Air Fryer French Onion Casserole
Air Fryer French Onion Casserole is my go-to when I want a dinner that's rich, cozy, and impressive enough for any occasion. Sweet caramelized onions in rich beef broth with sherry and fresh thyme are tossed with tender pasta and melty Gruyère, then finished with a golden, buttery panko crust that the air fryer gets perfectly crunchy. I make it for family dinners, potlucks, and holiday gatherings because it always wows the table and keeps the oven free for everything else.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cups yellow onions thinly sliced
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup cooking sherry
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme chopped (plus extra for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 pound short pasta
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ cups Gruyère cheese grated
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until deeply caramelized.3 tablespoons butter, 4 cups yellow onions
- Stir in salt and sherry, bring to a gentle boil, then add flour and cook for 1–2 minutes. Pour in the beef broth and bring back to a boil.¾ teaspoon salt, ¼ cup cooking sherry, 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, 3 cups beef broth
- Add uncooked pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Stir in black pepper, fresh thyme, and half of the Gruyère cheese.1 tablespoon fresh thyme, 1 pound short pasta, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1½ cups Gruyère cheese
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish that fits inside your air fryer basket.
- Combine panko and melted butter, then sprinkle along with the remaining Gruyère over the top.½ cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon melted butter
- Air fry at the highest temperature setting for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the breadcrumbs are golden.
- Finish with fresh thyme and serve warm.
Notes
Here are a few tips I've picked up to help your Air Fryer French Onion Casserole turn out perfectly every time.
- Take your time with the onions: Properly caramelized onions are what give this casserole its deep, rich flavor, so let them cook for 30 to 40 minutes over medium-low heat without rushing.
- Deglaze with the sherry while the pan is hot: Adding the cooking sherry right after caramelizing lifts those flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pot, deepening the broth with even more rich, layered flavor.
- Use short pasta with ridges: Pasta shapes like rotini, cavatappi, or penne rigate have ridges and curves that grip the savory broth and cheese far better than smooth pasta, so you get more flavor in every bite.
- Grate your Gruyère fresh: Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that can keep it from melting smoothly, so grating it fresh from the block gives you that silky, perfectly stretchy melt throughout the casserole.
- Match your baking dish to your air fryer basket: Before cooking, make sure your baking dish fits in the air fryer basket with some space around the sides so the topping crisps evenly.
- Flash freeze for easy freezer portions: To freeze leftovers, scoop individual portions onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour, then transfer to freezer bags. This prevents sticking and lets you grab just what you need.
Nutrition
Calories: 569kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 23gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 1079mgPotassium: 446mgFiber: 5gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 605IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 399mgIron: 2mg
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