The Ultimate One-Pot French Onion Pasta Recipe

Comfort meets convenience in this irresistible one-pot french onion pasta that promises maximum flavor with minimal cleanup.

Caramelized onions infuse every single bite with rich, deep sweetness reminiscent of classic french onion soup.

Fragrant garlic butter chicken bites nestle perfectly among tender pasta strands, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

Parmesan cheese melts into a luxurious creamy sauce that coats each noodle with velvety goodness.

Simple ingredients transform into an extraordinary meal that feels like a warm culinary hug.

Hearty and satisfying, this dish proves gourmet cooking can be effortless and delightful.

You’ll want to make this recipe again and again for an instant dinner winner.

Why One-Pot French Onion Pasta And Chicken Bites Are So Cozy

• Savor One-Pan Magic: Enjoy a complete meal prepared entirely in a single skillet, minimizing cleanup and maximizing deliciousness.
• Create Restaurant-Quality Comfort: Transform simple ingredients into a luxurious dish that looks and tastes like a gourmet restaurant creation.
• Pack Flavor Layers Strategically: Build depth through caramelized onions, seasoned chicken, and creamy parmesan sauce, creating a complex taste experience in every bite.
• Customize with Ease: Adapt the recipe by swapping proteins or adding extra vegetables, making it versatile for different dietary preferences and pantry ingredients.

What You’ll Need For French Onion Pasta And Chicken Bites

• Chicken: Tender protein that serves as the main star of the dish.
• Pasta: Classic base that absorbs the rich, creamy sauce.
• Onions: Key ingredient for developing deep, sweet caramelized flavor.

• Salt, Black Pepper, Dried Thyme: Essential spices that enhance the overall taste profile of the chicken and pasta.

• Olive Oil, Chicken Broth, Heavy Cream, Parmesan Cheese: Ingredients that create a luxurious, creamy sauce with rich depth of flavor.
• Garlic: Aromatic component that adds robust, pungent notes to the dish.

• Fresh Parsley: Bright herb that provides a fresh, green garnish and subtle herbal accent.

How To Make One-Pot French Onion Pasta And Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

Step 1: Caramelize Onions to Golden Perfection

Slowly transform onions in olive oil over medium-low heat, stirring gently every few minutes. Allow them to develop a deep, rich golden color and become wonderfully soft, which will take around 25-30 minutes.

Step 2: Enhance with Fragrant Garlic

Add minced garlic to the caramelized onions and sauté briefly, about 1-2 minutes, until the kitchen fills with an aromatic fragrance.

Step 3: Prepare Chicken Bites

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Dried thyme

Sear the seasoned chicken in the same pan at high heat for 4-5 minutes, ensuring each side turns golden brown and cooks completely through.

Step 4: Create Flavorful Pan Sauce

Transfer chicken to a separate plate. Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, carefully scraping up all the delicious browned bits from the skillet bottom.

Step 5: Cook Pasta in Pan Liquid

Add pasta directly into the pan, coating it thoroughly with the remaining pan liquids and browned fragments.

Step 6: Build Creamy Sauce

Pour heavy cream into the pasta, stirring continuously to create a smooth, luxurious sauce.

Step 7: Combine Onion Mixture

Reintroduce the caramelized onions and garlic into the pasta, mixing them completely to distribute flavors evenly.

Step 8: Melt Parmesan Cheese

Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the pasta, stirring until the cheese melts and creates a silky, elegant texture.

Step 9: Reunite Chicken with Pasta

Gently fold the golden chicken bites back into the pasta mixture, ensuring even distribution.

Step 10: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley over the dish and serve piping hot, directly from the pan.

Tips For Perfect One-Pot French Onion Pasta And Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

• Slow-Caramelize Onions Perfectly: Take your time and cook onions on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to develop deep, rich golden color without burning.
• Maximize Pan Flavor: Keep the same pan for each cooking stage to capture and build delicious browned bits that enhance overall dish complexity.
• Achieve Golden Chicken Sear: Use high heat when cooking chicken bites to create a beautiful golden exterior while maintaining juicy, tender meat inside.
• Control Sauce Consistency: Add heavy cream gradually and stir continuously to create a smooth, silky sauce without clumping or separating.
• Quick Herb Boost: Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley at the end to add bright, fresh flavor and attractive green color to the finished dish.

