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French Onion Pasta Bake

A cozy, flavorful French onion pasta bake includes sweet caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, fresh spinach, and plenty of cheese!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 25 mins
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 414 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup (half of a stick) salted butter
  • 1 ½ lbs. Vidalia onions (about 1-2 large onions), peeled and sliced
  • 8 ounces Sliced Fresh Mushrooms
  • 1 large clove garlic, peeled and minced (about 1 teaspoon)
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme (or ¼ teaspoon dried thyme)
  • 2 ½ cups beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 (16 ounce) package rigatoni or penne pasta, cooked in a large pot of salted water according to package directions for al dente
  • 2 cups Coarsely Chopped Baby Spinach
  • 6 ounces (about 1 ½ cups) shredded Swiss cheese, Gruyere cheese, or mozzarella cheese
  • Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley or thyme
  • Optional, for serving: sliced baguette

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray; set aside.
  2. Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and saute for 20 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the mushrooms and garlic; saute until mushrooms are tender, about 5-7 more minutes.
  3. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the thyme and about half of the beef broth. Deglaze the pan, stirring to loosen the cooked pieces on the bottom. Whisking constantly, add the remaining beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaf. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 4-5 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly. Stir in the balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper to taste. Discard bay leaf.
  4. Stir in the cooked pasta and the spinach. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Top with shredded cheese. Cover with foil.
  5. Bake covered for about 20 minutes, until the filling is hot and bubbly. Remove the cover, and place the pan under the broiler for about 1 minute, or until the cheese is browned and crisp on top. Garnish with fresh herbs, if desired.

Notes

  • Stir the onions regularly and add water to the pan as needed to ensure that the onions don’t burn. If they start to get too dark too quickly, just lower the temperature and cook them over medium-low or low heat.
  • Boil the pasta just until it’s barely al dente (just about tender, but still with a firm bite). The rigatoni will continue to cook in the oven, and you don’t want it to come out mushy, gummy, and overdone.
  • Bake the casserole covered so that it stays moist and doesn’t dry out. Then, for a crispy top, place the dish under the broiler for a minute or two before serving.
  • Keep a close eye on the dish while it’s under the broiler, since the cheese can burn quickly.
  • Garnish each serving with fresh herbs for a bright, colorful touch. Good options include fresh thyme leaves, parsley, rosemary, or chives.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1/8 of the pasta Calories 414kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 55g (18%) Protein 17g (34%) Fat 14g (22%) Saturated Fat 8g (40%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 0.2g Cholesterol 39mg (13%) Sodium 519mg (22%) Potassium 465mg (13%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 6g (12%) Vitamin A 1085IU (22%) Vitamin C 9mg (10%) Calcium 264mg (26%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 414

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/8 of the pasta
Calories 414kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 55g 18%
Protein 17g 34%
Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 0.2g 10%
Cholesterol 39mg 13%
Sodium 519mg 22%
Potassium 465mg 10%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 6g 12%
Vitamin A 1085IU 22%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Calcium 264mg 26%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.