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    The Bossy Kitchen > Recipes > Savory Recipes > Entrees > Side dish

    Baked Cheesy German Spaetzle Pasta with Caramelized Onion

    Published by: Gabriela May 3, 2017 · Last modified: May 27, 2023 6 Comments
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    Delicious baked cheesy German Spaetzle pasta with caramelized onion, true comfort food for any age. Add your favorite cheeses and bake away!

    Baked cheesy German Spaetzle pasta with caramelized onion- on a white plate
    Jump to:
    • Why make this comforting side dish?
    • What kind of ingredients go into this dish
    • What kind of cheese can I use if I don't have Emmental cheese
    • How to make this recipe
    • More recipes to love
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    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.

    Baked cheesy German Spaetzle pasta with caramelized onion

    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.

    Baked cheesy German Spaetzle pasta with caramelized onion

    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.

    What kind of ingredients go into this dish

    • Spaetzle pasta- a German noodle made with an egg that is very popular in the German cuisine
    • Onions- the more, the better
    • Cheese- read next for more information
    • Butter

    What kind of cheese can I use if I don't have Emmental cheese

    • Jarlsberg
    • Gruyere
    • Mozzarella, Monterrey, and Cheddar are accepted only if you do not have any of the other options.

    How to make this recipe

    First of all, preheat the oven to 400F.

    In a medium pot, cook Spaetzle pasta according to the package.

    Heat the butter in a pan and add the chopped onion.

    onions cooking in a stainless steel pan

    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 baking dish, place noodles, cooked onions, and part of the cheese.

    Baked cheesy German Spaetzle pasta with caramelized onion- ingredients put together for the dish

    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 it 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!

    Baked cheesy German Spaetzle pasta with caramelized onion- out of the oven on a wooden board

    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.

    More recipes to love

    Caramelized Onion Tart

    Easy No-Boil Mac And Cheese

    Best Cheesy Potatoes Recipe

    German Plum Kuchen- Pflaumenkuchen

    Decadent German Chocolate Cake

    Baked cheesy German Spaetzle pasta with caramelized onion- slice on a white plate with fork

    📖 Recipe

    Baked Cheesy German Spaetzle Pasta with Caramelized Onion1

    Baked Cheesy German Spaetzle Pasta with Caramelized Onions

    Delicious baked cheesy German Spaetzle pasta with caramelized onion, true comfort food for any age. Add your favorite cheeses and bake away!
    4.59 from 31 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side dishes
    Cuisine: German
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 344kcal
    Author: Gabriela

    Equipment

    • Pyrex Basics 3 Quart Glass Oblong Baking Dish

    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.

    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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 344kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 120mg | Potassium: 152mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 484IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 262mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @thebossykitchen or tag #thebossykitchen!

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    Comments

    1. Kim Amy says

      May 05, 2017 at 9:54 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • The Bossy Kitchen says

        May 07, 2017 at 1:16 pm

        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!

        Reply
    2. Anonymous says

      October 21, 2018 at 10:31 pm

      5 stars

      Reply
    3. Anonymous says

      January 20, 2019 at 3:25 pm

      5 stars

      Reply
    4. Anonymous says

      January 31, 2019 at 4:58 am

      5 stars

      Reply
    5. Anonymous says

      March 23, 2019 at 12:23 am

      5 stars

      Reply

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    Gabriela the creator of The Bossy Kitchen

    Hi! I am Gabriela and this is my virtual home. I am a self-taught cook and a trained Pastry Chef. I inherited the cooking genes from my maternal grandma and the love for baking from my paternal grandma.

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