Viral TikTok French Onion Pasta (Gluten-Free Recipe)

What Makes This Recipe Great

This one-pot French Onion Pasta started as a viral TikTok trend and has been adapted here to be completely gluten-free. It captures the rich, savory-sweet profile of French onion soup—slowly caramelized onions, savory broth, and gooey cheese—served with pasta instead of in a bowl of soup. The result is comforting, quick to prepare, and perfect for weeknight dinners.

I was diagnosed with celiac disease seven years ago and have since focused on making classic comfort foods accessible without gluten. I test recipes using whole-food ingredients and offer dairy-free substitutions when possible, so anyone avoiding gluten or dairy can still enjoy favorite dishes. This recipe includes a dairy-free option and works beautifully with a variety of gluten-free pastas.

• Onions: Use sweet yellow, white, or Vidalia onions—larger onions are easier to slice and caramelize.
• Ghee or butter: Swap in vegan butter for a dairy-free version.
• Salt
• Minced garlic: Freshly minced or jarred minced garlic both work.
• Coconut aminos: A gluten-free alternative to soy sauce; you can also use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce if you prefer.
• Beef broth: Chicken or vegetable broth can be used as a substitute.
• Gluten-free pasta: I like Jovial farfalle, but any gluten-free pasta (brown rice, chickpea, etc.) works.
• Shredded Gruyère: For dairy-free, use non-dairy cheese shreds or omit the cheese; the dish remains flavorful.

1. Melt ghee or butter in a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add thinly sliced onions and a generous pinch of salt. Sauté, stirring frequently, until deeply golden and caramelized—about 30 minutes.
3. Stir in the garlic and coconut aminos, scraping any browned bits from the pan.
4. Add the beef broth and dry pasta, stir to combine, then cook over medium heat, stirring often, for 10–12 minutes until the pasta is tender and the liquid has reduced by roughly half.
5. Stir in the shredded Gruyère (or dairy-free alternative) until melted and creamy.
6. Serve topped with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan or black pepper if desired.

Expert Tips

• Adding protein: Stir in shredded rotisserie chicken, cooked ground beef, or cooked chicken at the end with the cheese and warm through.
• Pasta choices: Any gluten-free or regular pasta can be used. Brown rice, chickpea, or lentil-based pastas are good options—adjust cooking time as needed.
• Wine or vinegar: Optional additions like sherry vinegar, Marsala, or dry white wine can deepen flavor, but the recipe is delicious without them.
• Al dente: For firmer pasta, start tasting around 9 minutes and cook one-minute increments until you reach the preferred texture.

Serving Tips for One-Pot French Onion Pasta

• Serve warm as a main dish or alongside roasted vegetables or a simple green salad. Parmesan adds an extra savory touch.
• For nutrition tracking, a typical serving is about one-quarter of the pot.

Storage Tips

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stove with a splash of olive oil or butter, or microwave with a small pat of butter to loosen the sauce.

More Gluten-Free Pasta Recipes

Easy Gluten-Free Tuna Pesto Pasta

Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo (gluten-free option)

Sausage Broccolini Pasta

Instant Pot Taco Pasta

Baked Feta Pasta with Shrimp

Instant Pot Cajun Pasta

If you try this recipe, please leave a rating and review. Tag @maryswholelife on Instagram to share your version!

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4.95 from 35 votes

Tik Tok Viral French Onion Pasta (Gluten-Free!)

By: Mary Smith

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 40 mins

Total: 50 mins

Yield: 4 people

How to make the TikTok viral One Pot French Onion Pasta completely gluten-free. All the flavor of classic French onion soup in an easy, comforting pasta.

Equipment

• 12-inch cast iron skillet (or a large heavy-bottomed skillet)

Ingredients

• 2 white or yellow onions, sliced thin
• 2 tbsp ghee or butter
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 3 tbsp coconut aminos
• 4 cups beef broth (or vegetable/chicken broth)
• 12 oz gluten-free pasta (farfalle or pasta of choice)
• 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese (omit or use dairy-free shreds for DF)

Instructions

• Heat ghee or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add sliced onions and salt; sauté, stirring often, about 30 minutes until browned and caramelized.
• Stir in garlic and coconut aminos, scraping up browned bits.
• Pour in broth and pasta, stir, and cook over medium heat 10–12 minutes, stirring frequently, until pasta is cooked and liquid has reduced.
• Stir in cheese if using, then serve topped with fresh parsley.

Notes

Expert Tips

• Protein: Add shredded rotisserie chicken or cooked ground meat at the end and warm through.
• Pasta: Any gluten-free or regular pasta works—adjust cooking times for different pastas.
• Wine: Optional additions like sherry vinegar or Marsala enhance flavor but are not required.
• Al dente: Taste the pasta around 9 minutes and cook in short increments until desired texture.

Serving Tips

• Serve warm with roasted vegetables or a green salad. Garnish with Parmesan if desired.
• One serving is roughly one-quarter of the pot.

Storage Tips

• Refrigerate leftovers up to 4 days in an airtight container. Reheat on the stove with a bit of oil or butter or in the microwave with a small pat of butter.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 548 kcal | Carbohydrates: 70 g | Protein: 21 g | Fat: 21 g | Saturated Fat: 12 g | Sodium: 1723 mg

Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary by ingredients used. For the most accurate values, weigh ingredients and divide by servings.

This post was originally published on April 19, 2023 and updated with new content on November 20, 2023.