Balsamic Onion & Goat’s Cheese Pasta Bake Recipe
This Balsamic Onion & Goat’s Cheese Pasta Bake is a comforting and flavorful baked dish perfect for a cozy dinner. Tender pasta is combined with sweet, sticky balsamic caramelized onions and a creamy goat’s cheese mixture, then topped with mozzarella and Parmesan for a golden, bubbling finish. Enhanced with fresh thyme, this recipe balances tangy, savory, and creamy notes for a delicious vegetarian meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 400g short pasta (fusilli or gemelli work great)
Onions and Sauce
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- Fresh thyme (optional)
Cheese Mixture
- 200g goat’s cheese, crumbled
- 200ml double cream
Topping
- 100g grated mozzarella
- 50g grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 180°C (350°F) to prepare for baking the pasta dish later.
- Cook pasta: Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente, then drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Caramelize onions: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-low heat and cook the thinly sliced onions slowly for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally until golden and soft.
- Add balsamic vinegar: Stir in the balsamic vinegar with the onions and continue cooking for another 5 minutes until the mixture becomes sticky and caramelized.
- Prepare cheese mixture: In a bowl, combine the double cream and crumbled goat’s cheese, then season with salt and black pepper to taste. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Combine ingredients: In a baking dish, mix the cooked pasta, caramelized onions, and the goat cheese cream mixture evenly to ensure all components are well incorporated.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle the grated mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the pasta mixture for a golden crust.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20–25 minutes until the cheese topping is golden brown and bubbling.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh thyme if desired before serving warm.
Notes
- Cooking the onions slowly is essential to extract their full sweetness and achieve the sticky balsamic glaze.
- You can substitute goat’s cheese with cream cheese or ricotta for a milder flavor.
- Use gluten-free pasta if you want to make this dish gluten-free.
- The dish pairs well with a fresh green salad or steamed vegetables for a balanced meal.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
Keywords: balsamic onion pasta bake, goat cheese pasta, baked pasta, vegetarian pasta dish, easy dinner recipe
