Cheese and Onion Pasta Bake

This really is a simple pasta bake recipe,  but dressed up in some individual mini pots it looks amazing.

I bought a set of four of these little ovenproof casserole pots, complete with their own lids, for just $10 from my supermarket – what a bargain! Now I am busily coming up with recipes so I can use them. However if you don’t have any pots this size (300ml/10 fl oz capacity) then you can make one big bake instead.

For this dish I went for the classic combination of a cheese and onion sauce but, if you want to bulk the amount up to a heartier meal, you could add some sliced bacon or mushrooms. I served with some salad and garlic bread.

Ingredients – serves 4 for a light meal:

• approx 200g/7 oz small dried pasta shapes (I used small macaroni)
• 1 tbsp oil, for cooking
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 tbsp (heaped) Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (mature cheddar works better), plus extra to top
• dried mixed herbs and black pepper, to season

Method:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the pack instructions (about 10 minutes).
• Heat your oven to 200C/180C fan forced/390F.
• In a medium saucepan, heat the oil and then cook the onion over a medium heat for 6-7 minutes or until softened.
• Add the soup and milk to the pan with the onion and stir.
• Then add the 1 cup of grated cheese as well as a sprinkling of dried herbs and black pepper, stir until the cheese is melted and then remove from the heat.
• Drain the pasta well and then toss into the other pan to coat with the sauce.
• Spray the individual ovenproof mini dishes (or one larger ovenproof dish) with some cooking spray and place on a baking tray.
• Divide the pasta between the ovenproof dishes then top with the extra cheese and also a little more black pepper.
• Bake (without covering) for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
• Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
• Enjoy!

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