Description
This Creamy Vegan Caramelized Onion Pasta combines sweet caramelized onions with a luxurious cream sauce and a touch of chili oil. It’s the perfect comfort food that’s easy to make, completely customizable for vegans, and delivers restaurant-quality flavor in just 50 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces pasta of choice
- 3–4 large onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp vegan butter or regular butter (optional)
- 1 tsp sugar (optional)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¾ cup oat cream or regular heavy cream
- 1 cup vegan Parmesan cheese or regular Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp chili oil
- Smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, sweet paprika, salt, and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil and optional butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the onions and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic and optional sugar. Add 1 cup of water and cook for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden and caramelized. Deglaze with water if needed.
- While the onions cook, boil a large pot of salted water.
- Cook the pasta until al dente according to the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Add smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, sweet paprika, and chili oil to the caramelized onions.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese and cream, and simmer for 5–7 minutes until the sauce thickens. Adjust the consistency with pasta water if needed.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat the noodles evenly. Adjust seasoning as desired.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- Patience is key when caramelizing onions – don’t rush the 25-30 minute process for best flavor
- Reserve pasta water before draining – it’s perfect for adjusting sauce consistency
- Recipe is easily customizable – add grilled chicken, pancetta, mushrooms, or spinach
- For best results, use yellow or sweet onions for caramelization
- Dish reheats beautifully for leftovers
- Can be made completely vegan using plant-based alternatives
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 78g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: creamy vegan caramelized onion pasta, caramelized onion pasta, vegan pasta recipe, comfort food, plant-based dinner, easy pasta recipe