Description
A creamy, comforting pasta dish made with sweet sautéed onions, cheddar, Parmesan, and a silky cheese sauce that coats every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces penne or fusilli
- 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat and set a large skillet on the stove.
- Measure the milk, soften the cream cheese, grate the cheddar and Parmesan, and slice the onions thinly.
- Heat the butter and olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring often, until soft and lightly golden. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Sprinkle in the flour and stir for 1 minute.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Slowly pour the milk into the onion mixture, stirring until smooth. Add the cream cheese, cheddar, Parmesan, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir on low heat until the sauce is creamy and fully melted.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss until every piece is coated. Use a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Sprinkle chopped parsley over the top and serve immediately.
Notes
- Grate the cheese fresh for the smoothest sauce.
- Do not rush the onions, their sweetness adds major flavor to the dish.
- Add a splash of milk when reheating leftovers to bring back the creamy texture.
- Fusilli, shells, or rigatoni also work well in this dish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg