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Caramelized Onion Pasta

By Snejana Andreeva

on Aug 04, 2024, Updated Oct 13, 2025

As The Modern Nonna, I take my job very seriously 🤓 to bring you the best of classic recipes with a modern twist, including the very important category of pasta 🍝. This, my friends, is a genius Caramelized Onion Pasta recipe. Caramelized onions are a labor of love, taking close to an hour of constant stirring on the stovetop. Here I’ve eliminated all the time spent standing by the stove. We’re making caramelized onions in the oven! 🙌 It’s a hands-free technique with the same creamy, flavor-rich, melt-in-your-mouth results. Alongside the onions, we’ve got an entire head of garlic 🧄 which turns nutty, soft, and mellow in the oven. This dish is bursting with flavor, and it couldn’t be easier to prepare.

Why You’ll Love Caramelized Onion Pasta
How to Prepare
Nonna’s Tip 🍝
Variations and Substitutions for Caramelized Onion Pasta
Similar Recipes
Best Served With
Common Questions
Caramelized Onion Pasta Recipe

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A white baking dish filled with cooked bow-tie pasta mixed with caramelized onions, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil leaves, topped with a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese. A small bowl of parmesan is in the top right corner. - 3

Why You’ll Love Caramelized Onion Pasta

If you love the irresistible flavor and texture of caramelized onions 🧅, you will love this Caramelized Onion Pasta recipe, which simplifies the preparation by caramelizing the onions in the oven. They roast alongside a whole head of garlic, which joins salty, tangy sun dried tomatoes 🍅 and creamy Boursin cheese in a pasta sauce from heaven ! 🙏 The bowtie pasta’s shape perfectly tangles with strands of silky onions and holds sauce in its nooks and crannies. If you’re lucky enough to have any leftovers, they hold up beautifully for tomorrow’s lunch. This is why you must try caramelized onion pasta.

How to Prepare

🔥 Preheat the oven to 400F.

🧅 To a large baking dish , add the sliced onions, balsamic glaze, olive oil, sun dried tomatoes, and Italian seasoning and mix all the ingredients well. Then place the prepped garlic in the center of the dish and drizzle with olive oil.

⏲️ Next, bake for 60 to 70 minutes or until the onions have caramelized. Also, I like to stir the onions 2 to 3 times throughout the baking time when making Caramelized Onion Pasta.

A marble countertop displays ingredients for a pasta dish, including uncooked bowtie pasta, fresh basil, dried herbs, whole onions, sun-dried tomatoes, a garlic bulb, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, ricotta cheese, and grated Parmesan cheese. - 4

🍝 Meanwhile, about 10 minutes before the onions have finished baking caramelized onion pasta, cook the pasta as per the package instructions. While the pasta is boiling, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

🧄 Once the onions are done cooking, using a kitchen towel to protect your hands, squeeze the garlic from the peel, directly onto the onion mixture. Add the Boursin cheese and stir to combine . Add the hot pasta and some starchy pasta water, if needed.

🍽️ Finally, toss well and feel free to garnish with basil, parmigiano, and chili oil, if desired. Enjoy your Caramelized Onion Pasta!

A white baking dish filled with bowtie pasta, sautéed onions, sun-dried tomatoes, and a dollop of ricotta cheese on top. The edges of the dish show slight browning, indicating baking. A beige cloth is partially visible on the side. - 5

Nonna’s Tip 🍝

Do not pour the pasta cooking water down the drain! ❎ That starchy liquid will help emulsify your sauce, so it coats each piece of pasta. It’s especially great for Caramelized Onion Pasta.

A white plate with bow-tie pasta mixed with caramelized onions, mushrooms, and sundried tomatoes, garnished with fresh basil. Next to it is a baking dish with more pasta, two spoons, a napkin, grated cheese in a bowl, and two forks. - 6

Variations and Substitutions for Caramelized Onion Pasta

Instead of yellow onions, feel free to use shallots or red onions for making caramelized onion pasta.
Feel free to omit the sun dried tomatoes and use fresh tomatoes 🍅instead. Rather than sun dried tomatoes, try olives 🫒 and/or capers for a nice briny saltiness.
For a kick of heat, try garnishing with your favorite chili 🌶️ oil. I love this one .
In case you don’t have basil, you can also try minced parsley as a garnish for your Caramelized Onion Pasta.

A white bowl filled with pasta topped with caramelized onions, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil leaves. A small dish with grated cheese is in the background, along with basil sprigs on a light surface. - 7

Similar Recipes

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Best Served With

For some added protein, try topping the pasta with slices of tender, thinly pounded Juicy Chicken Breast which pairs well with caramelized onion pasta.
Pair your pasta with a delicious side of veggies, like Creamy Baked Broccoli 🥦 or Grilled Zucchini .
A fresh salad and pasta are a perfect match. Try a Caprese or Caesar Salad .

Common Questions

Yes, you can certainly make this vegan by omitting the Boursin or using your favorite creamy vegan cheese.

Yes, you can use any shape you like, such as fussili or penne. However larger pasta shapes work better than pastina (tiny shapes, such as orzo or ditalini).

Yes, this dish holds well in the refrigerator for 3 days. Add a tablespoon or two of water when you reheat, to help loosen up the sauce.

Yes, this would be delicious with chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas on top. However, make sure the protein is fully cooked before pairing with the finished dish.

Yes, you can use your favorite brand of gluten-free pasta instead.

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Video

Equipment

▢ Chefs Knife
▢ Cutting Board
▢ Baking Dish
▢ Rotary Grater
▢ strainer
▢ Measuring Cups + Spoons

Ingredients

▢ 3 yellow onions , sliced into rings
▢ ½ tablespoon balsamic glaze
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil , plus more for drizzling
▢ ⅓ cup sun dried tomatoes , (jarred variety, packed in oil and/or water)
▢ ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
▢ 1 bulb garlic , top cut off
▢ 200 grams bow tie pasta
▢ ¼ package Boursin Cheese , (30 grams)
▢ fresh basil , for garnish (optional)
▢ parmigiano cheese , for garnish (optional)
▢ chili oil , for garnish (optional)

Instructions

▢ Preheat the oven to 400F.
▢ To a large baking dish (at least 9×9), add the sliced onions, balsamic glaze, olive oil, sun dried tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Mix well. Place the prepped garlic in the center of the dish. Drizzle the exposed garlic cloves with olive oil. Cover the dish tightly with foil.
▢ Bake for 60 to 70 minutes or until the onions have caramelized. I like to stir the onions 2 to 3 times throughout the baking time.
▢ About 10 minutes before the onions have finished baking, start on boiling the pasta as per the package instructions. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
▢ Remove the onion mixture from the oven. Using a kitchen towel to protect your hands, squeeze the garlic from the peel, directly onto the onion mixture. Add the Boursin cheese and stir to combine. Add in the hot pasta and a touch of the starchy pasta water, if needed.
▢ Toss well and feel free to garnish with basil, parmigiano, and chili oil, if desired. Enjoy!

Nonna’s Notes

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.