French Onion Pasta Bake
French Onion Pasta Bake is a comforting casserole that combines the rich, caramelized onion flavor of classic French onion soup with pasta, typically penne or rigatoni, and a blend of cheeses like Gruyère and mozzarella. It's a modern fusion dish that originated in American home cooking, drawing heavy inspiration from the iconic French bistro staple.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is generally high in carbohydrates from the pasta and fat from the generous amounts of cheese and butter used for caramelizing the onions. A typical serving provides a good source of calcium and protein from the dairy, with a rough calorie estimate ranging from 450 to 650 calories per generous portion.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 380 kcal |
| Protein | 14 g |
| Carbs | 42 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 680 mg |
| Calcium | 220 mg |
| Iron | 2.1 mg |
| Potassium | 290 mg |
| Vitamin A | 120 mcg RAE |
| Vitamin C | 4 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.8 mcg |
| Phosphorus | 180 mg |
| Selenium | 18 mcg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, it represents a popular trend of transforming classic, broth-based dishes into hearty, baked pasta casseroles for family-style comfort food. Nutritionally, the long, slow caramelization of onions breaks down their sugars and creates a deep, savory umami base, which is the heart of the dish's flavor profile.
