Anchovy and Caramelized Onion Pasta with Parmesan

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-09 · Updated 2026-06-09

A savory pasta dish where anchovies melt into sweet caramelized onions, finished with nutty Parmesan for a balanced umami flavor. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs spaghetti, anchovy fillets in oil, yellow onion, thinly sliced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 12 oz spaghetti
• 6 anchovy fillets in oil
• 1 large (about 8 oz) yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 large thinly sliced yellow onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15-18 minutes until deeply caramelized and golden brown.
3. Step 3: Add 6 anchovy fillets and 2 minced garlic cloves to the onions, stirring and mashing the anchovies into the mixture for 2 minutes until melted and fragrant.
4. Step 4: Toss the cooked spaghetti into the skillet with the anchovy-onion mixture. Add 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, stirring vigorously to create a silky sauce that coats the pasta.
5. Step 5: Season with 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to taste. Remove from heat and sprinkle 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving.