Balsamic Onion & Goat’s Cheese Pasta Bake Recipe
This Balsamic Onion & Goat’s Cheese Pasta Bake is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender pasta mixed with sweet caramelized onions, tangy goat’s cheese, and creamy double cream, all topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan. Baked to golden bubbly perfection and garnished with fresh thyme, it makes a perfect hearty meal for dinner or a cozy gathering.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 400g short pasta (fusilli or gemelli)
Onion Mixture
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Cheese & Cream Sauce
- 200g goat’s cheese, crumbled
- 200ml double cream
Topping
- 100g grated mozzarella
- 50g grated Parmesan
Seasoning & Garnish
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- Fresh thyme (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) to ensure it is ready for baking the pasta dish later.
- Cook Pasta: Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
- Caramelize Onions: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and cook the thinly sliced onions slowly for 15–20 minutes until they become golden and soft.
- Add Balsamic Vinegar: Stir in the balsamic vinegar with the caramelized onions and cook for another 5 minutes until the mixture becomes sticky and richly flavored.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a bowl, combine the double cream with crumbled goat’s cheese. Season with salt and black pepper to taste and mix well until smooth.
- Combine Ingredients: Mix the cooked pasta, balsamic onions, and cheese-cream mixture together. Transfer the mixture into a baking dish evenly.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle grated mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top of the pasta mixture.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20–25 minutes, until the cheese topping is melted, golden, and bubbling.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the pasta bake from the oven and garnish with fresh thyme sprigs if desired. Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, ensure the Parmesan used is vegetarian-friendly.
- You can substitute double cream with a lighter cream or crème fraîche for a less rich dish.
- Fresh thyme adds a lovely herbal aroma, but it’s optional and can be skipped if unavailable.
- Leftovers can be reheated in the oven or microwave and usually taste even better the next day as flavors meld.
- Use gluten-free pasta if you need this dish to be gluten free.
Keywords: balsamic onion pasta bake, goat cheese pasta, baked pasta dish, comfort food, vegetarian pasta bake
