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Älplermagronen

Macaroni cooked with potatoes and melting mountain cheese, topped with crispy onions — the alpine herdsman’s comfort supper.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 30 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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A one-pot mountain supper that pairs tender pasta and potatoes with a blanket of melted Alpine cheese and cream, finished with a shower of caramelized onions. It is comfort food at its most honest: filling, golden, and quietly magnificent.

Named for the herdsmen who carried it up to the alpine pastures, it is traditionally served with a spoonful of tart applesauce to cut the richness. Pair it with a green salad and something crisp to drink.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Melt 2 tbsp of the butter in a skillet over medium-low heat; add the onions and cook, stirring often, until deeply golden and caramelized, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes and cook 5 minutes, then add the pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
  3. Return the pasta and potatoes to the pot over low heat; add the cream, cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper, stirring until the cheese melts into a creamy sauce. Loosen with pasta water if needed.
  4. Serve in warm bowls topped with the caramelized onions and a generous spoonful of applesauce on the side.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Use a cheese that melts well, like Gruyère or Appenzeller, and do not skimp on the onions—they make the dish. A splash of the reserved pasta water helps the sauce come together smoothly.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook30 min
Servings4
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →