Description
A quick and hearty Meatball Pasta Bake that combines savory meatballs, tender pasta, and a rich tomato sauce, all cooked together in one pan and finished under the grill with melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a satisfying 30-minute meal.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 tsp Sunflower oil
- 340 g Meatballs
- 1 Onion, peeled and chopped
- 3 Cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped
- 300 g Mushrooms, sliced
- 400 g Tinned chopped tomatoes
- 1/2 tsp Chilli flakes
- 2 tsp Sweet smoked paprika
- 750 ml Vegetable stock
- 4 tbsp Tomato puree
- 250 g Pasta
- 150 g Mozzarella cheese
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil and brown meatballs: In a large grill-proof deep frying pan or sauté pan, heat 2 teaspoons of sunflower oil over medium heat. Add 340 grams of meatballs and fry for about 5 minutes until they start to color and brown on all sides.
- Sauté vegetables with meatballs: Add the peeled and chopped onion, chopped garlic, and sliced mushrooms to the pan. Continue frying for another 5 minutes until the vegetables soften and the meatballs are browned all over.
- Add sauce ingredients and pasta: Stir in 400 grams of tinned chopped tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon of chili flakes, 2 teaspoons of sweet smoked paprika, 750 milliliters of vegetable stock, 4 tablespoons of tomato puree, 250 grams of dry pasta, and season with plenty of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix everything thoroughly.
- Simmer with lid on: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan with a lid, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring regularly. Cook until the pasta is tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed by the pasta and sauce.
- Preheat grill and add cheese: While the pasta cooks, preheat your grill to medium. Once the pasta is ready, sprinkle 150 grams of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Grill to melt cheese: Transfer the pan under the preheated grill and melt the cheese for about 5 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Serve hot: Remove from the grill carefully and serve immediately while hot and cheesy.
Notes
- Ensure the pan you use is grill-proof so it can go under the grill safely.
- Stir the pasta regularly while cooking to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
- You can substitute meatballs with vegetarian alternatives to make it vegetarian-friendly.
- Adjust the chili flakes to your preferred spice level.
- For a richer flavor, you can use chicken stock instead of vegetable stock if not strictly vegetarian.
