pepper (Freshly ground)
- 1.5 tsp Fine Sea Salt (1 tsp for onions, 0.5 tsp for beef)
- 2 tsp Dried Thyme Leaves (Half added with onions, half added before topping)
- 1 lb Thinly Sliced Beef (Carne piccata style; can use top round, skirt steak, or thinly sliced filet)
- 1 bulb Roasted Garlic (About 10‑11 cloves, roasted beforehand)
- 0.25 cup Cooking Sherry (Optional; can replace with extra beef consomme)
- 1 can (10.5 oz) Beef Consomme (Campbell's brand preferred)
- 10.5 oz Beef Broth (Low‑sodium preferred)
- 10.5 oz French Onion Soup (Campbell's canned French onion soup)
- 1 lb Rigatoni Pasta (Sturdy, about 6 cups dry; penne or elbows can substitute)
- 6 oz Swiss Cheese (Shredded; Gruyère works as a substitute)
- 8 oz Provolone Cheese (Sliced)
- 3 cup Croutons (Air‑fryer croutons from a French baguette; store‑bought works)
Instructions
Prep Ingredients
Peel and slice the onions into half‑inch pieces, roast a whole bulb of garlic, measure all spices, and shred the Swiss cheese.
Time: PT10M
Heat Ghee
Set the Ninja Foodi to High Sear/Sauté, add 4 tbsp ghee and let melt, spreading it evenly.
Time: PT2M
Caramelize Onions
Add the sliced onions, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp fine sea salt, and 1 tsp dried thyme. Cook on High Sear/Sauté, stirring only every 5‑7 minutes, for about 25 minutes until deep golden‑brown and reduced to roughly 1½‑2 cups.
Time: PT25M
Reserve Half of the Onions
Scoop out about half of the caramelized onions (≈1 cup) and set aside for later topping.
Time: PT2M
Brown the Beef
Add the thinly sliced beef and 0.5 tsp fine sea salt to the pot. Stir and cook for 3‑4 minutes until the pink disappears.
Time: PT5M
Add Roasted Garlic and Deglaze
Toss in the whole roasted garlic bulb. Pour in ¼ cup sherry (or extra beef consomme) and scrape the fond from the bottom.
Time: PT3M
Add Liquids
Pour in the 10.5 oz beef consomme, 10.5 oz beef broth, and 10.5 oz canned French onion soup. Stir to combine.
Time: PT2M
Add Pasta
Add the dry rigatoni, pressing it down so it is mostly submerged in the liquid.
Time: PT2M
Pressure Cook
Seal the lid, set to High Pressure, and cook for 4 minutes. Allow a natural release for 2 minutes, then quick‑release any remaining pressure.
Time: PT8M
Finish and Season
Open the pot, stir gently, return the reserved onions, and taste. Adjust salt, pepper, or thyme as needed.
Time: PT3M
Add Cheese and Croutons
Evenly sprinkle the shredded Swiss cheese, lay the provolone slices on top, and then scatter the croutons.
Time: PT2M
Crisp/Bake Topping
Close the crisping lid, select Bake/Roast at 375°F and cook for 20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the croutons are golden.
Time: PT20M
Temperature: 375°F
Rest and Serve
Turn off the machine, let the casserole rest for 5 minutes, then serve hot, scooping from the bottom to get pasta, beef, onions, and crunchy topping in each bite.
Time: PT5M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 520
- Protein
- 28 g
- Carbohydrates
- 55 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Fiber
- 4 g
Dietary info: Contains beef, Contains dairy, Contains gluten
Allergens: Dairy, Gluten, Beef
Last updated: April 15, 2026








