Beef Meatball Pasta Bake

Bring on all the wholesome comfort food. These easy beef meatballs in a simple red sauce, tossed with your favourite pasta and baked to gooey perfection is everything you didn’t know you needed. Perfect for the entire family or if you’re cooking for one or two, leftovers can be frozen and stored for up to 6 months. Yes please!

Serves: 4

Ready in: 45mins

Ingredients

• Extra virgin olive oil

• 1 bunch shallots, sliced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• ½ cup beef stock

• 1x 750ml bottle passata

• 2 tsp dried oregano

• Salt and pepper

• 400g cups dry pasta of choice

• 2 large tomatoes, cut in half

• 1 ½ cups pizza blend cheese

• fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)

Meatballs

• ½ cup fine breadcrumbs

• 500 g lean ground beef

• ⅓ cup, parmesan cheese, grated

• 2 tbsp mixed herbs

• 2 large eggs,

• 1 large clove garlic, minced

• 1 tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

Method

Step1. Preheat oven to 200C. In a large bowl combine the meatball ingredients. Turn roughly 1.5 tbsps of the mixture into balls. Add a drizzle of olive oil to a hot frying pan and cook the meatballs until they are golden brown on the outside. Set aside

Step 2. Boil the pasta for 5-6 minutes or until just underdone. It will finish cooking in the oven. Drain, drizzle with olive oil, and set aside

Step 3. Add a drizzle of olive oil to a large pan and saute the sliced shallots. Add the minced garlic and cook for one min or until fragrant, then add the beef stock, passata, oregano, and season with salt pepper. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until thickened slightly and adjust seasoning if necessary

Step 4. In a large baking dish add the pasta, sauce meatballs, half the cheese and stir together. Place the tomato halves on the top and sprinkle with the remaining cheese

Step 5. Bake for 15-20mins or until the cheese is golden and melted. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and enjoy!

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