Healthy Recipes Main Dish Pasta Main Dish Caramelized Onion & Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta 4.3 (3) 3 Reviews This caramelized onion and sun-dried tomato pasta uses the fuss-free method of making caramelized onions in the oven, which requires very little stirring or attention. The onions, combined with sun-dried tomatoes and a splash of heavy cream, will make this super-savory pasta a hit with vegetarians and omnivores alike. If you’re looking for a boost of protein, serve it with roasted chicken or white beans on top. By Liv Dansky Liv Dansky Liv Dansky has worked for EatingWell since 2019 as a recipe tester and developer and, more recently, as a writer. Her work can be found across brands like Food & Wine, EatingWell, Southern Living, Real Simple, and Serious Eats. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on October 14, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Close Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong Active Time: 40 mins Total Time: 1 hr 55 mins Servings: 6 Nutrition Profile: No Added Sugar Sesame-Free Soy-Free Vegetarian Egg-Free Jump to Nutrition Facts Jump to recipe The Caramelized Onion & Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta is perfect for your meatless meals. Sweet melt-in-your-mouth caramelized onions perfectly complement the acidity of the sun-dried tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. The heat from the crushed red pepper and spicy garlic is slightly subdued by the half-and-half and briny Parmesan cheese. And the creamy sauce clings to the fiber-rich whole-wheat pasta, while fresh basil and pine nuts complete this dish with an herby, toasty finish. Keep reading for our expert tips, including our simplified method for making caramelized onions. Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! Caramelize onions in the oven for a fuss-free method that involves less stirring than you would have to do on the stovetop. You can replace the sun-dried tomatoes with mushrooms, which will help give the dish a meatier texture.Adding a little pasta water to the cooked dish before serving will give it a saucier consistency. Nutrition Notes Onions are loaded with plant compounds that have been linked with a healthy heart and gut and a lower risk of cancer. The fiber in onions acts as a prebiotic, providing food for your beneficial gut bacteria. Parmesan cheese is often made using animal rennet. If you're following a vegetarian diet, be sure to select Parmesan cheese made with vegetarian enzymes. Sun-dried tomatoes are made from whole tomatoes, and like whole tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes provide fiber and vitamins C and A. Regularly including tomatoes in your recipes may help reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer and support healthy skin. Whole-wheat pasta provides complex carbohydrates for energy and fiber to help fill you up and keep things moving through your gut. If you prefer the taste of regular pasta, you’ll still get complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and some fiber—just less than you would with whole-wheat pasta. Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 (8-ounce) jar sun-dried tomatoes in oil 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced (about 4 cups) 4 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons water ¾ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper 12 ounces whole-wheat penne or rigatoni (about 3 cups) ½ cup half-and-half ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese ¼ cup chopped fresh basil ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted Directions Preheat oven to 325°F. Drain oil from 1 (8-ounce) jar sun-dried tomatoes to equal ¼ cup; reserve the remaining oil for another use. Chop the drained tomatoes to equal ¾ cup. Add the tomatoes and the ¼ cup oil to a 2-quart baking dish. Stir in onions, garlic, 2 tablespoons each vinegar and water, ¾ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper; toss to combine. Cover with foil. Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong Bake, stirring every 20 minutes and covering again with foil after each stirring, until the onions are caramelized, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong When the onions are almost done, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add 12 ounces pasta; cook, undisturbed, until al dente, about 9 minutes. Reserve 1 cup cooking water. Drain the pasta and place in a large bowl. Add the caramelized onion mixture and ½ cup half-and-half to the pasta; stir until combined. Stir in the reserved cooking water, ¼ cup at a time, until the desired creamy consistency is reached. Divide among 6 bowls; sprinkle with ⅓ cup Parmesan, ¼ cup basil and ¼ cup pine nuts. Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong Frequently Asked Questions Can I make onion and sun-dried tomato pasta ahead of time? Sure you can. Prepare the caramelized onion mixture up to 3 days in advance and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium-low heat before adding it to the pasta. Can I use any pasta shape? You can use whatever pasta shape you wish. We like penne or rigatoni, but you could use spaghetti, farfalle or macaroni. How should I store and reheat sun-dried tomato pasta? Store the assembled dish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, use a microwave or heat on the stovetop over medium-low heat until warmed through. What are some good side dishes to serve with onion and sun-dried tomato pasta? For a little protein, we like to top the pasta with shredded chicken or white beans, and for sides, there’s nothing like a freshly made salad and a slice of warm garlic bread. Some of our favorite salad recipes include Arugula, Beet & Feta Salad, Cucumber Vinegar Salad and Leafy Green Salad. Is this recipe vegetarian? If you prefer this to be a strictly vegetarian dish, ensure the Parmesan cheese you’re using is labeled as vegetarian. Parmesan cheese is typically made with rennet, an animal-based enzyme used in the cheesemaking process, though there are vegetarian versions available. Look for them in the dairy section of your local supermarket. EatingWell.com, October 2024 Save Rate Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 393 Calories 14g Fat 56g Carbs 15g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 6 Serving Size about 1⅔ cups Calories 393 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 56g 20% Dietary Fiber 8g 28% Total Sugars 3g Added Sugars 0g 0% Protein 15g 31% Total Fat 14g 18% Saturated Fat 3g 17% Cholesterol 12mg 4% Vitamin A 67µg Vitamin C 41mg 46% Vitamin D 0µg Vitamin E 1mg 7% Folate 73µg Vitamin K 11µg Sodium 619mg 27% Calcium 164mg 13% Iron 3mg 19% Magnesium 105mg 25% Potassium 857mg 18% Zinc 3mg 23% Vitamin B12 0µg Omega 3 0g Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs. Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S. Carrie Myers, M.S. Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines and Linda Frahm Linda Frahm Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines