This savoury mince pasta bake is a cheap, easy family dinner made with beef mince, pasta and French onion soup mix. A comforting budget meal that feeds 4 and is perfect for busy weeknights.
This is one of those proper comfort dinners that just hits.
It’s old-school, a little bit nostalgic, and made with the kind of ingredients you probably already have in the pantry. And somehow, it always ends up tasting better than you expect.
We’re talking savoury mince, pasta, veggies, and that classic French onion flavour… all baked together with a cheesy top.
It’s simple, affordable, and the kind of meal that feeds everyone (and usually leaves a little for leftovers too).
💛 Why you’ll love this recipe
- Budget-friendly and feeds a family of 4
- Made with simple pantry staples
- Proper comfort food (the cheesy top is everything)
- Easy to make and mostly hands-off
- Great for leftovers the next day
- Sneaks in veggies without complaints
- Perfect for busy weeknights
👩🍳 How to make savoury mince pasta bake
- Cook the pasta
Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until just al dente.
Drain and set aside. - Start the base
Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
Add the diced onion and cook until softened, then stir through the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Brown the mince
Add the beef mince and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Add flavour
Stir through the French onion soup mix and water.
Let it simmer for about 5 minutes so the flavours develop.
- Add the veggies
Add the frozen vegetables and simmer for another 10 minutes, until everything is heated through and slightly thickened.
- Bring it together
Stir through the tomato sauce and cooked pasta until everything is well combined.
- Bake until golden
Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle the grated cheese over the top.
Bake at 180°C for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, golden and bubbly.
- Serve
Serve hot and enjoy — this one is cosy, filling and always a crowd-pleaser.
The easiest savoury mince pasta bake (family dinner for under $15)
Ingredients
- 200g pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 brown onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 500g beef mince
- 40g French onion soup mix
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 cups frozen vegetables
- 1/3 cup tomato sauce
- 1 1/2 cups grated tasty cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Cook pasta until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a pan. Cook onion until softened, then add garlic.
- Add mince and cook until browned.
- Stir in French onion soup mix and water. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add frozen vegetables and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir through tomato sauce and cooked pasta.
- Transfer to a baking dish, top with cheese, and bake for 15 minutes until golden.
- Serve hot.
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