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French Onion Orecchiette 🧅 ❤️ It is the most decadent and delicious pasta dish I’ve had a long time!
The secret here is the stock, I made my own but you can easily doctor up a store bought one ☺.
If you loved this recipe, check out my French Onion Soup Pasta!
Why You’ll Love French Onion Orecchiette
The flavors are UNREAL 🔥 It is SO rich, and perfect. It’s a hug in a bowl. It is very easy to make, and yes I know that the caramelizing of the onion takes a bit… but trust the process! The toasted bread crumbs on the top… omg they bring in that touch of crispy to the dish and it is amazing.

How To Prepare French Onion Orecchiette
🧅 First, add the onions to the pan on medium heat for 5 minutes. Lower heat to medium low and cook, stirring often for 15 minutes. Deglaze with ¼ cup of water, stir until fully absorbed. Add 1 tbsp butter, 1 sprig of thyme and a bit of salt. Then, continue cooking until fully browned, should be another 10 minutes or so. Turn heat off and add soy sauce.
🍷 Secondly, add the orecchiette to the pan with the onions along with the wine and stock. Bring to a boil and simmer until orecchiette is a little under al dente. Then, add more stock if needed. At this point add salt and pepper to taste.
🔥 Heat up some olive oil in a smaller pan and toast the bread crumbs adding a bit of salt and thyme.
🧈 Then, add the remaining 2 tbsp of butter to the pasta and stir, add some of the gruyere and mix until well incorporated. Top with remaining gruyere and bake at 400F for 5-7 minutes.
🍞 Lastly, serve with the breadcrumbs, more thyme and parmigiano.
Substitutions and Variations
- You can use any pasta of your choice instead of orecchiette.
- You can use any broth of choice, or water instead of beef broth.
- As for the gruyere and parmesan, you can use any cheese of your choice instead, such as Comté.
- You can use non-alcoholic wine or more broth.

Chef Nadia’s Tip
Don’t rush the caramelizing of the onions, I know the process can be a bit long but it is 100% worth it.

Similar Recipes

Common Questions
You can use non-alcoholic wine, Giesen has a great selection. You can also use more broth.
Yes absolutely! You can use any broth of your choice.
I use Emmi Gruyere.
Yes of course! You can use any pasta of your choice.
Yes! You can use any cheese of your choice, such as comté.
French Onion Orecchiette

Ingredients
- 2 yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 3 tbsp tamari , or soy sauce
- 8 oz orecchiette
- 4 cups beef stock, hot
- ¾ cup red wine
- 8 oz gruyere
- Parmigiano Reggiano , to taste
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- First, add the onions to the pan on medium heat for 5 minutes. Lower heat to medium low and cook, stirring often for 15 minutes. Deglaze with ¼ cup of water, stir until fully absorbed. Add 1 tbsp butter, 1 sprig of thyme and a bit of salt. Then, continue cooking until fully browned, should be another 10 minutes or so. Turn heat off and add soy sauce.
- Secondly, add the orecchiette to the pan with the onions along with the wine and stock. Bring to a boil and simmer until orecchiette is a little under al dente. Then, add more stock if needed. At this point add salt and pepper to taste.
- Heat up some olive oil in a smaller pan and toast the bread crumbs adding a bit of salt and thyme.
- Then, add the remaining 2 tbsp of butter to the pasta and stir, add some of the gruyere and mix until well incorporated. Top with remaining gruyere and bake at 400F for 5-7 minutes.
- Lastly, serve with the breadcrumbs, more thyme and parmigiano.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.