Caramelized Onion Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes and Cream Recipe
This Caramelized Onion Pasta features deeply caramelized onions cooked slowly in olive oil, combined with sundried tomatoes and a spicy chili crisp for an added kick. The creamy sauce is enriched with heavy cream and parmesan cheese, tossed with al dente linguine or buccatini, and finished with fresh parsley for a deliciously rich and comforting Italian-inspired meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 65 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Onion Mixture
- 4 large onions, peeled and thinly sliced lengthwise
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Sauce
- ¼ cup chopped sundried tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp chili crisp or chili crunch
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
Pasta
- 1 lb linguine or buccatini, cooked al dente
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare and Slice Onions: Cut the onions in half and remove the peel, then thinly slice all the onions lengthwise. Transfer the sliced onions to a large pot or wide sauté pan. Pour in the ⅓ cup of olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Caramelize Onions: Place the pan over medium heat until the onions just start to sizzle. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often every 5-7 minutes, for about 45 minutes or until the onions become deeply caramelized and reduced to about 1 ½ cups in volume.
- Add Sundried Tomatoes, Chili Crisp, and Cream: Increase the heat to medium, then add the chopped sundried tomatoes, chili crisp, and heavy cream to the caramelized onions. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Incorporate Parmesan Cheese: Stir in the grated parmesan cheese and reduce the heat back to medium-low. Cook the cream sauce gently for about 3-4 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Toss with Pasta and Finish: Add the cooked linguine or buccatini to the sauce and toss thoroughly to combine. Allow the pasta to cook in the sauce for 1 more minute. Serve immediately with extra parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley for garnish.
Notes
- Use sweet onions like Vidalia or yellow onions for the best caramelization and flavor.
- Be patient when caramelizing the onions – slow cooking at a low temperature ensures rich, sweet flavor development.
- Chili crisp adds a spicy and textured element, but you can adjust the amount based on your heat preference.
- Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for best melting and flavor.
- Reserve some pasta water to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick.
Keywords: Caramelized onion pasta, creamy pasta, sundried tomato pasta, chili crisp pasta, Italian pasta recipe, linguine recipe, buccatini recipe
