This easy dinner bake combines pasta, bacon, French onion soup mix, cream and cheese for the ultimate crowd-pleasing meal.
Ingredients
375g dried penne rigate
25g butter
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 large brown onions, thinly sliced
200g shortcut bacon rashers, roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 sprigs fresh thyme, plus extra leaves to serve
40g sachet French onion soup mix
1/2 cup dry white wine
300ml pure cream
1 1/2 cups grated Colby cheese
method
Step 1
Preheat oven to 200C/180C fan-forced.
Step 2
Cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until almost tender (see note). Drain well. Return to pan.
Step 3
Meanwhile, heat butter and oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Cook onion, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until softened. Add bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until browned. Add garlic and thyme. Cook for 30 seconds.
Step 4
Add soup mix to onion mixture, stirring to coat. Add wine. Simmer until reduced by half. Gradually stir in cream. Season with pepper. Add to pasta. Toss well to coat. Spoon mixture into a 6cm-deep, 17cm x 28cm baking dish. Sprinkle top with cheese. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until cheese is golden and melted.
Step 5
Serve sprinkled with extra thyme leaves.