Tasty Twists For One-Pot French Onion Pasta And Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

• Rustic Mediterranean Pasta: Replace chicken with spicy chorizo sausage and add sun-dried tomatoes for a vibrant Mediterranean flavor profile.
• Vegetarian Mushroom Delight: Swap chicken for sautéed wild mushrooms like shiitake and porcini, using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
• Seafood Fusion Edition: Substitute chicken with succulent shrimp or scallops, adding a splash of white wine during deglazing for enhanced maritime notes.
• Herb-Infused Alpine Style: Incorporate fresh rosemary and thyme with pancetta instead of chicken, using fontina cheese for a rich alpine-inspired variation.

Great Pairings With One-Pot French Onion Pasta And Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

• Pair with Bright Chardonnay: Select a crisp, unoaked Chardonnay with citrus undertones to cut through the richness of the creamy parmesan pasta and complement the caramelized onion's sweetness.
• Serve with Rustic Arugula Salad: Create a light, peppery side salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette to balance the dish's heavy, creamy profile and provide a fresh contrast to the pasta's richness.
• Match with Crusty Sourdough Bread: Offer warm, crusty sourdough slices to soak up the decadent sauce and provide a textural counterpoint to the tender chicken and pasta.

How To Store One-Pot French Onion Pasta And Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

• Store leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep chicken and pasta together to maintain flavor and moisture.
• Transfer cooled pasta to freezer-safe containers, removing as much air as possible. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or cream to restore creamy consistency. Stir frequently to prevent sticking and ensure even heating.
• Cover the pasta with plastic wrap directly touching the surface when storing to prevent a dry film from forming and maintain sauce's smooth texture.

FAQs About One-Pot French Onion Pasta And Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

• What makes the caramelization process crucial for this recipe?

Caramelizing onions slowly develops deep, rich sweetness and complex flavor that transforms the entire dish’s taste profile, creating a robust foundation for the pasta and enhancing overall depth of flavor.

• Can I use different types of pasta for this recipe?

Yes, you can substitute the pasta with similar shapes like fettuccine, penne, or rigatoni that hold sauce well and provide good texture and bite in the one-pot preparation.

• Is this recipe considered a complete meal?

Absolutely! The dish combines protein from chicken, carbohydrates from pasta, and rich flavors from caramelized onions and parmesan, making it a balanced and satisfying one-pan meal that covers multiple nutritional elements.

One-Pot French Onion Pasta and Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta Recipe

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4.6 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 50-55 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Comforting one-pot french onion pasta marries succulent garlic butter chicken bites in this irresistible culinary symphony. Creamy parmesan sauce and caramelized onions elevate this dish, offering you a soulful journey through French-inspired comfort cuisine.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 4 oz parmesan cheese, grated

Pasta and Base:

• 1 lb pasta (penne or fettuccine)
• 4 large onions, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

Seasonings and Liquids:

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

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Instructions

1. Caramelize onions in olive oil over medium-low heat for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally until deeply golden and soft.
2. Add minced garlic to caramelized onions and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
3. Remove onion-garlic mixture and set aside, keeping the same pan for subsequent cooking.
4. Season chicken bites with salt, pepper, and dried thyme, then sear in the pan at high heat for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
5. Transfer chicken to a separate plate and maintain pan heat.
6. Deglaze pan with chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from bottom of the skillet.
7. Add pasta directly to the pan, coating with remaining pan liquids and browned fragments.
8. Pour heavy cream into pasta, stirring to create a smooth, creamy sauce.
9. Reintroduce caramelized onions and garlic to the pasta, mixing thoroughly.
10. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the pasta, stirring until cheese melts and creates a silky texture.
11. Gently fold chicken bites back into the pasta mixture.
12. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving hot.

Notes

• Choose a wide, heavy-bottomed skillet to ensure even caramelization of onions without burning.
• Use low and slow heat when caramelizing onions to develop deep, sweet flavor without scorching.
• Opt for bone-in chicken thighs for extra moisture and richer taste if preferred over chicken bites.
• Gluten-free alternative: Replace regular pasta with gluten-free pasta to accommodate dietary restrictions.
• Make it vegetarian by substituting chicken with roasted mushrooms or plant-based protein cubes for similar texture.
• Keep extra chicken broth nearby to adjust pasta sauce consistency if needed during cooking.
• For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt to reduce overall calories.
• Fresh thyme can replace dried thyme for more vibrant herb flavor and aromatic profile.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 600
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 60 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg