Delicious baked cheesy German Spaetzle pasta with caramelized onion, true comfort food for any age. Add your favorite cheeses and bake away!
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Why Make This Comforting Side Dish
I was running out of ideas for cooking one day, and digging through my pantry, I found a bag of German Spaetzle Pasta, an egg pasta that is a traditional staple for many German households.
I do not cook a lot with egg pasta, so I had no idea what to do with it.
I know Germans combine Spaetzle pasta with caramelized onions and cheese, so I thought I could try to make a version of baked mac and cheese but with Spaetzle and fried onion.
The result? A fantastic dish that disappeared in one day.
If you live in the US, you might think that mac&cheese is very American. To your surprise, this dish is found in most European countries.
Italians, Germans, Austrians, and Eastern Europeans all have a version of this comforting dish. You should be really naive to believe that Europeans did not bring this dish to America.
This recipe uses a shortcut, German Spaetzle, from the grocery store. I am not really into making pasta from scratch, and I do not have the time. Once in a while, it feels good to take shortcuts as long as they are not harmless.
I still like to eat and feed my family foods that are not highly processed.
Now, the original recipe is called Käsespätzle, and it is usually made with Emmental cheese. Of course, this cheese is recommended for an authentic taste, but I am also in favor of making food with the ingredients you have in the house.
These are not times for being picky and not making the recipe just because you do not have the right cheese.
Ingredients Needed
For the entire list of ingredients and instructions, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this article).
- Spaetzle Pasta: a German noodle made with an egg that is very popular in the German cuisine.
- Onions: Use yellow or white onions
- Cheese: I used Emmental cheese, but Cheddar, Mozzarella, Monterrey or any other melting cheese you like.
- Butter
Video Recipe
How To Make This Recipe
Step 1. Preheat the oven.
Step 2. Cook Spaetzle pasta according to the package.
Step 3. Heat the butter in a pan and add the chopped onion. Add salt and pepper to taste and cook until onion gets lightly caramelized. Mix frequently. When ready, remove from heat and set aside.
Step 4. In a baking dish, place noodles, cooked onions, and part of the cheese. Mix to combine, and add another layer of cheese on top. Bake at 400F for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melty and bubbly.
The dish is effortless to make and can be served as a side dish or by itself. It is great comfort food. The caramelized onion is a divine addition to the dish.
For us, the best part was the crusty layer of cheese on top. I served this pasta with some pork cutlets in a tomato sauce and roasted broccoli with salt, pepper, and garlic. Also, a good schnitzel is a perfect option for this fabulous and simple dish.
We officially declared that baked German Spaetzle with cheese and caramelized onions are our new favorite comfort food! I am already in the mood to make another batch of this awesomeness! Perfect meal!
Are you interested in more ideas with pasta? Try this recipe of Cheesy Chorizo And Tomato Baked Pasta or this Easy Baked Pumpkin Mac And Cheese.
These are delicious recipes to try on days when you need comfort food. Pair them with a good salad and a glass of wine.
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📖 Recipe
Baked Cheesy German Spaetzle Pasta with Caramelized Onions
Ingredients
- 9 ounces German Spaetzle pasta
- 1 large onion cut Julienne
- 1 ½ cups Emmental cheese OR Jarlsberg OR Gruyere
- 4 tablespoons butter
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- In a medium pot, cook Spaetzle pasta according to the package.
- Meanwhile, slice the onion thin, like Julienne style.
- Heat the butter in a medium and add the chopped onion.
- Add salt and pepper to taste and cook until onion gets lightly caramelized. Mix frequently.
- When ready, remove from heat and set aside.
- In a 9x9 baking dish, place noodles, cooked onions, and ¾ of the cheese.
- Mix to combine and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. Bake at 400F for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melty and bubbly.
Video
Notes
- You can replace the Emmental cheese with Gruyere, or Jarlsberg. If you do not have any of them use a mixture of Mozzarella, Monterey and Cheddar cheese.(½ cup each)
- You can double the batch and bake it in a 9x13 inch baking pan.
Kim Amy says
Love this recipe. My son is in love with the spaetzle at ALDIs. Always good to find another one. I have done a few recipes on my blog with it. Love the thickness of the noodle without the width of a traditional egg noodle. Found you on KitchenBloggers on Facebook.
The Bossy Kitchen says
Hi Kim,
I love spaetzle too and this recipe is a great one. I am glad you liked it! Thank you for visiting, I hope you find more interesting recipes to try!