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Meatball pasta bake (pasta al forno)

Meatball pasta bake (pasta al forno) served in a casserole dish

Meatball pasta bake (pasta al forno)

Name: Meatball pasta bake (pasta al forno)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: Serves 4-6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 large onion ½ grated, ½ finely chopped; 3 garlic cloves crushed; 400g beef mince; 50g fresh breadcrumbs; 3 tbsp milk; 25g parmesan finely grated; ½ small bunch of parsley finely chopped; 3 tbsp olive oil; 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes; 350g dried pasta e.g. fusilli; 2 x 125g balls mozzarella drained and cut into cubes

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Serves 4-6

Easy

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 40 mins

A star rating of 4.4 out of 5.27 ratingsRate

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Make a comforting meatball pasta bake to feed the family. Inspired by Italian flavours and made with wholewheat pasta, it's a fabulous, filling meal

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Ingredients

Nutrition

Units:

MetricUS

1 large onion

½ grated, ½ finely chopped
3 garlic cloves

crushed
400g beef mince
50g fresh breadcrumbs
3 tbsp milk
25g parmesan

finely grated
½ small bunch of parsley

finely chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
350g dried pasta e.g. fusilli
2 x 125g balls mozzarella

drained and cut into cubes

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Nutrition: Per serving (6)

kcal606
fat28g
saturates12g
carbs52g
sugars10g
fibre8g
protein33g
salt0.7g

Method

step 1

Mix the grated onion, 1 crushed garlic clove, mince, breadcrumbs, milk, parmesan and parsley in a large bowl. Season well with salt and pepper. Mash the mixture together with your hands until combined. Mould the mix into small balls (about walnut-sized) with damp hands. There will be about 20 meatballs.
step 2

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a deep frying pan and fry the meatballs for 6-8 mins until golden brown all over. Fry in batches if you need to – they don’t need to be cooked through, just browned on the outside. Set aside on a plate.
step 3

Heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in the pan and fry the chopped onion for 5 mins until softened. Add the remaining garlic, fry for another minute, then add the chopped tomatoes and simmer for 10 mins until thickened and the tomatoes have broken down. Season well with salt and pepper.
step 4

Meanwhile, cook the pasta for 5 mins less than the pack instructions state, in boiling salted water. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
step 5

Stir the meatballs into the tomato sauce, adding a splash of water if too thick, and bring to a simmer. Drain the pasta and tip into an ovenproof dish. Pour over the sauce and meatballs and mix well. Stir in most of the mozzarella, then scatter the remaining over the top. Bake for 15-20 mins until the cheese is golden and bubbling, and the top is slightly crisp.

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A star rating of 4.4 out of 5.27 ratings

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