Name: Caramelized Onion Pasta Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 5
Cuisine: European
Ingredients: 1 lb yellow onions; 1 lb red onions; 4½ oz tomato paste; 10 oz penne pasta; 5 garlic cloves; 1 cup pasta water; ½ cup pale ale beer; ¼ cup olive oil; 1 tsp chili flakes; salt and ground black pepper; ¼ tsp parsley; 1 tbsp parmesan cheese

Caramelized Onion Pasta Recipe

Katti Romine Modified: November 12, 2023

Photos of Caramelized Onion Pasta Recipe

Make an easy but unique pasta serving with this simple caramelized onion pasta recipe that you can whip out in under an hour! Grab a bag of both yellow and red onions, your preferred pasta, and some of your pantry staple spices plus a beer to deglaze and create this sweet and fragrant dish!

How To Make Caramelized Onion Pasta

This rich onion pasta is a sweet and savory dish made with caramelized onions!

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Total: 35 mins

Serves:

Ingredients

1 lb yellow onions, thinly sliced
1 lb red onions, thinly sliced
4½ oz tomato paste
10 oz penne pasta, or any pasta of your choice, cooked & cooled
5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 cup pasta water, plus more as needed
½ cup pale ale beer, or any beer of your choice
¼ cup olive oil
1 tsp chili flakes
salt and ground black pepper, to taste

To Serve:

¼ tsp parsley, chopped, per serving
1 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated or powdered, per serving

Instructions

Heat up olive oil in a Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium heat.
Add both onions and saute for roughly 15 minutes until caramelized and softened. Adjust heat as necessary.
Once the onions are caramelized, add garlic and saute briefly.
Add chili flakes and tomato paste. Roast briefly.
Deglaze with beer and reduce briefly.
Increase to medium-high heat, add cooked pasta and pasta water. Stir to combine, scraping any caramelized bits at the bottom.
Simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce has reduced and sticky, not saucy.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust accordingly.
Portion accordingly. Garnish with parmesan cheese and parsley.