French Onion Soup Inspired Pasta Bake

A comforting and satisfying pasta bake featuring caramelized onions, rich beef broth, nutty Gruyere cheese, and fragrant herbs, reminiscent of classic French Onion Soup.

Prep Time

15 minutes

Total Time

45 minutes

Calories

785 kcal

Difficulty

Easy

Equipment

4 items

Cost

£2.08/serving

Season:

☀️ Summer

Meal Type:

Dinner•Soup

Cuisine:

Italian•French

Main Ingredient:

Beef•Pasta

Cooking Style:

Baking

Mood:

Comfort Food

Ingredients

Servings

1poundPasta(Penne, rigatoni, or farfalle work well)

£0.75

3largeYellow Onions(Thinly sliced)

£1.20

2tablespoonsOlive Oil

£0.20

2tablespoonsButter

£0.25

3cupsBeef Broth(Low sodium preferred)

£0.90

0.3cupDry Sherry(Optional, can substitute with more beef broth)

£0.75

6ouncesGruyere Cheese(Grated)

£3.00

2teaspoonsFresh Thyme(Chopped, or 1 tsp dried)

£0.50

1teaspoonFresh Rosemary(Chopped, or 1/2 tsp dried)

£0.50

2clovesGarlic(Minced)

£0.15

to tasteSalt

to tasteBlack Pepper(Freshly ground)

1Bay Leaf(Optional, for added flavor while simmering.)

£0.10

Total Cost

£8.30

£2.08 per serving

Instructions

1.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2.
Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3.
While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until deeply caramelized, about 20-25 minutes. Reduce heat if onions are browning too quickly.
4.
Add minced garlic to the caramelized onions and cook for another minute until fragrant.
5.
Pour in beef broth and sherry (if using). Add bay leaf (if using), thyme, and rosemary. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to slightly reduce and flavors to meld. Remove the bay leaf.
6.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7.
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the caramelized onion sauce and toss to combine.
8.
Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.
9.
Sprinkle the grated Gruyere cheese evenly over the top of the pasta.
10.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.
11.
Let cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with extra fresh herbs, if desired.

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My Notes

Nutrition Information

Nutrition per serving (370g)

785 kcal / 3284 kJ

Carbs

92g

35% of RDA

Fat

32g

46% of RDA

Protein

37g

74% of RDA

Detailed Breakdown

Fibre

6 g

20% of RDA

Sugar

15 g

17% of RDA

Sodium

1150 mg

50% of RDA

Saturated Fat

18 g

90% of RDA

Chef's Tips

For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth instead of beef broth and omit the sherry, or substitute with a splash of balsamic vinegar.

To prevent the pasta from sticking together after cooking, toss it with a little olive oil before adding it to the sauce.

If you don't have Gruyere, you can substitute with Swiss cheese or a combination of Parmesan and mozzarella.

Caramelizing the onions is the most important step in this recipe, so be patient and allow them to develop a deep, rich flavor.

Adding a pinch of sugar to the onions during the caramelization process can help speed up the browning process.

Cooking Equipment

Oven

Large Pot

Large Skillet

9x13 inch Baking Dish

Wine Pairings

No wine pairing suggestions available for this recipe.

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