Meatball and Pasta Tray Bake

We made this last week. It was really delicious! This tray bake can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook it

Pasta and Meatball Tray Bake

Ingredients

Meatballs

500gms minced beef

1 small grated onion

1 tablesp diced bacon

1 egg whisked

1 teasp thyme

1 teasp rosemary

1 teasp oregano

2 tablsp fresh parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

Extra

250 – 500gms spaghetti noodles

2 cloves minced garlic

1 onion diced

120gms diced bacon

1 green capsicum diced

1 red capsicum diced

300mlsred wine7

750mls passata or tomato sauce

2 tablesp olive oil

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180C

2. Combine all meatball ingredients well

3. Combine till they stick together

4. Divide meat mixture and spaghetti noodles into 6

5. Form the meat around the middle of the uncooked spaghetti noodles

6. Leave some of the spaghetti noodles hanging out on either side

7. Repeat 5 more times with the remainder of the noodles

8. Heat olive oil in a large baking dish

9. Place spaghetti and meatball parcels in pan

10. Brown meat

11. Remove from baking dish and set aside

12. Add onion garlic and bacon to baking dish and cook till soft

13. Add capsicum and cook a couple more minutes

14. Deglaze pan with red wine

15. Place half tomato sauce in baking dish with other ingredients

16. Place spaghetti and meatball parcels in pan on top of tomato sauce

17. Pour remaining tomato passata top of meatballs and spaghetti

18. Meatballs and spaghetti should be almost covered with tomato sauce

19. Bake for 30 mins

20. Sprinkle with 4 cheese grated pasta cheese, mozzarella or parmesan

21. Bake a further 10 -15 mins until nicely browned on top

Note:

This is very much quicker and easier if you choose a ready-made tomato sauce like Neopolitana , Arribiata or Puttanesca. You will need at least 700mls. The pasta has to be covered.

This may look as if you have way too much liquid but remember that the noodles soak up a lot of liquid . Its really nice to have lots of liquid in any case. This is a great dish to make ahead of time

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